Southgate’s side push for the victory that would seal their Euro 2020 place while Wales and Northern Ireland play catch-up and Scotland plan for the future
England vs. Montenegro (Thursday 14th November, 7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Kosovo vs. England (Sunday 17th November, 7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
While England’s fate is both in their own hands and also, extremely easy on paper, Gareth Southgate has cautioned against the arrogance that could derail their bid for a first trophy since 1966.
Hardly anything has changed since England last won a major trophy of course. We’ve merely seen the invention of colour television, the internet, mobile phones, ATM machines, bar codes, the heart bypass operation, the Euro, Brexit, Credit Crunch and Dairy Crunch. Oh, and the world’s population has more than doubled from 3.4 billion to 7.7 billion.
OK, we admit one exaggeration there, as Dairy Crunch was actually invented in 1965. But if you discount those other trifling advances and ignore the pervasion of VAR, then England are still the world soccer superpower they think they are.
Except they’re not.
While they might have made do with the absence of Joe Gomez, the exclusion of Raheem Sterling for the act of grabbing his Premier League rival by the throat over their morning yoghurt could see England struggle, at least against Montenegro. While Southgate described the England squad as a family, the passion that overflowed the day after Liverpool triumphed over Manchester City in the do-or-die Anfield clash is no bad thing if truly mended.
What may be, however, is deciding that Sterling’s apology was not enough for him to retain his place in the squad. Don’t families, argue, make up then stay together rather be sent away? The boy from Wembley probably thought so until Tuesday morning.
England, while heavy favourites to book two more wins and make the Euro 2020 finals, were riding the crest of a wave after their World Cup 2018 heroics. As things stand, they will head into Euro 2020 with more questions than answers as their current form stands. Just like with Southgate’s decision over Sterling and Gomez’ spat, a statement needs to be made by England – this time on the pitch.
Home nations hopes hang by a thread
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have varying hopes for making the Euro 202 finals. Wales can overtake their rivals if they win their games in hand. Northern Ireland must win at all costs and hope for miracles elsewhere, while Scotland have no hope whatsoever and are playing for pride alone.
With Daniel James and Gareth Bale acting as marauding wingers, Wales should have too much for Azerbaijan, while Scotland will hope for an away day to remember for the travelling Tartan Army. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, will hope that manager Michael O’Neill, who has already taken over at Stoke City, while seeing out the Northern Irish’s Euro 2020 campaign – even if by some miracle that includes making the finals – has the focus and drive to pull off two major shocks.
Should Northern Ireland take down the Netherlands on Saturday night, then it sets up a sensational end to the group stage for the trio of those two teams and the mighty Germany, all of whom have been fairly even and would be entertaining at the finals, too. Maybe there should be an independent arbitrator in these sorts of circumstances who can just decide to take all teams through. But there isn’t, and the ensuing drama on the pitch is going to be very special indeed.
Russia and Belgium face-off for the group win
When they hosted the 2018 World Cup, Russia were not expected to get far, despite being the hosts – and the host nation almost always exceed expectations, just ask South Korea in 2002.
Despite this, however, they excelled, and as a result, headed into the Euro 2020 qualifiers as one of the teams to watch. They’ve won seven out of eight games in their group stage, yet on Saturday night, will be destined for second place if they so much as draw the game.
This is because Belgium have won all eight of their fixtures.
Now, true, those fixtures have included double headers against countries such as Kazakhstan, Cyprus, San Marino and the Isle of Benbecula – OK, not that last one – but still, they’ve been the most ruthless team in qualifying, and we include Spain, France and Germany in that comparison.
Russia will be playing for the pride of topping their group rather than limping through in second place. Belgium are protecting their 100% record. Somebody’s pride is going to be bruised by the final whistle.
Selected Fixtures:
Thursday 14th November
England vs. Montenegro (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Portugal vs. Lithuania (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Friday 15th November
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Romania vs. Sweden (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Spain vs. Malta (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Switzerland vs. Georgia (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Saturday 16th November
Cyprus vs. Scotland (2:00 pm GMT kick-off)
Azerbaijan vs. Wales (5:00 pm GMT kick-off)
Russia vs. Belgium (5:0 pm GMT kick-off)
Croatia vs. Slovakia (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Northern Ireland vs. Netherlands (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
Sunday 17th November
Kosovo vs. England (7:45 pm GMT kick-off)
