Noel Blake fires Montenegro warning to England Under-19s
Head coach Noel Blake today warned England under-19s must be ready for war at the Banks's Stadium tomorrow.
The Three Lions open their UEFA Championship Elite Qualifying Round when they take on Montenegro (kick-off 3pm).
It's the first of three games in five days as Blake's men aim to finish top of a four team group which also includes Scotland and Ukraine.
And while England will be many people's favourites to progress to the U19s finals, he says they can take nothing for granted.
"Sometimes you are into war, you are into really competitive fixtures and you have to compete," he said.
"It's no different now. You have to look at the characteristics and culture of the opposition.
"We know we've got two eastern European nations, we have played them both recently and then we've got one of our biggest rivals in Scotland and I don't have to say any more about that. We have to guard against that and do what we do.
"Montenegro this is the third time we've played them at this stage. They are a big strong physical side but that's their culture and the way they play but they have good technical players too.
"People think because it's Ukraine or Montenegro you should turn them over willy nilly but it doesn't work that way."
England's squad includes Villa's Callum Robinson, who is expected to lead the line. The side are captained by Southampton's Calum Chambers.
After taking on the Montenegrins tomorrow, they face Scotland on Monday and then Ukraine next Thursday, the latter two games both taking place at Burton's Pirelli Stadium.
Finishing top of the group would put them in the finals, which also act as a qualification mechanism for the next FIFA U20 World Cup, which takes place in New Zealand in June 2015.
Blake's side got to this stage after winning their first qualifying group in Slovenia last year and the former Blues defender admits he has found tournament football a new challenge.
"I have to confess I didn't realise how different it was because it is totally different with the mental strain," he added.
"Over the years you have different groups who apply themselves differently and again depending on the opposition. We have a tendency to forget about the opposition but they are like us, they want to do one thing and that's qualify."
The other games at the Banks's see Montenegro face Ukraine on Monday (3pm) and then Scotland next Thursday (3pm).
