Players must learn to love Wembley

HIS first competitive home match will be a proud moment for Roy Hodgson, who seems to be warming to the role. He inherited Fabio Capello’s team at the Euros and did well. Now he needs to own this qualifying campaign. Wembley has been a problem for England players over the years and it is something Gary Neville will be helping with behind the scenes. You’ve got to love playing in front of a home crowd and use that to give you confidence and make the ground a fortress rather than something that intimidates you.

BLUNT UKRAINE

LOSING Andriy Shevchenko is hugely significant for Ukraine. They seemed incredibly reliant on him during the summer and there is no doubt their attack will be blunted by his absence. Coach Oleh Blokhin has called for his younger players to step up and he’s right to do so. But it isn’t easy. Someone needs to want to be the next Shevchenko.

CAHILL IS CLASS

GARY CAHILL has made great strides in the last few seasons which means losing John Terry is no longer such a big deal. Cahill’s got very good technique and quick feet for a centre half and he’s stepped up at Chelsea. As you mature as a defender the key is making fewer and fewer mistakes and he’s doing that. He also scores goals from set pieces — which is key for England. In fact, Cahill is similar in many ways to Terry.

FIXTURE BONUS

MOLDOVA might be 141st in the world rankings, but England’s biggest away win in 19 years is still worth something. It was a perfect start from the players’ point of view. With all due respect, it was a dress rehearsal, almost a live training drill for tonight’s match. The fixture list isn’t always so kind in giving you such a platform at the start of a qualifying campaign.