England need a draw or a win from tonight’s away fixture in Montenegro to book their place at next summer’s European Championships – get the right result and the squad can put their feet up for the rest of the international break and see how everyone else gets on!

To mark the end of the qualifiers and to start looking forward to next summer, we’ve created a Special Edition collection that accompanies the England Away shirt we revealed earlier this year. The collection – which goes on sale today – features a Special Edition England Away shirt, three tonal shirt designs, a colour contrast England Away shirt and a Special Edition Anthem Jacket.

The jacket which you can see on John Terry, Joe Hart and Andy Carroll above, will be worn by the England players as they walk out ahead of the game in Podgorica tonight for the national anthems.

The shirt, featured on John Terry in the picture above, features an evolution of Peter Saville’s Modern England design on the collar, plus a tonal England crest and Umbro logo on the chest. It’s a smart alternative to the regular England Away shirt worn by the players, and looks just as good in the stands or down the pub as it does on the pitch.

If England secure their place at Euro 2012, we’ll all be wanting a wardrobe full of smart gear as we look forward to a summer in Poland and the Ukraine – check out the England Away Special Edition collection for something to fit every style!

Thrilling crowds around the world comes naturally to dance titans Chase & Status, but when you add revealing the England Away shirt into the mix then it can become slightly more nerve-wracking! After the duo revealed the shirt at the Benicassim Festival earlier this year, we spoke to them about that night and their connections to Umbro’s home city of Manchester. Here’s what they had to say…

Revealing the England Away shirt must have been a big occasion, how did it feel?

Will (Status): ‘It was a mix of everything really…definitely a little bit nervous, because walking out in the England shirt in a foreign country is potentially a little… not hostile, but something similar! But we watched the video of Kasabian doing it in Paris, we saw how they did it, and it made us excited about it as well, and proud to be wearing the top. So, a mix of nervous excitement, and very proud! It ended up being an amazing night, and everyone was cheering along with us, which was really nice as well!’

Before you go out on stage, do you have a warm up routine?

Saul (Chase): ‘Not really, we always have a little team huddle before we go on, and Rage our front man says a few words of encouragement, gets everyone hyped up. But generally, everyone’s pretty relaxed, conserving their energy for the madness that’s sure to follow.’

How do you pass the time while on tour?

Saul: ‘We always have our laptops, so we can potentially be working on some sounds and loops, and we always watch a lot of TV series, like The Wire or The West Wing. There’s a lot of lounging about when you’re driving between venues, to be honest! It’s hard to work when you’re recovering from a gig.’

So there’s no time for some FIFA or Pro Evo?

Saul: ‘We don’t really play to be honest, those days are long gone! It used to be FIFA for me though…’

Will: ‘And for me it used to be Pro Evo, that was back on the PS1 though.’

You’ve played gigs all around the world, but what’s the most unusual place you’ve been?

Will: ‘We played in deepest darkest Russia, it gets pretty surreal out there and in some parts of Eastern Europe. Also, Japan is pretty different from what we’re used to with the crowds, and the whole experience of being out there. We’ve played some weird places in the middle of America as well, out in the Deep South, where you wouldn’t expect to find yourself…’

Is there anywhere you haven’t been that you’d love to visit?

Will: ‘We haven’t spent that much time in South America, we’d love to go down to Rio and experience what a gig is like there.’

We hear that the two of you met in Manchester while at uni, is that true?

Saul: ‘That’s not exactly true, we met before in London, around 1997. But we both went to Manchester University, and that’s where the music all kicked off for us.’

Will: ‘It’s a place that influenced us massively, it allowed us to grow as artists. It was very affordable, which when you’ve got no money is a massive bonus! We got our independence from Manchester, we were away from our families, living on our own for the first time. There’s a great vibe up there, we lived in a really cool place, and the musical heritage of the city is just massive. There’s loads of amazing clubs, we ended up putting on a few nights and getting really involved in the music scene in the city. There’s a really welcoming, friendly vibe to the area. It’s generally accepted that the northern part of the country is a bit more open and a bit more friendly to strangers. We made a lot of friends there. It’s a great place to go back and play, it’s like a home from home for us.’

Your music comes from all sorts of different genres, who would you say are your top musical influences?

Saul: ‘So many! From Nirvana to the Chili Peppers, to Biggy Smalls, to New Order, to U2, to Prodigy, to Andy C, The Steve Miller Band, Stevie Wonder…we could go on all day. We just love so much music.’

Finally, you’re well known for all the different artists you’ve collaborated with – is there anyone you haven’t worked with yet that you’d like to?

Saul: ‘We’d love to work with Tyler The Creator, who’s a really exciting rapper from America. The thing for Will and I is that it doesn’t matter whether people are famous or not, we just want people who are exciting, with an original voice, that’s our ideal collaboration really.’

Thanks to Will and Saul for taking the time to speak to us about their experiences of representing England Away. We’ve also got a Special Edition England Shirt signed by Chase & Status, which we’re giving away today on our Twitter page – head there now for details on how to win!

The England football team will also be representing their country tomorrow evening, when they hope to confirm their qualification for Euro 2012 in the match against Montenegro. The team will walk out for the game in a Special Edition England Away Anthem jacket – for more details head over to the Umbro website.

As England look forward to Friday’s international against Montenegro, where they could confirm their qualification to next summer’s European Championships, we’re very excited to reveal a special edition England Away collection. As they walk out for Friday’s big game, the England team will debut the England Away Special Edition Anthem Jacket pictured above, which features an evolution of Peter Saville’s Modern England graphic inspired by contemporary England. The jacket, which will be on sale at Umbro.com from Friday, features the graphic as a subtle tonal print on the body.

Also part of the collection is the England Away Special Edition Shirt, a special version of the shirt worn by the players with the Modern England graphic on the collar. Featuring the same innovation design and fabric as the England Away shirt, the Special Edition version will be on sale at Umbro.com from Friday. With the England team just one step away from Euro 2012, this new Special Edition collection should give you plenty of stylish options through the winter and towards next summer! Check out Umbro.com for more on the Special Edition Shirt and Anthem Jacket, plus more additions to the England Away range.

You’ve already seen pictures of Chase & Status revealing the England Away shirt, but how about this for seeing the action up close? The dance titans have given us this fantastic video which captures the moment they launched themselves on stage at Spain’s Benicassim Festival whilst wearing the England Away shirt.

Created by Liam Underwood, the video perfectly captures the excitement of the moment and the intensity of the Chase & Status live performance. The England Away shirts look pretty smart as well! The shirt made its debut on the players last week for the 3-0 win against Bulgaria, and will be seen again in the final Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.

For now though, this video acts as a great way of getting us excited ahead of tonight’s massive game at Wembley against Wales. Can’t wait!

Away fixtures for the national side offer a stern test of will, concentration and commitment, so that’s where a determined captain comes in. Luckily, England have John Terry wearing the armband, the Chelsea defender winning almost 70 caps for his country and providing rock-solid support from the back. Ahead of the vital Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria tomorrow night, we spoke to JT about tough away fixtures and the new blue England away shirt. Here’s what he had to say…

You certainly look committed in these England away photos! Was it a tough shoot to do?

‘There was a lot of shouting going on! But the guys in the studio are good at getting you comfortable and relaxed so you can get into it. So I think it worked well and it comes across in the pictures, which look great.’

What do you think of the new England Away shirt?

‘I think it’s really nice, actually. I know it’s been red and white for a while, but I think it’s nice to have a change at times, and the colour for this shirt looks great. It’s really smart when you put it on as well, so I think the fans will like it when they get to see it up close.’

You’ll be used to wearing a blue shirt with your club, does that help?

‘The fact that it’s a blue shirt is an added bonus for me, as I’m used to wearing them! It might be different for some of the other boys in the squad who are used to playing in red, but for us Chelsea boys it’ll be a nice touch, and I’m looking forward to winning some games while I’m wearing it.’

