Four days on from their 8-0 rout of San Marino, England face a potentially decisive World Cup qualifier on Tuesday against a Montenegro side who will not be anywhere near as obliging.
With four games still to come in Group H, it is too soon to cast the game as a make-or-break encounter, but the ramifications for success and failure are vastly different.
Win, and England will go top of the group, ahead of a kind run-in of fixtures that will see them play three of their final four matches at home.
Lose, and they will allow Montenegro to streak five points clear in the contest for the one and only automatic qualifying berth.
Montenegro, 28th in the FIFA ranking, avoided defeat in their two encounters with England in qualifying for Euro 2012 and their Podgorica City Stadium is expected to provide a hostile setting.
England manager Roy Hodgson, however, says that his side have been steeled for a scrap ever since the start of the qualifying campaign.
"We always knew this was going to be a bit of a dogfight, so only time will tell whether we can afford to lose Tuesday's game," he said.
"But we are not going there to lose. If Montenegro want the three points they will, hopefully, have to play very well, or we will have to have a very bad day.
"We have no intentions of having a bad day. We are going into the game with confidence."
Hodgson is expected to make as many as six changes to the side that demolished San Marino, although centre-back Gary Cahill and forward Theo Walcott will both miss the game through injury.
The England manager has also revealed that Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson should be fit to play, having been excused from duty in Serravalle to rest a toe injury, although he may need a pain-killing injection.
"We hope it will get better in the next couple of days," said Hodgson.
"If it doesn't, it might need an injection, but there is no problem."
On England's last visit to Podgorica, 17 months ago, they recorded a 2-2 draw that allowed them to secure a place at Euro 2012, where they reached the quarter-finals.
However, the game was marred by the dismissal of striker Wayne Rooney for recklessly kicking out at Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic.
In anticipation that Hodgson's men will once again face an intimidating atmosphere in the Montenegrin capital, England captain Steven Gerrard has urged his team-mates to keep their heads.
"It is important we keep 11 men on the pitch because it is going to be a very difficult game," he said.
"They will be trying to claim every decision, every foul, and they will be trying to intimidate the ref to make rash decisions.
"I'm sure we will have a good ref in charge who will make sensible decisions, but it's important we keep our cool and keep everyone on the pitch."
Montenegro are bidding to qualify for a major tournament for the first time since gaining independence from Serbia in 2006 and they preserved their grip on first place in the group by winning 1-0 at Moldova on Friday.
Mirko Vucinic, who claimed the game's only goal, says England's need for victory on Tuesday could play into the hosts' hands, despite their opponents' status as pre-match favourites.
"England are still one of the best teams and they start as favourites to win this match," said the Juventus forward.
"But the situation is completely different when it comes to the group standings. That means they have to come and attack us.
"We have a stronger selection of players this time than in (qualifying for) the Euros - and England have a weaker defence because some of their players can't play."
Montenegro could be missing two of the four midfielders who started against Moldova, with Milorad Pekovic suspended and Filip Kasalica a big doubt after being stretchered off in Chisinau.
AFP
Mon Mar 25 2013
![Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721017239_TBFADILLAH.jpg)
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, tingkatkan liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
![Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721103547_WargaThailandWitt.jpg)
Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel
Seorang warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen Alor Setar atas pertuduhan menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel.
Lilitan reben putih tak langgar peraturan - Timbalan Speaker
Ramli berkata, perkara itu juga adalah merupakan keputusannya dan bukan dibuat oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
KR sedia tambah baik SOP pembinaan lebuhraya
Alaxender berkata kementerian bersedia untuk mendedahkan laporan kajian insiden jika ia melibatkan kemalangan berskala besar dan meragut nyawa.
![Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721107133_keropokberacunrem.jpg)
Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari
Tempoh reman terhadap seorang pemilik kebun disambung selama dua hari, bagi membantu siasatan kematian dua kanak-kanak yang meninggal dunia akibat makan keropok beracun.
