England on road to World Cup

England are half way through two games that should bring six much needed points in their quest to qualify for the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

A comprehensive win against group rivals, and I use that description loosely, San Marino, sets up an exciting game between the top two teams in Group H. This is a huge game for several reasons.

If England has any aspirations of at least competing at next year’s World Cup, let alone winning it, beating Montenegro and topping this group is a must. Let’s put it into perspective, Montenegro are not rubbish. Currently ranked 28th in the world, this nation have top players sprinkled across some of Europe’s top leagues including Germany, England and Italy.

But they’ve only been in existence as a football nation for seven years and we’re more than happy to remind people that we invented the beauty game. So come on, let’s not try and justify a possible loss and second place finish in the group to Montenegro with the excuse that they are some kind of football super power.

England claimed an impressive 8-0 win against San Marino on Friday. Many have claimed it’s the perfect way to prepare for the Montenegro game. Confidence is high. Form is very good. Expectations are realistic.

But there’s a saying in football, that a team is at their most vulnerable when they’ve just scored. And there’s a slight concern that England’s emphatic victory may leave room for complacency with their best left at Olmpico di Seravalle.

England have some injuries, but still have keeper Joe Hart, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole and captain Steven Gerrard all of whom, we claim are world class. So, surely three points are to be expected and not desired on Tuesday night.

How far has the England football team’s standards dropped, that they’ll settle for a point in Montenegro and don’t expect to win at Wembley for the reverse fixture?

Would other World Cup contenders, Spain, Brazil, Holland or Germany settle for a draw? Doubtful. And that’s the difference between England and rest and why this nation will never win a major championship. England hope to beat Montenegro – others expect to.

One off victories (friendlies) against the two previous World Cup winners Brazil and Spain in the last couple of years means nothing. England have a great chance to prove they can be a football super power again, by sweeping Montenegro aside home and away and qualifying as group winners. Anything less is just embarrassing.