San Marino vs England Preview

Topics: San Marino, England, World Cup 2014

England can jump into first place in Group H depending on how Montenegro does in their match. For San Marino, scoring a goal will be enough of a prize.

When it comes to World Cup Qualifying, there is normally one team in each group that is far from competitive enough, making each match seem worst than the previous one. On Friday, San Marino will get a chance to finally score their first goal in the qualification round.

San Marino has conceded 16 goals in four qualification matches while they have not been able to score one. Playing against an England back four that will be without Rio Ferdinand, Gary Cahill and Michael Dawson who are all out with injuries, could give the hosts a better chance of grabbing their first goal, but that still seems very unlikely.

Roy Hodgson will also be without Jack Wilshere who has missed the last few matches for Arsenal with an injury. His absence will give Michael Carrick a chance to step into the midfield to form a partnership with Steven Gerrard in the center of the park.

Fortunately for Hodgson, England's first of their next two matches will be against San Marino, opposed to being against first placed Montenegro, who they will play next week.

For Wayne Rooney, Friday's match will be his return to the Stadion Pod Goricom, the venue where he was sent off during the Euro 2012 qualification match that kept him out of England's first matches at the European Competition.

The Manchester United forward enjoyed his first outing against San Marino netting two goals, so he would definitely welcome another positive outing.

San Marino will most likely not trouble Hodgson's side too much, giving them a chance to potentially rest some of the available players for their upcoming match with Montenegro.