Match Timeline

England
Montenegro
  • KO
  • HT
  • 62
  • 69
  • 74
  • 77
  • 82
  • FT

Match Commentary

93'
<b>FT. England 0-0 Montenegro.</b> The first time England have failed to score at the new Wembley and a poor performance all-round. England probably should have had a penalty, but they really didn't deserve to win the game. Montenegro held firm and credit to them, they lead the group.
93'
The next one comes in and Bozovic punches clear. Game over it's 0-0!
93'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Gerrard's free-kick is handled by Vukcevic who is booked.
93'
England win a free-kick and this is their last chance...
92'
A fizzed cross in, but only Delibasic is there. Flies over his head.
92'
England struggling to get hold of the ball now.
91'
Vukcevic holding the ball up well, the ball hammers into his arm and the whistle is blown. Ironic cheers go up around the stadium.
90'
Montenegro will surely be happy with his result, but they have four men in the England half. They are still pushing on.
90'
Three mins to add on. England need every one of them.
89'
SWP gets the cross in, it finds Johnson who gets it back in. Rooney heads the ball across and Barry is there... but so is Bozovic. Great save again.
88'
Rooney breaks and finds himself up against six Montenegro players. Dzudovic does very well to block him off.
88'
The ball is swung in and it's a good one. Bozovic gets there, bravely, to punch clear and is fouled. Very confident stuff from the keeper.
87'
SWP is brought down badly by Savic. He's already been booked, but the ref keeps his cards in his pocket.
86'
The ball is pumped forward again. It looks to be heading to a 0-0 that feels a lot like the game against Algeria at the World Cup.
85'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Kevin Davies backs in and goes in the book. Anyone who watches him regularly would have had money on that one.
83'
Joe Hart hasn't moved all night, and he dived to make that one from Jovanovic, but was miles away. England were so close to a shock result.
83'
England break, SWP down the left but he's brought down. Gerrard completely wastes the free-kick, which was in a good position.
82'
Montenegro have the ball now and Johnson is beaten off the right. The ball breaks back and Jovanovic takes it on his chest and slams it against the bar.
81'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Boskovic off, Beciraj on.
81'
Cole wastes the ball after being hurried down the left.
80'
The ol' diagonal pass from Gerrard nearly comes off again. SWP this time, but he fails to control and hit a shot in one movement and loses the ball.
79'
Rooney and Gerrard combine on the edge of the box and Wright-Phillips gets hold of it and tries to get Johnson through. Too much on the pass though.
78'
Basa does well now to get across and stop Rooney from getting on the end of a Davies flick.
77'
The replays show that was pretty blatant. Deliberate. Obvious. How was that not given??
76'
Cries of handball. Oh Jovanovic surely handled that. The ref couldn't see, but the assistant was right there. Nothing given.
76'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Djalovic off, Delibasic on.
76'
Kascelan fouls again, Johnson on the right. He seems good at that.
76'
A ball forward by Montenegro sees no-one run after it, and it's a defensive task for them now for the rest of the game.
75'
Montenegro being pushed back and England are passing it around well. Glen Johnson tries something special and a reverse pass finds no-one.
74'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ashley Young off, Shaun Wright-Phillips on.
74'
Good spell of pressure for England. That was a good chance for Rooney, but it was well saved.
73'
Johnson now with the cross and, in trying to help it on, Rooney heads it the wrong way. Lots of pressure now. Rooney gets onto a bouncing ball and makes Bozovic save, then Gerrard has a go. Saved again!
72'
Rooney flicks with his foot to Davies, who has space down the right and swings a ball in. Rooney is there, but it's well cleared.
71'
Djalovic gets the ball down with a great flick on, but the poor lad has no-one around him. It's a thankless task.
70'
Gerrard flights the ball towards Rooney and the United striker can't gather. It's been the story of the game so far.
70'
Davies will offer some power up front and England need something different.
69'
He's now the oldest debutant, at 33, since 1950.
