BARK TO THE FUTURE
Ross bosses it as England prove too good, too strong and too fearless
THE Gareth Southgate revolution shows no sign of stopping.
This is a stadium where England have struggled in the past, but last night they gave another demonstration of how far they have come.
Man-of-the-match Ross Barkley contributed two goals and an assist, England’s latest teenage star emerged in Callum Hudson-Odoi, while Harry Kane’s strike put his goals to games ratio into the world-class bracket. Raheem Sterling finished it off with a brilliantly taken fifth, then celebrated in front of the home fans, cupping his hands to his ears as a response to their racist chanting.
England were simply too good, too strong and too fearless to fall into the traps of the past. Their record in qualifying matches is unparalleled, with an unbeaten run going back nearly 10 years and 41 games to October 2009.
The old accusation was they were unbeatable in qualifiers but hopeless when the tournaments and games that matter come around. Yet there is already a different feeling with this group because they reached a World Cup semi-final and their next match is a Nations League semi-final with Holland in June.
Whisper it softly, but England are right up there, in the very top bracket of teams, with players ready to step and shoulder responsibility.
Last night, it was there for all to see. They went behind to a sloppy goal yet responded brilliantly, with any player who made even the hint of an error determined to make amends. That is the hallmark of this group.
Barkley is a shining example of how a player can hit a low only to return better and stronger. The 25-yearold missed out on the World Cup and England looked to be passing him by. Yet the way he has buckled down and played is a great credit to him.
Hudson-Odoi, 18, the second youngest player to start a Three Lions game after Wayne Rooney, has yet to start for Chelsea in the Premier League, yet was utterly fearless. Lesser players may have hidden after his poor and rather nervous start, but he found a second wind and was superb out on the left.
It may only have been Montenegro, ranked 46th in the world, but England had only managed one win in four previous meetings with them. There was not the flares or intimidation expected on the night but it was still a testing atmosphere and the stadium
came alive when the hosts took that shock lead.
Captain Stefan Savic launched a long ball, Zarko Tomasevic outmuscled Hudson-Odoi and Michael Keane made a poor headed clearance.
Marko Vesovic picked up the loose ball, ran at Keane and when the ball broke kindly for the winger he curled a brilliant shot beyond Jordan Pickford.
That was not in the script. England looked a bit shellshocked. But rather than sulk, they came back stronger. Southgate was shrewd enough to make a tactical change, moving Sterling to the right and Hudson-Odoi to the left and England were terrific from then on.
They were level on 31 minutes when Barkley floated a free-kick into the box and Michael Keane rose above Savic to head powerfully into the bottom corner for his first goal for England.
Seven minutes later, England were ahead. Hudson-Odoi skipped past two defenders and his off-target shot was turned into the net by Barkley.
It was all England now. Barkley was on target again after 59 minutes when Sterling, cut the ball back and he smashed in from close range.
The fourth came on 72 minutes. Sterling led a counterattack and his unselfish cross allowed Harry Kane to score his 22nd goal in 37 Three Lions appearances.
Sterling made it five after 80 minutes, breaking clear and then hitting a low shot under the keeper for his fourth goal in two games.
England have won their first two qualifiers in the group and already look halfway there.