England qualify but only just do enough

England stumbled over the qualification line at last, it all looked so easy after half an hour, but Montenegro fired up by a partizan crowd fought back hard, England started to look unassured and after Rooner walked it was all they could do not to lose.

Capello went with surprises in his selection, Jones was preferred at right back and Darren Bent was given the third striker role with Rooney and Young.

England came out flying, this does seem to be a trade mark of late, Jones almost scored a flukely one within 2 minutes, his cross catching a shaky looking Bozovic out, it was all he could do to squirt it out for a corner.

England diidn't have to wait long though, their dominance was rewarded when Rooney squared to Walcott on the right, he looked up and crossed a'la Beckham straight on to Young's head who just had to nod home, it was a good delivery from Walcott after his much publicised trouble in wide delivery positions.

On the half hour it all seemed over, Rooney again played in Young this time, he ran into the box and generously squared to Bent had just had to tap home, England were Rampant and Montenegro looked well beaten.

England continued to probe and looked most likely to add athird, then came a match turning moment, Zverotic was played in as England sat too deep, he chested and smashed home via a double deflection to grab a lifeline and send the home side in at half-time with something to play for.

The second half was a complete opposite of the first, England were all over the place, the passes were falling short or being intercepted and the slippy pitch did little to help matters.

England were making hard work of it and it got much worse with 20 minutes to go, Rooney lost possesion and simply lashed out at his man, kicking him squarely from behind, it was the most pointless red card since 1998 in a quarter final against Argentina.

England were up against it now and Montenegro laid seige, headers were being lost inside the box and this is where the equaliser came as time ticked away, sub Delibasic rising highest to head home a float cross over Hart.


The whistle blew and while England qualified, Montenegro confirmed their play-off spot, for an infant footballing nation this was no mean feat, their crowd swarmed on to the pitch and players hugged, no one could deny them their moment, even if a certain troubled Merseysider did his best to give them a hand.

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