69'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kevin Davies on for Peter Crouch
69'
England caught on the break, but Boskovic takes the wrong option. Gerrard stops the attack.
68'
Djalovic still full of running up front, but he's running himself into the ground up there on his own.
67'
Crouch still causing some trouble for the Montenegro defenders, but they appear to be dealing with him well so far.
66'
Glen Johnson with some schoolboy control, lets the ball run under his foot and go out of play. The crowd are starting to make themselves heard.
65'
Zverotic has a shot, but that was always going wide. Hart still hasn't had a save to make.
64'
Bit tetchy now. The frustration really is showing in the England camp now. Players warming up on the sidelines.
63'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Young breaks and new-boy Kascelan brings him down. Another in the book and it breaks up the attack.
62'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Barry now yellow-carded as he goes into an aerial challenge leading with his arm.
61'
Ashley Cole has made more of an appearance in this half. England looking dangerous down the left.
60'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Novakovic off, Kascelan on.
60'
Young and Cole combine, but the ball in is poor. Great switch down the left.
60'
The game is starting to open up now. Replays showed that Young did dive, but penalties have been given for less.
58'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Controversy as Young goes in the book. He is in the box and Dzudovic comes across. Young goes to ground and, yes, he was going down before the tackle came.
58'
Montenegro have not conceded a goal in four games, and perhaps that's why.
58'
Great chance! Gerrard slides the ball through to Rooney running into the box. Bozovic gets a big hand on it, and Crouch can't quite get onto the rebound as he dives on it.
57'
Djalovic chases the ball down well and Vukcevic has a go. It's a long way out though and Ferdinand is able to block it with ease.
57'
Adam Johnson goes for goal from a long way out. He tries to drill it, but it goes over.
56'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Basa now. Goes in hard on Young and rightly goes in the book.
56'
Vukcevic attempts to get the ball forward, but there's a lack of support.
55'
Crouch is feeling the bad end of the ref's whistle at the moment. He keeps being called up for aerial challenges.
54'
Flag up against Rooney. Crouch with the flick on again and Rooney can't get on the end of it. He was just offside anyway.
53'
Crouch is defending the free-kick and thank goodness he is because it was a dangerous ball in. A nice header away, and in fact he was fouled.
52'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Rooney in the book. Really poor. He was tracking back and Zverotic was breaking, and just hooks him down without making any effort for the ball.
51'
He leaves it, Young hits it and it's too low. Headed clear.
51'
Cole is up again. Rooney standing over the free-kick.
50'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Savic goes in the book, but that looked bad.
50'
Ferdinand is mad that it wasn't a foul on him. Savic goes in on Cole and it's studs up. That was a bad one and Cole is down.
49'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1012/petercrouchchancevmont20101012_275x155.jpg"><br>Crouch had England's best chance.
49'
Good play from Gerrard and Crouch. The Liverpool man gets down the right and he beats his man. It's a poor cross when it comes in though, as it flashes across the box without anyone there.
48'
Savic does well for Montenegro against Young. Eventually the ball breaks for Rooney, he has space and wonders whether to pass, before smashing a shot over the bar.
47'
Barry tidies the ball up well and hands it over the Adam Johnson who sprints forward. Jovanovic pushes him off the ball though. Poor effort.
46'
Crouch grapples for some space, but the ref blows up and it's a foul to Montenegro at the far post.
46'
No changes, but something needs to change. Crouch wins the ball in the air again.
45'
<b>Kick-off.</b> Second half begins.
45'
<b>HT.</b> And that's it. England have controlled the game, but have lacked any cutting edge in the final third. Too many long balls and something has to change.
45'
Great chance on the half. Gerrard somehow gets the ball over to Glen Johnson, who has space. He tries to square it but the ball is cut out. Rooney pounces on the rebound, but his shot goes straight at Bozovic.
45'
One added minute for the first-half.
44'
England comfortable in possession at the back. But the temptation has been to pump it long to the giant Crouch too often.
