Jagielka remaining positive ahead of England’s crucial World Cup qualifiers – Liverpool Daily Post

8 Oct 2013 22:30

England’s Phil Jagielka speaks during press conference at St George’s Park, Burton

Phil Jagielka insists England are in a positive frame of mind as they prepare to face two final World Cup qualifiers which will determine whether Roy Hodgson’s men will be travelling to Rio next summer.

Back-to-back victories against Montenegro on Friday and Poland next Tuesday will sweep England into next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Four points would also be enough if Ukraine fail to overcome Poland in Kiev on Friday, but anything less and England will find themselves in the play-offs or, even worse, eliminated altogether.

However, that is not something Jagielka is contemplating.

“We should have got it done and dusted by now but obviously that’s not the case,” said the Everton captain.

“But we’re still looking at it from a very positive angle. The two results we need, it’s in our hands, and we’re looking at booking that flight to Rio.”

Although Jagielka is aware it would be wrong to underestimate a Montenegro side who have surprised many in Group H, and are not out of the running for a place in Rio, he is confident England have the players to cope with the task ahead.

“I was there when we drew the game away at Montenegro, as a team they’ve got a fantastic unit together,” said Jagielka.

“They put us under a lot of pressure, they are progressing and they’re confident as well.

“They’re going into this game as confident as us due to the fact they’ve picked up draws against us before, and they’re still in with a chance of trying to qualify themselves.

“We all know the task that lies ahead. I think there are quite a few people who’ve got the experience of being in similar situations before, so they’ve got big roles to play.

“We’ve also got some young lads with fantastic ability, so we’re massively confident we can go out there and put on a good performance which can hopefully produce goals.”

Jagielka Baines 460  

England have struggled through their qualification campaign so far, with their only wins coming against the joint-worst nation in the world San Marino, and Moldova, who are sandwiched between Tanzania and Guyana in the rankings.

But Jagielka says the mood within the camp is one of quiet confidence, borne mainly out of the fact that Hodgson has in-form strike duo Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge available.

“We have to be confident that we can get the job done,” said the 31-year-old.

“The squad looks healthy. Roy has gone very attacking in this squad and he has lots of options.

“All the strikers looked sharp in training – I know that for a fact – so the manager has a tough decision to make there.”

One simple decision Hodgson has to make is at left-back, where Leighton Baines is almost certain to come in for the injured Ashley Cole.

“I am sure he won’t let us down,” Jagielka said of his Everton team-mate.“He is a good defender and he gives us another attacking threat down the left flank as well.”