Euro 2020 qualifiers: 3 reasons why England beat Montenegro

#2 Going behind didn’t faze Southgate’s side

A surprising opening goal for Montenegro didn't faze England

England are no strangers to surprisingly falling behind in qualifying games – most recently it happened in their game against Slovakia during the qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup, and in that match it took the Three Lions a while to settle back down into a rhythm as they clearly appeared to be stunned by conceding.

Tonight though, they stayed extremely calm, didn’t attempt to rush or force anything, and sure enough an equaliser came pretty swiftly. Marko Vesovic’s goal definitely came against the run of play but perhaps the most impressive thing about England’s response was the way Southgate swiftly shifted tactics – switching Raheem Sterling and Callum Hudson-Odoi on the flanks after the Chelsea youngster’s mistake had led to the goal.

It ensured that Montenegro never got comfortable in the lead while also showing faith in Hudson-Odoi’s attacking abilities despite his defensive error. And sure enough, it took less than 15 minutes for the move to pay off as England quickly went 1-2 up. England are a young side, but they seem far calmer under pressure than more experienced England sides of the past were, and that’s a huge positive.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram