Capello anxious to avoid Montenegro shoot-out

England are level on points with Montenegro at the head of Group G. However, as they have two matches during the forthcoming international double-header, and their rivals only have one against Wales in Cardiff on Friday, England could take the initiative.

The omens are good. England have never lost in nine previous meetings with Bulgaria and smashed four past them at Wembley in September, when Jermain Defoe bagged a hat-trick.

How Capello could do with a repeat showing in Sofia on Friday.

“Bulgaria and Wales are really important games for us,” said the England coach.

“We play the last game against Montenegro and need to be top of the group before that one because it will be a really difficult game.

“The stadium, the pitch, the fans will be really strong, which is why we need to do well in our next matches.

“In our last match against Bulgaria, we played a good game but I remember it well and they got some chances as well.

“They have a lot of quality and are good with free-kicks and shots from distance.

“In fact, although we scored four goals, we actually had more chances against Montenegro, when we didn’t score. It was just that the keeper made the difference.”

It was Bulgaria’s failure to overcome Montenegro in Sofia that earmarked where the direct challenge to England’s place at Euro 2012 would come from.

Since then, Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has taken the reins, presiding over just one loss in his five games in charge – in Belarus earlier this month.

With Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov resisting calls to come out of retirement, Matthaus is relying on the return of Aston Villa midfield player Stiliyan Petrov to rouse a team for whom discipline appears to be a problem with eight members of their squad having been fined for breaking a curfew prior to the Belarus defeat.

Capello will hope to exploit any dissent with a side expected to contain Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard in central midfield, as Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere are out through injury.

Of the Manchester United youngsters called up by Capello, Chris Smalling seems most likely to start, at right-back, ahead of Micah Richards, given how impressed the Italian has been by the former Fulham man’s performances since switching out of central defence.