Blake warns of Bosnian danger
Nicholas Veevers
Thursday, 27 May, 2010
Head Coach prepares Young Lions for Friday's tricky encounter.
UEFA European U19 Championship
Elite Qualifying Round
26-31 May 2010
Kiev, Ukraine
Click here for fixtures
By Nicholas Veevers
England U19s face their second game in the Elite Qualifying Round on Friday, knowing that a victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina will put them one step closer to reaching this summer’s European Championship Finals in France.
The Young Lions picked up three precious points from their first match against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday to set them on their way and they now face a Bosnia team who will be reeling after losing their opener 4-1 against Ukraine.
With only one team from the nations in this group progressing into the last eight, a victory for Noel Blake’s team will see them go into Monday’s game with current Euro champions Ukraine knowing that they have a chance of progressing.
Prior to that though, Blake knows that his side will have a tricky task in overcoming the Bosnians who will have their own ambitions to qualify.
“Eastern European teams have their own qualities and Bosnia won’t be easy,” revealed Blake.
“We played them in the Elite Round last year, and that was a difficult game at Doncaster.
“None of these fixtures are easy, so if any of our lads think these are going to be easy games then they will be in for shock.”
Blake is refusing to look too far into the future though and knows that after Wednesday’s hard fought victory, both of England’s remaining games will be every bit as difficult.
“They (Ukraine) won the title last year, and they certainly won’t want to relinquish it on home territory,” he added.
“We know that will be a very difficult game, but we will take every game at a time and keep analysing things.”