You might have forgotten that there was a game of international football on Thursday, given all of the drama that has occurred between Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Liverpool’s Joe Gomez.

Following an on-field spat during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Manchester City, tensions were running high between the pair, and Sterling’s overreaction to what he perceived to be Gomez mocking him has cost undoubtedly England’s best player a place against Montenegro.

Beneath all of the drama of the Gomez and Sterling bust up lies the fact that not only will England qualify for Euro 2020 with a point from this game (the sixth time in a row that England have qualified for a major international tournament) but England will play their 1000th game.

This is a feat that deserves the recognition and praise that will be showered upon the England players on Thursday at Wembley.

Lots of people have been talking about England’s greatest ever XI and so GIVEMESPORT have had a go at picking theirs.

GK - Gordon Banks 73 Caps

He was the goalkeeper that won the World Cup, ever present for England for nine years, he kept 35 clean sheets for England and made perhaps the most famous save not only in England's history, but perhaps world football, when he saved Pele's header, perhaps no 'keeper did it better for England.

RB - Gary Neville 85 Caps

Make no mistake about it, Gary Neville was not liked during his playing career. Seen as the symbol of Manchester United dominance, Neville was mocked for not being that good. Rubbish. He was the finest right-back England ever had. He hit his peak for England as part of the golden generation, that should have done more at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

CB - Bobby Moore (Captain) 108 caps 2 Goals

Quite simply an icon. The image of Bobby Moore in the red of England, upon the shoulders of his teammates holding the Jules Rimet trophy aloft, is the most famous in English football. Moore was the ultimate captain, first leading the team out at the age of 22, and went on to do so a further 90 times. His tackle on Pele in the 1970 World Cup is still replayed to this day.

CB - Rio Ferdinand 81 caps 2 Goals

The best ball playing centre half that England ever had. Ferdinand flourished in a number of England teams, thanks to his ability to play the ball out of defence. But don’t let his ability to play football cloud the fact he was an excellent defender. He could read the game better than most and he made it to four World Cup squads.

LB - Ashley Cole 107 Caps

Part of the Golden generation and was perhaps the best left-back in the world throughout his England career. Only Peter Shilton has played in more World Cup finals games than Cole. He deserved to have some silverware to show from his 107 caps.

RCM - David Beckham 115 Caps 17 Goals

The most famous English footballer ever and the face of the golden generation, “Becks” was also a world class footballer. He was vilified after being sent off against Argentina at France ’98, but carried England to the World Cup finals in 2002 after his last gasp free-kick against Greece. He became the first Englishman to score in three consecutive World Cups, and was England’s captain at three major tournaments.

CM - Paul Gascoigne 57 Caps 10 Goals

Gazza was brilliant. Due to his off field antics, people forget that. But watch footage of him and you’ll soon realise he was the best player of his generation, and perhaps the most naturally gifted player England ever had. His performances captured the heart of the nation at Italia 90, and he scored one of the best goals England has ever scored against Scotland at Euro ’96.

LCM - Bobby Charlton 106 Caps 49 Goals

For a long time, Sir Bobby Charlton was the record appearance holder and goalscorer for England and was part of the 1966 World Cup winning team. Charlton was famous for scoring some absolute bangers for England, and contributed three goals during the ’66 World Cup campaign, that earned him the golden ball for the tournament - the only English player to win this.

CAM - Wayne Rooney 120 Caps 53 Goals

Rooney, much like Gascoigne, was a phenomenal natural talent. He holds the records for most caps for an outfield player, youngest goalscorer, and most importantly is England’s all-time top goalscorer. He burst onto the international stage at Euro 2004, and had he not got injured in the quarter-finals against Portugal, it’s fair to say that the Golden Generation may have won their first trophy since 1966.

RS - Gary Lineker 80 Caps 48 Goals

Known these days for hosting Match of the Day, Gary Lineker may have been the best goalscorer that this country every produced. He scored 10 goals for England across two World Cups, including winning the golden boot at the 1986 World Cup, if you ever needed a goal, Lineker was your man.

LS - Michael Owen 89 Caps 40 Goals

The scorer of the greatest goal England scored at a World Cup; at his peak, Michael Owen would score goals for fun. He scored in four major international tournaments, and is another player who deserved to win something for his country. He scored a hat-trick in England’s famous 5-1 win over Germany. His lack of fitness in later years stopped him from breaking the all-time goalscoring record

Subs: David Seaman, Tony Adams, Stuart Pearce, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Geoff Hurst

GIVEMEBET presents three things to consider for England ahead of their game with Montenegro.

England to win and both teams to score is 2/1 with GIVEMEBET.

The last two times these teams met, England won 5-1. England will have enough to beat Montenegro and have scored in every Euro 2020 qualifier thus far.

However they have shown some defensive frailties that culminated in a 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic, coupled with the fact that Southgate feels first choice centre half Harry Maguire needs a rest, England could be vulnerable at the back.

Marcus Rashford to score first for England is 3/1 with GIVEMEBET.

With Raheem Sterling out of the squad for the game with Montenegro, Marcus Rashford would be the likeliest player to come in for Sterling. He opened up the scoring for England last time they played against Bulgaria, and has been in rich form for Man United since then.

England to win 5-0 is 10/1 with GIVEMEBET.

England have scored five or more goals four times during the Euro 2020 qualification process. Having scored five against Montenegro in their last game, it wouldn’t be a shock if they repeated it again.