43'
Glen Johnson goes down on the right, but the officials wave it away.
42'
Now the ball is on the deck. Rooney picks it up, turns and slides the ball in behind to Adam Johnson. It is very well weighted, but Johnson is not on the same wavelength and didn't make the right run.
41'
You know the score... Ferdinand long ball to Crouch. Flick on, but Rooney can't get on the end of it.
40'
The 'route one' approach again, as Crouch knocks it on to Rooney. He breaks into the box but is pushed wide and his cross finds no-one.
39'
Barry passes forward to where Gerrard was about 2 seconds ago. It feels a little forced at the moment and the crowd sighs in frustration.
38'
The ball is flicked on and Djalovic tries to get on the end of it. Glen Johnson comes across to hack the ball clear though. Hart hasn't had a touch yet.
37'
Montenegro try to mount an attack, a few good quick passes, but when the ball breaks forward there is no-one there to collect it.
36'
The two defences are playing a game of 'who wants the ball' and neither appears to be winning. The tempo has drained out of the game now.
35'
Young is battling for the ball now, but another long ball from England fails to find its mark.
34'
Capello talking to Young, presumably telling him to get on the ball and run at his man a bit more.
33'
Novakovic goes down and is needing treatment.
33'
Free-kick about 25 yards out. Johnson hits it with his left foot and it goes just wide. The keeper was scrambling across his goal to get to it.
32'
That was a decent chance. If England are looking for a breakthrough then down the wings looks the best bet.
31'
Adam Johnson beats his man, Jovanovic, and heads down the touchline. He has time and space, but there's few options and his ball across is cleared by Basa.
30'
Capello is urging Rooney to stay up the pitch as he drops back to try and pick up the ball. He's not finding space though.
29'
Glen Johnson tries a cross with his left foot and, well, let's just say we're glad he's not filling in at left-back tonight.
28'
Jovanovic swings it forward for Djalovic to try and get on the end of. He's very isolated up front on his own though and even if he was 6' 8'' he'd still have struggled to make a mark on that one.
27'
The band strikes up now in the England seats. They are obviously sensing the tension.
26'
Pekovic now floats it in and Glen Johnson hooks clear. A bit of possession for Montenegro, but England are soaking it up well.
25'
Young takes the free-kick himself. He curls it in and it floats across the box. No-one is there and it drifts harmlessly behind.
24'
<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Dzudovic goes in the book for that.
24'
Young does really well. Finds a lot of space and cuts inside. Dzudovic hammers him down just outside the box.
23'
The crowd are urging England forward, but they keep finding Montenegro bodies in the way.
22'
Not seen much of him, but Ashley Cole makes a break and fires the ball across the box. It's too close to the near post though, and although Bozovic drops it, he reclaims easily.
21'
Rooney sums it up as he gets behing Pekovic. He runs at the back four, but is too slow and isn't aware there's a tackler behind him, who wins the ball.
20'
Another long ball forward and it's well controlled by Rooney. There's a bit of frustration setting in from the England camp.
19'
A long, high ball into the box from Adam Johnson almost finds Crouch. Bozovic claims, sort of, and keeps the ball away from goal. Not convincing.
18'
Young looks like he's in space, but Barry's ball towards him is cut out by Savic. It's just the cutting edge that England are lacking at the moment.
16'
England being driven back whenever the ball is not controlled by Rooney or Crouch. Montenegro are asserting some good pressure.
16'
Gerrard fires the free-kick to Glen Johnson. He's in space and curls a cross onto Crouch's head. The striker is 8 yards out, but heads over. Should have done better!
15'
Dzudovic and Crouch are going to have some battles tonight. Both big blokes and they are clashing. The England man is brought down for a free-kick.
15'
Early stat for you. 70% possession for England and that sums up the start of the game.
14'
Gerrard shapes the ball forward with the outside of his boot. It curves into the path of Young, but the ball just skids away from him again. Great pass, great vision from Gerrard.
