Montenegro jibes ignored as Hodgson stays focused

ENGLAND head coach Roy Hodgson refused to be drawn into mind games with Montenegro counterpart Branko Brnovic and wants his team do their talking on the pitch in tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Podgorica.

Brnovic accused England of being a long-ball team, being scared of the fixture, having a weak defence and being arrogant by pencilling in friendlies for next November’s play-off dates. But Hodgson has all his focus on trying to pull off the victory by England would wrestle top spot in Group H away from their opponents, who currently hold a two-point advantage.

He said: “People are entitled to their opinions. I would say it is mind games. There is not too much doubt about that. I don’t have an opinion (about what Brnovic has said). I’m surprised he thinks a defeat won’t hurt Montenegro. Most coaches feel a defeat at all levels of football.

“I’m also quite confident people in England know how we play. I would suggest they know the team even better than their coach and will make their own decision on those statements.

“But, for me, it is water off a duck’s back. Matches are not won or lost by coaches either making provocative statements or telling you what a wonderful team you are to lure you into a false sense of security.”

Hodgson added: “We’ve prepared for the game, we’ve studied Montenegro, we know a lot about their team, know their strengths and weaknesses. Anything said before the game is of no interest to us and makes no difference to the outcome of the game.”

Hodgson has no plans to talk specifically to Wayne Rooney about keeping his discipline tomorrow evening after his sending off in a Euro 2012 qualifier in the same stadium 17 months ago.

With high stakes, England have been called into question over their discipline. Hodgson said: “I won’t talk to Wayne personally. We talk about that (discipline) in general terms all the time. We take great interest in our disciplinary record because of the two yellow cards meaning a ban in this group. But Rooney’s disciplinary record since the Montenegro game has been exemplary, he hasn’t been booked for England, and I won’t be talking to him in particular.

“I trust the players and won’t be making a particular point of it (discipline) because I know the players are aware of it.”

And, despite the standing, Hodgson thinks that England will probably be made favourites to triumph in Podgorica. He said: “Montenegro have started the campaign well but we feel, with the players we’ve got, we are capable of winning the game and may even be considered favourites to win the game. I’m prepared to assume that responsibility. We know, certainly on paper, Montenegro pose a bigger threat maybe than San Marino.

“But, on the other hand, they are just another of the teams in the group and this is another game on the way to achieving our aim of qualification. We won’t play for a draw. We have attacking qualities and will be trying to use those qualities.”

In terms of his selection, Hodgson has confidence in the Joleon Lescott-Chris Smalling centre-back pairing to deal with the threat posed by Mirko Vucinic and Stevan Jovetic.

He said: “I remind people that in Joleon Lescott we have a man who last year helped Manchester City to their first title for 40 odd years. In Chris Smalling we have someone who is playing regularly for the champions elect in Manchester United.

“It is not like we are being forced to play players who don’t play at the highest level and don’t have the ability to play at the highest level. I trust the pair of them and think they are going to do very well. There will be no sleep lost for me about that position.”

Meanwhile, former goalkeeper Peter Shilton believes Rio Ferdinand will regret his England snub. Manchester United defender Ferdinand was recalled for England’s World Cup double-header against San Marino and Montenegro, only to pull out in order to follow a pre-planned fitness routine designed to help him manage his long-standing back problems.

The 34-year-old then flew to Doha to appear as a TV pundit to analyse the San Marino match. Former goalkeeper Shilton, England’s record appearance holder with 125 caps, said: “Playing for your country, for me, was the ultimate but that seems to have changed a little bit. I don’t know the circumstances of what went on but I wanted to get every cap I could. I don’t know why Rio isn’t playing, whether it’s an injury or not, but if he has just pulled out for no reason then I totally disagree with that.”