The Euro 2012 Group G game between England Vs Montenegro came to a 0-0 draw at Wembley where the home crowd booed the English players off the pitch.
Though England was the controlling side in the game, the three lions missed some important chances and failed to convert their high possession game into any goals.
"We knew England's strengths and we had a plan to avoid defeat and we made that plan work," Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjcar said. "England dictated the tempo of the game but their attacking was only as good as we allowed it to be. We were very aware of their attacking skills, especially on the wings, but we were prepared for that, which maybe surprised them. We also knew how to stop Rooney in that playmaking position when he tried to get between the midfield and the center backs."Kranjcar, the former Croatia coach whose son Niko plays for Croatia and Tottenham, knew how to shut down England.
"What was really important were the two games in the last World Cup qualifying campaign when England destroyed Croatia with pace out wide with Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott," he said. "My solution was to fill that gap on the flanks. When that happens England are less efficient."
Fabio Capello insists England will keep fighting after slumping to a disappointing goalless draw against minnows Montenegro on Tuesday.
"I am a fighter. It is one game. We have to fight again. I think we are a good team. The goalkeeper was the best player for Montenegro. This is football," said Capello.
"You have to respect little countries. They have good players. At this moment they are psychologically at a high moment having won three games.
"They were compact. The quality was good. Against Algeria (at the World Cup
) we didn't create a lot of chances. Tonight we did create chances."
There's so many problems with England's national side, I don't even know where to begin. From the cakewalk qualifying group that made them overconfident going in to World Cup to the fact that of the current top 10 scorers in the Premiership, 3 of them are English (and one of them is Andy Carroll who I think is still a U-21 if I'm not mistaken). You'd think after that embarrassing World Cup effort something, anything, would have changed, but now a nil draw at Wembley to Montenegro. Montenegro? Seriously?
ReplyDeleteBlame it on Capello, blame it on a side full of multi-millionaires who don't look as though they can be bothered- doesn't matter really. It's still a massive snarl of ugly with no obvious solution in sight.
I love the Premiership, but right now, all English Football really represents is having the money to fill your club team with the best players in the world.