13'
Gerrard's cross is deflected and Bozovic gathers at the near post. Joe Hart could be in for a quiet night up the other end.
12'
Great stuff from Adam Johnson, he wins a corner after looking like he was going to be brushed off the ball. Shame his corner is poor.
11'
Vukcevic does really well against Young, skips past Barry and it's Gerrard who is tracking back who puts the tackle in.
10'
Crouch flicks on and the ball skids off the turf, Rooney is running onto it and on goal, but Dzudovic hooks the ball away at the last moment.
9'
Good tight play on the far left from Basa and Boskovic. The midfield playmaker appears to be Boskovic who is demanding the ball at every chance.
8'
Decent attacking move from England. Barry pops it forward to Rooney, who squares it to Young. He drives inside and has a go. It's miles off target, but at least he's attacking.
7'
Poor from both Johnsons. Adam loses the ball, Glen loses the tackle. Ferdinand smashes in on Pekovic and the ball breaks. Eventually the shot from Djalovic goes wide.
6'
Great tackling back by Gerrard. He's not the skipper, but that was captain's tackle, sliding in to stop the counter attack.
6'
Lescott does well to keep Zverotic away from the ball. A good dummy shields him away from goal.
5'
England just testing the Montenegro defence with a possession game. The final balls are not finding their mark, but they look comfortable.
4'
Young breaks. Takes on Savic, but his pass on to Rooney is cut out by Dzudovic.
3'
Glenn Johnson trying to attack down the right, he's stopped, but shows some good attacking instincts. A gap is likely to open up down that side later.
2'
Great long ball from Ferdinand and it cuts the Montenegro defence in half. It bounces, skids, and Crouch just fails to get on the end of it. Perhaps he should have done better.
2'
Johnson dances inside but is cut down by Pekovic. He's shown some decent early touches.
2'
Djalovic looks like he's ploughing a lone furrow up front for Montenegro. Everyone else is behind the ball.
1'
England passing the ball around well so far. Not giving Montenegro a touch...
1'
<b>Kick-off. England get us underway...</b>
-
Teams are walking out onto the pitch now and it won't be long now. Five mins and we're off...
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Montenegro have only been an international side in their own right since 2007. They have risen up the rankings with incredible speed and England will know they are in a battle.
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Montenegro also like to attack, but you feel that away from home they might put more emphasis on their defensive resolve.
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We're expecting an attacking performance from the Three Lions tonight. Lots of pace and skill down the wing and Rooney playing behind a central striker. It looks well balanced on paper.
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For the record, Montenegro's three results have all been 1-0 wins in the qualifiers. Their attack will be blunted without Vucinic, but they are still a threat.
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The focus, up front at least, will be on Wayne Rooney. His form has been poor for Man Utd, but he has a chance to redeem himself for his country.
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The dangerman will now most likely be Branko Boskovic who will be responsible for building the attacks. A weakness? Possibly down the flanks with Milan Jovanovic (not the Liverpool one).
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News from Montenegro. Vucinic is out! He's done a hamstring (possibly putting his shorts on his head) and will miss the game. Big blow for the group leaders!
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Really good chance for Adam Johnson this. He's not been starting much for Man City, despite being brilliant when he does come on. Now he can show Mancini and Capello what he is all about.
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Ashley Young and Adam Johnson are on the wings, with Rooney and Crouch up front. Barry and Gerrard get the nod in the middle as Frank Lampard is injured.
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Team news from England and, as expected, Ferdinand keeps the captaincy. He's got Joleon Lescott for company in defence.
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Why not check out Jon Carter's <A HREF= http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=299366&cc=5739 target=new>preview</A> of tonight's game in Euro 2012 qualifying.
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England take on Montenegro at Wembley at 2000 BST. Can Zlatko Kranjcar's side spring a surprise against the injury-hit home team? Live updates will appear here from 1945.
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<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1011/rioferdinandrooneywembley20101011_275x155.jpg">