With physically intimidating opponents, ranked nine places above the Three Lions, Peter Sturgess’s side narrowly lost the first game 5-4 after making a number of careless individual errors to hand the hosts victory.
But they responded in positive fashion to claim an important 2-1 win in the second match so can take many positives from the two performances as they build up to the European Qualifiers in January.
Montenegro 5-4 England
Montenegro 1-2 England
International Futsal
24 and 25 October 2014
Tivat, Montenegro
By Simon Walker
Typically the England Futsal team start their season in slow fashion with the early annual autumn fixture witnessing an incomplete performance and the first match in beautiful Tivat proved no different.
On the whole, England dominated the game and looked a better team with the players looking fitter, sharper and more technically gifted than their Montenegrin opponents.
England had long periods of quality possession, but the players looked a little rusty and somewhat short of playing at their full potential, with the final ball often missing during a first half without any meaningful chances.
Montenegro soon demonstrated that they were a force to be reckoned with, and whilst they perhaps did not possess the overall technical quality to outplay England, they defended resiliently with strength and a physicality that at times bordered on excessive.
The hosts were patient and waited for England to make errors, which disappointingly from England’s perspective came too frequently for Sturgess’ liking.
Draskovic capitalised on an English mistake to hammer home the first goal to give Montenegro the lead at half time.
England came out rejuvenated in the second half and had one of their brightest spells, with Stuart Cook scoring almost immediately after the break to level the scores.
New captain Ben Mortlock then rounded off an excellent counter-attack moments later to make it 2-1 to England.
Montenegro looked deflated, but the Lions lost their focus and went through a crazy seven minute period where a string of basic individual errors presented the Montenegrins with numerous goal-scoring opportunities which to the glee of the home support were taken. Montenegro slotted four unanswered goals during this period to give them a 5-2 lead.
A dazed England struggled to compose themselves, but the excellent Luke Ballinger was a thorn in the Montenegrin side throughout, and doing particularly well not to be provoked by the intimidating play of the home team.
And it was Ballinger that got England back into the game in the 33rd minute with a clever close-range flick to make it 5-3. England found their stride and quickly made it 5-4 with Cook grabbing his second with a strong finish.
For the remaining five minutes, the Montenegrin goal was under constant pressure but England failed to grab the equaliser that they rightfully deserved, with Ballinger missing a golden opportunity in the last moments of the game.
In previous times the England players may have felt sorry for themselves after failing to get something out of a game that they dominated.
England deserved their win in the second game with Montenegro
But there was no such struggle to pick themselves up for the following day’s game and whilst the England team are ranked below Montenegro, the squad now has a greater belief that they are good enough to beat opponents theoretically better than them in the rankings.
England exuded calm and confidence at the start of the second game and even after Barovic gave the Montenegrins an early lead, England did not look like losing this game.
The Three Lions dominated possession and the team’s movement was exceptional as they moved the Montenegrin defence around.
The home team could not live with the speed and movement of the Lions and resorted to overly aggressive play and quickly racked up five fouls with ten minutes of the first half remaining; the Montenegrins were lucky to not have players sent off.
England stretched the Montenegro defence and had a number of subsequent fouls, particularly a clear penalty decision against Stuart Cook, that was not seen by the officials to give the Lions a chance of levelling the scores.
England took matters into their own hands after the break with Cook scoring a stunning goal to equalise, followed by an equally good finish from Guillermo Wallace to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
There were more good chances to extend the lead and England remained in complete control in an excellent and professional performance.
So whilst England will be disappointed not to come home with a deserved two positive results, the general manner of their play and attitude will please the England coaching team, particularly as the squad prepare for the UEFA Futsal Euro qualifiers in January.