KPM alukan pesara guru ajar Bahasa Inggeris
Jelas Fadhlina Sidek pesara-pesara guru telah banyak membantu usaha KPM dalam meningkatkan PdP bahasa Inggeris termasuk melalui Program Highly Immersive Programme Mentor (HIP Mentor).
![Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721100784_TBmysj.jpg)
Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM
Jika positif COVID-19 melalui ujian kendiri, pesakit boleh mengunjungi klinik dan hospital berdekatan bagi mendapatkan pengesahan.
![Mayat hampir reput dijumpai di rumah usang Mayat hampir reput dijumpai di rumah usang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41702437730_maut.jpg)
Mayat hampir reput dijumpai di rumah usang
Mayat hampir reput ditemui di sebuah rumah usang di Kesang Laut, berdekatan pusat timbang Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) pada Ahad.
Wanita dakwa dituduh Rafizi fail saman
Seorang wanita memfailkan saman terhadap Menteri Ekonomi, Rafizi Ramli bagi menuntut permohonan maaf secara terbuka berhubung dakwaan bahawa wanita berkenaan ialah isteri kepada bekas menteri yang dikaitkan dengan isu kapal tempur pesisir (LCS).
Bagaimanapun, Rafizi bergantung kepada pembelaan justifikasi berkata bersedia membuktikan kenyataan di mahkamah termasuk perlindungan bersyarat dan ulasan yang saksama terhadap saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh Zainab Mohd Salleh.
Bagaimanapun, Rafizi bergantung kepada pembelaan justifikasi berkata bersedia membuktikan kenyataan di mahkamah termasuk perlindungan bersyarat dan ulasan yang saksama terhadap saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh Zainab Mohd Salleh.
![EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721013896_LukeShaw.jpg)
EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw tidak pernah berada dalam kesebelasan utama sejak saingan kumpulan akibat dari kecederaan yang dialaminya di Manchester United.
![Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720996121_EUROSpainCh.jpg)
Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan
Kemenangan itu menjadi kejuaraan Eropah keempat buat La Roja manakala England terus kempunan tewas dalam dua perlawanan akhir berturut-turut.
![EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720931139_HarryKane.jpg)
EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England
HARRY Kane mengakui dia sedia 'tinggalkan segala pencapaian yang diperoleh sepanjang kerjaya' untuk memenangi Euro 2024 bersama England, apabila bakal bertemu Sepanyol awal pagi esok.
![EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720931720_GarethSouthgate.jpg)
EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak
GARETH Southgate percaya England perlu memenangi Euro 2024 jika mereka ingin mendapat pengiktirafan dunia bola sepak.
![EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720658510_tbOllieWatkinsEng.jpg)
EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final
Perlawanan separuh masa pertama menyaksikan England dan Belanda terikat 1-1 hasil jaringan 'roket' Xavi Simons dan Harry Kane.
![EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain' EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720502654_HarryKane.jpg)
EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain'
PEMAIN England memberikan sokongan kepada kapten mereka, Harry Kane yang berada dalam tekanan selepas persembahan hambar dalam kejohanan Euro kali ini.
![EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720308967_Euro.jpg)
EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir
Switzerland terpaksa akur selepas tewas 5-3 kepada England melalui sepakan penentuan penalti dalam perlawanan suku akhir.
![EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71719783357_JudeBellingham.jpg)
EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir
Separuh masa pertama menyaksikan England mendominasi aksi tetapi sukar menembusi benteng pertahanan Slovakia yang lebih berdisiplin.
![EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719460809_EnglandBelanda.jpg)
EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary
England akan bertemu Slovakia dan Belanda akan menghadapi Romania dalam pusingan 16 EURO 2024 selepas Hungary tersingkir.
![EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719363645_England.jpg)
EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar
Walaupun seri, England melangkah ke pusingan 16 selaku juara kumpulan selepas Denmark dan Serbia juga seri tanpa jaringan dalam satu lagi perlawanan.