Job Done ... just!

It was at this stage of the competition that England were knocked out of Euro 2008 costing Steve McClaren his job. Four years on and with McClaren still getting the sack, the focus was with England needing one point to secure top place. With 11 new players, from those that started the game in Croatia, and a debut for Manchester united’s, Phil Jones, the word defeat never really crossed the mind of any Englishman.

It was a very lively start from England with an early chance from debutant Phil Jones. But it was in the tenth minute that England put one foot into the next round. A great move, which started with Wayne Rooney whose pass down the right wing, found Walcott. With time and space he picked out an inch-perfect cross finding Ashley Young who couldn’t miss from three yards out.

England maintained to build on their lead, and it paid off on the half hour mark. Ashley Young hitting a ball across the Montenegro goal that found Darren Bent four yards out, who tapped the ball into the empty net. England were not playing for the draw, they were out there to win.

But it was Montenegro that reacted most from going two-nil down. A loss today for them would mean results elsewhere might help them out, if not they would have to pick up a result at Switzerland. Their pressure soon turned into a goal with the last kick of the half. After England lost possession on the half way line, Montenegro ran down the right wing and Elsad Zverotic got to the ball and on the turn, he hit the ball creeping past Joe Harts near post. At lot for England to think about during the half time break.

Montenegro continued their pace and attack into the second half and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty. Phil Jones challenging Stevan Jovetic in the box, but after time to think about it the referee continued play, much to the relief of Phil Jones, who looked very worried after making the tackle.

England never settled into the second half and things got even worse for the Three Lions. Wayne Rooney received red, after retaliating badly when he lost the ball to Miodrag Dzudovic. Whether affected by things happening off field or the frustration of the lack of possession, it was reckless and deserved the red card. He joins David Beckham in being sent off for England twice, in that game that marked 900 internationals for England and it was the first red card since Robert Green was sent off during the world cup qualifier against Ukraine.

Montenegro made most of the extra man and very nearly made England pay. The ball dropping to Dejan Demjanovic whose shot narrowly went over, the linesman flag was raised. England were holding on. But I guess we are all used to - these nail biting moments. Steven Jovetic, was booked, for diving in the penalty box in the hope of getting a penalty, he thought he should have got earlier.

But England were eventually broken down and Andrija Delibasic equalised with a headed goal from the far post, much to the delight of every single Montenegro fan in the stadium. Amazing scenes in Montenegro as are through, an incredible achievement for a country of their size. For England, the result was overshadowed by Rooney’s sending off, who is going to at least miss one games when the tournament starts next June.

And so it finished 2-2 on the night. England qualify as group winners and Montenegro are also through. The game, a prime example of a game of two half’s. There is a lot of improvement needed by England but we were unbeaten in the group and let’s hope the players see that as a boost for June and in the near future, the friendly against world champions, Spain.