Montenegro v England Betting Tips: More Sterling joy in Podgorica?
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Betting preview and odds for Euro 2020 qualifier
England got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign off to the perfect start against Czech Republic on Friday. Tonight they make the long trip to face Montenegro in Podgorica.
Gareth Southgate’s side will be full of confidence after Raheem Sterling hit a hat-trick to send the Three Lions top of Group A in their opening match. Montenegro could only draw 1-1 against Bulgaria.
Who’ll come out on top tonight? You can catch the action live on ITV from 7pm, but before that we’ve put together a comprehensive preview of the tie.
Head-to-Head
England tend to find things difficult out in Podgorica. The Three Lions have drawn 2-2 and 1-1 on their two previous visits to the Montenegrin capital – taking the lead both times before being pegged back.
Wayne Rooney, Andros Townsend and Daniel Sturridge were all on the scoresheet the last time the nations met. That ended in a 4-1 victory for Roy Hodgson’s men to leave them on the brink of qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Likely XIs
Southgate will have to make at least two changes to the side that beat Czech Republic on Friday. Eric Dier and Dele Alli are both out, with Declan Rice and Ross Barkley expected to come in.
Jadon Sancho also appears doubtful after his sensational full debut at Wembley. Callum Hudson-Odoi is his most likely replacement alongside Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling in a 4-3-3- formation.
Montenegro will stick men behind the ball in an attempt to contain England’s attacking threat. That should mean starts for defensive midfielders Nebojsa Kosovic and Nikola Vukcevic in a 4-2-3-1 system. Stefan Mugosa will shoulder the attacking burden in a lone front role.
Key Battles
Ljubisa Tumbakovic has opted to bulk out the midfield. So the Three Lions should expect to get the majority of their joy down the flanks through Sterling and Hudson-Odoi.
Experienced defensive duo Stefan Savic and Marko Savic won’t make life easy England’s young guns. But the visitors should possess the nous and technical superiority to outplay their opponents.
There’s an argument to suggest England’s biggest battle will be mental rather than physical in the compact, and often hostile, 15,000 Podgorica City Stadium. The Three Lions struggled on their last visit in 2013. They’ll be hoping to put past memories behind them this time around.
Match Odds
England are odds-on at 1/3 to collect all three points, with Montenegro at 9/1 and the Draw available at 15/4.
Kane is the obvious pick to score at 5/6. But it’s Sterling who’s in better form. The Manchester City winger hit a hat-trick on Friday to go with his brace against Spain in the Nations League. It’s 7/1 he scores 2 or more again here.
The Three Lions’ defence still has question marks hanging over it. England are 13/5 in the Win and Both Teams to Score market. Mugosa has four goals in his last three international matches and is 4/1 to find the net for the hosts.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
