Only 2 wins will do

Yet another encounter with the minnows of European football beckons on Friday. Even after the 5-0 summary beating in October I still remember vividly the first goal by San Marino in our 7-1 win many moons ago.

But now things are different, right! On the back of beating Brazil the 3 Lions head into the away matches on Friday and Tuesday needing the maximum 6 points if the hope of automatic qualification is to be kept alive.

England are without the midfield maestro of Jack Wilshere for both games, not likely to pose a problem on Friday, but against Montenegro (I can’t believe I’m saying this) he would have been needed.

However, it’s not of the absent Jack Wilshere everyone is talking about, it’s Rio’s England snub. After meeting Roy Hodgson in London and Ferguson seemingly confirming Rio would join the squad, he had now pulled out due to his ‘pre-planned training and medical programme’ with Man Utd.

Ferdinand snubs England

Whilst this is probably the final nail in the coffin of his England career, it leaves us with some challenges at the back when we play Montenegro next Tuesday. It’s also a strange way for his career to end if that is the case. Many will think back to the debacle between Hodgson, the FA and Ferdinand in the run up to Euro 2012, when he was omitted from the squad for ‘footballing reasons’ amid the John Terry case with his younger brother Anton.

Well, Roy’s the boss and he has the amiable task of making the players on the pitch perform and collect the 3 points, hopefully in both games as that is what we need. Who will Roy play at the back?

Friday’s away match against San Marino should not be any cause for concern, they haven’t scored a goal and have conceded 16 in their 4 matches to date, 5 at Wembley. Montenegro have already played San Marino twice and scored a tally of 9.

England to beat San Marino by at least 4-0 on Friday night!