Seven years ago today, a precocious 17-year-old by the name of Raheem Sterling made his England debut in an infamous 4-2 defeat to Sweden. The Liverpool teenager has since blossomed into one of the finest talents to don a Three Lions shirt in recent years, but he will not be part of Gareth Southgate’s side for tonight’s Euro 2020 qualifier with Montenegro, after a fracas with former teammate Joe Gomez has seen Sterling banished from selection for this crucial qualifier.
Not only did Sterling make his full international debut on November 14, 2012, but it will be a game long remembered for Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring four spectacular goals in a fine 4-2 win for the Swedes, as a lacklustre English side struggled to fire under the stewardship of Roy Hodgson.
Now, here at the Betting-Directory, we have decided to go down memory lane and look back at that six-goal thriller, and find out more about the squad that played that evening and where the players are now…
Starting XI
GK: Joe Hart
England’s number one for a number of years, Joe Hart went on to make 75 caps for his country, but a drop in form has led him to leave Manchester City and become the back up keeper at Burnley after spells at Torino and West Ham on loan.
RB: Glen Johnson
Playing for Liverpool at the time, Johnson enjoyed a career at clubs such as Chelsea and Portsmouth as well as the Merseyside giants. The right back finished his career at Stoke, having amassed 54 caps for the national team.
CB: Steven Caulker
His one and only England cap, and one of the few to score on his debut, Caulker had an interesting club record after his appearance vs Sweden, turning out for Liverpool, Dundee and Alanyaspor to name a few.
CB: Gary Cahill
Cahill enjoyed a glittering career with Chelsea, winning eight trophies with the London side. The centre half is currently experiencing a revival at Crystal Palace, after signing in the summer.
LB: Leighton Baines
One of the great left footed players of the Premier League era, Baines was known for his brilliant delivery and free-kick technique. Included in England’s squad for the 2014 World Cup, the left back was recently offered a new one-year contract at Everton.
MF: Tom Cleverley
One of just 13 caps for the midfielder. Once tipped by Sir Alex Ferguson as ‘potentially the best midfielder in Britain’, Cleverley has struggled with injury since he left Manchester United in 2015. He currently plays for Watford in the Premier League.
MF: Steven Gerrard
What words can you use to describe Steven Gerrard? One of England’s all-time great players, a man who carried Liverpool to many trophies. Gerrard is currently in Glasgow, as the manager of Rangers.
MF: Leon Osman
A first team regular in the Everton side since 2004, Leon Osman finally got his England call up at the ripe old age of 31. Just one of two England caps for the Everton man, who finished his career in 2016.
FW: Ashley Young
One of England’s most exciting wingers at the time, Ashley Young has made 39 caps for his country. Winning five trophies with Man Utd, he can often be found playing in the full back role at Old Trafford.
FW: Raheem Sterling
One of England’s great talents of the modern era, Raheem Sterling has transformed into one of the best players in the Premier League and potentially the most important player the country has. Currently on 55 caps at just 24 years old, expect him to reach three figures before he turns 30.
FW: Danny Welbeck
A remarkable record for England, scoring 16 goals in 42 games for his country, Welbeck has recently struggled with injury, signing for Watford in the summer of 2019.
On The Bench
Sub: Carl Jenkinson
Again his one and only cap for England, coming on as a second half substitution, Jenkinson has struggled to live up to the hype. Revered by Arsenal fans due to his love for the club, the right back has recently signed for Nottingham Forest.
Sub: Ryan Shawcross
Coming on at the same time as Jenkinson, Shawcross is another with just one cap. The Stoke stalwart has stayed true to his club in their struggles, winning their Player of the Year in 2014.
Sub: Jack Wilshere
Once England’s great hope, the man to take on the mantle from Paul Gascoigne, the midfielder has an unfortunate famous struggle with injuries. Let go by Arsenal, he was picked up by West Ham, where his struggles have continued.
Sub: Tom Huddlestone
The fourth most caps for England’s u21 side, Huddlestone struggled to match that with the senior side, making just four caps for the national team. He turns out for Derby these days, where he can still be seen spraying passes to any part of the pitch.
Sub: Wilfried Zaha
One of his two caps for England before changing allegiances to play for Ivory Coast, Zaha was one of the great hopes in his day, known for his jinking runs and his ability to turn a defender inside out. The winger currently plays for Crystal Palace after a disappointing spell at Man Utd.
Sub: Daniel Sturridge
Representing England at every level from u16s, including representing Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, Daniel Sturridge has had an interesting career. After spell at Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool, the striker currently plies his trade in Turkey with Trabzonspor.
Not used: John Ruddy
Making 243 appearances for Norwich, the keeper only managed one cap for England, and wasn’t used in their defeat to Sweden. He’s currently playing for Wolves in the Premier League, although he is struggling to displace Rui Patricio.
Not used: Ryan Bertrand
Touted as the man to replace Ashley Cole at Chelsea and England, the left back struggled to live up to the billing. Making 19 caps for his country, he can be seen down on the south coast with Southampton.
Not used: Phil Jagielka
Having been a consistent feature in the Everton team, Phil Jagielka made 40 appearances for his country since his debut in 2008. He’s currently back at Sheffield United, the place where it all began for the centre half.
Not used: Fraser Forster
Having made just six appearances since 2013, Forster struggled to get in ahead of the other goalkeepers in the national squad. He’s recently returned to Celtic, where it could be argued he enjoyed his best form in his career.
England v Montenegro Odds & Tip
| Thursday – 7.45pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| England v Montenegro | ||
| England -3 on handicap Best Bet | 6/4 |  |
Odds correct as of 2019-11-12 11:09:10
£20
£30
£
£30
£30
£40
£100
£30
Odds correct as of 14th Nov, 09:50 Odds subject to change.