EC qualifiers: England vs Montenegro match preview & lineups

It is important to mention that after the 5-1 win in Montenegro back in March, England might probably achieve an easy victory at Wembley.

England are currently first with fifteen points, followed by the Czech Republic, which have achieved twelve points.

Montenegro in details

On the other side of the pitch, Montenegro, who failed to find the net in the previous four qualifying matches, are not hopeful to achieve a different result this time. Thursday’s visitors come into this match having drawn three and lost four.

While England is first, The Brave Falcons are currently 4th with just three points. The last team on the chart in Bulgaria with three points as well.

England absentees

As we have mentioned before the only and newest absentee of the team is Sterling who have been involved in a physical quarrel with Gomez.

That is why the 24-year-old will be with the squad but will not play in the match, meaning that Jadon Sancho is likely to return to the starting lineup in a front three alongside Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford.

Montenegro absentees

But it is not the same on the other side of the pitch, as Montenegro are missing two of their best and most high-profile players through injury. The two are the former Man City duo Stefan Savic and Stevan Jovetic both ruled out.

Adam Marusic and Aleksandar Scekic are the other two names, who are also out due to injury.

Teams’ background

Checking the history books, these are the facts worth mentioning here.

First of all, you have to know that this match will be England’s 1000th official game. they’ve won 568 of the previous 999 matches, with two of those wins coming against Montenegro.

England and Montenegro have met five times previously and it is interesting to know that the Three Lions are yet to lose against them with two wins, three draws; winning each of their last two.

England have won their last six home matches in a row. Good to know that their best winning run since a run of nine consecutively between March 2014 and November 2015.

Montenegro are winless in their last nine European qualifying matches, drawing three and losing six since winning 1-0 against Romania in September 2017.

The Three Lions have won their last 17 home European qualifiers for the World Cup/European Championships, scoring 55 goals and conceding just six across those victories.

Montenegro have failed to score in their last four European Championship qualifiers, attempting 36 shots without success across those games.

England have scored 27 goals in just eight games in 2019, an average of 3.4 per game, their highest average in a calendar year since 1963. The Three Lions are only one goal behind their tally for 2018 and last scored 30 goals in a calendar year in 1982.

Star facts

About the teams’ stars, you have to know that England’s Raheem Sterling has been involved in 15 goals in his last 10 internationals, netting ten goals and providing five assists.

It also has to be informed that Sterling has played 20 matches for England at Wembley without losing, as they won eighteen matches and drew two. That is more than any other player in the history of the national team.

The other star is Harry Kane who has been involved in 10 goals in his last four England appearances. The number contains six netted goals and four assists. You also have to know that he scored a hat-trick in his last appearance at Wembley against Bulgaria. No player has ever scored hat-tricks in consecutive appearances at the national stadium.

If the England striker scores two goals in this match, he will become only the ninth player to score 30 goals for the Three Lions and have done so in just 44 caps, becoming the third quickest to 30 goals in England’s history behind only Nat Lofthouse with 32 caps and Jimmy Greaves with 33.

Captain Kane has also been directly involved in 15 goals from his last 10 games for England, scoring nine times and providing six assists, including three in Bulgaria last time out.

Possible lineups

England:

Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Mings, Chilwell, Henderson, Winks, Maddison, Sancho, Kane, Rashford.

Montenegro:

Petkovic, Vesovic, Lagator, Simic, Bulatovic, Boljevic, Vukcevic, Hocko, Jovovic, Mugosa, Beciraj.

England Key men

Harry Kane

As we have just mentioned, the Tottenham star can be considered as the most important player of the national team. He has already scored eight goals and provided four assists in the six EC qualifiers he has played this year.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The 21-year-old player who plays as Liverpool right-back is one of the bests. This year he has scored one goal and provided three assists for Liverpool.

Montenegro Key men

Nikola Vukčević

The 27-year-old who plays in Levante club has played in six matches so far, assisting once.

Aleksandar Boljević

The last key player is Boljević who plays as a winger for Standard Liège. This year the 23-year-old has scored two goals in his club matches but not any in international games yet.

Match info

Date:

Thursday, November 14

​Time:

20:45 CET

Venue:

Wembley Stadium