Worries mount for England's Southgate ahead of Albania clash
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[November 12, 2021] By
Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - England's qualification with games to spare for
next year's World Cup finals had looked like a formality but two
draws in their last three Group I qualifiers has raised the stakes
ahead of Friday's home clash with Albania.
Gareth Southgate's side need four points from their final two
fixtures to guarantee winning the group and with an away fixture
against San Marino on Monday it is hardly a tall order.
Yet with injuries and illness disrupting Southgate's plans and an
in-form Albania still eyeing qualification, the Wembley clash takes
on greater significance.
England have won each of their five meetings against Albania but the
Balkan side are third in the standings having done the double over
Hungary and losing narrowly to second-placed Poland.
Should Edoardo Reja's side pull off a surprise victory at Wembley
and Poland beat Andorra it would leave England and Poland level on
points ahead of next week's final fixtures.
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Even in that scenario, England would likely bolster their goal
difference sufficiently against San Marino to crawl across the line,
but the momentum has definitely slowed.
Southgate will be without midfielder Declan Rice through ilness on
Friday and most probably Mason Mount, who has had dental surgery,
while full back Luke Shaw is a major doubt because of concussion
protocols.
"Training's been good. We've had a few players had to withdraw but
we've been dealing with that. It's never straightforward, we've just
got on with it," Southgate said.
"Mason has to recover from his dental surgery while Luke didn't pass
his first HIA (Head Injury Assessment) and quite rightly we have to
follow the guidelines on that."
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England manager Gareth Southgate during training Action Images via
Reuters/Carl Recine
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There was better news regarding Jack Grealish who
will be available, Southgate said, after also suffering from
illness.
STERN TEST
England's draw in Poland and then, more surprisingly, at home to
Hungary has left them on 20 points, three ahead of Poland while
Albania have 15 points.
England captain Harry Kane, who scored in the 2-0 win away to
Albania in March, said he was expecting a stern test.
"It's a game we want to win. We need four points to qualify so the
sooner we can get the three point on the board (for a win) the
better," Kane told reporters.
"We expect a tough game as Albania still have a chance to qualify.
They'll bring a lot of energy and passion, and we've got to make
sure we match that. It'll be a tough battle.
"We know there's still a lot of hard work needed and we'll be ready
for the challenge."
Kane, who has been in disappointing form for Tottenham Hotspur this
season, said the 1-1 draw at home to Hungary last time out had given
the squad a jolt.
"Whenever you have a disappointing game, or you don't reach the
standards you normally reach, it kind of wakes you up a little bit
and makes you realise there's still work to do, still more to
improve on," the striker said.
"Three points from that game would have really helped towards
securing qualification, so now it's about turning it round and
responding to that game."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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