We’re heading towards the final set of Euro 2012 qualifiers, are you looking forward to getting back into some competitive internationals?

‘I think everyone in the squad realises that we’ve still got some way to go before we’re qualified. Although I’m the one wearing the armband, there’s plenty of people in the squad that will keep us on our toes for the games against Bulgaria and Wales and the rest of our qualifying fixtures. We’re in a good position, but the job isn’t finished yet, and we want to make sure we get as many points as possible.’

Some of the away fixtures are in some tough places to play, is it intimidating for players to travel to these places?

‘No, not really, because wherever we play we know that our fans will travel in big numbers and lend their support. Even in these intense atmospheres away from home, we’re lucky to have some terrific support from the England fans, making themselves heard, which is always welcome. And if we make it to Poland and the Ukraine next year, I’m sure the fans will be there again offering us that level of support, which is a great thing to know that it’s there.’

How does an intense atmosphere affect the game – does it increase the pressure?

‘I think naturally, when you’re playing at the top level week in week out, then you get that kind of pressure in every game you play. With England, we’re lucky in that a lot of the squad experience that with their clubs, so when it comes to these games, they’re used to it. The reason we’re at these clubs is because we can handle this pressure, and yeah, I do enjoy it, there’s nothing better than coming off the field knowing you’ve done well and shown everyone what we’re capable of.’

Do you have any particular favourites when it comes to away fixtures with the national side?

‘It’s difficult to choose one to be honest, as there’s been so many that stand out. As I said before, just coming off the field having won the game, even when sometimes you’ve had to grind out the result, that’s the best feeling you can ask for as a player.’

Thanks to John for taking the time to speak to us, and good luck to all the squad for tomorrow’s game. The new England Away shirt is on sale now, you can order it directly at www.umbro.com.

He might have only made his England debut last September, but Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is now considered the number one choice for the national side. Ahead of the game against Bulgaria on Friday, we spoke to Joe about playing in intense atmospheres and what he thinks of the new England goalkeeper shirt…

First of all, what do you think of the new top?

‘It’s lively! It reminds me a bit of the one David Seaman wore in Euro 96, but I don’t mind a bit of liveliness, I think it’s cool.’

Goalkeeper shirts tend to have a bit more going on….

‘Yeah, we tend to get the more colourful efforts. I think it’s nice, you can tell that there’s more effort put into the fit nowadays when you put it on, that side of things is great.’

You mentioned Euro 96, is that one of your first football memories?

‘Yeah, Euro 96 was one of the first big tournaments that I remember, because I was at the age where I understood what was going on, so I really enjoyed it. David Seaman was definitely the player that I looked up to as I was growing up, I sort of supported Arsenal because he was playing for them and, of course, I followed England as well. It was nice to watch him.’

How does it feel when you’re playing in another country, either for your club or for England?

‘You’re just not welcome really! You’re just there to lose the game in the eyes of the home fans, and when you go abroad it’s very different. You get some hostile atmospheres in England, but it’s completely different when you go abroad. With City we’ve had a few interesting experiences, some places that have been really hot, with a heavy police presence, but I enjoy playing in those atmospheres, it’s exciting.’

How do you try to deal with it?

‘I think it feeds your enthusiasm to be honest, I like being part of new things and new experiences so it encourages that. It’s really interesting, and there’s a few places that I’d like to play to see what it’s all about.’

Is it different for a keeper as opposed to an outfield player?

‘Yeah, you’ve got to be switched on constantly as a goalkeeper, especially when you’re playing for England or at a similar level. There’s times when you’re not doing something, but sometimes, particularly in away games, that can change in an instant and then there’s massive pressure on you. It’s exciting, and it’s great to be involved in it.’

How do you think the qualifying campaign has gone so far?

‘We’ve still got two away games to go – Bulgaria and Macedonia are going to be two massive games, in the kind of atmospheres that we’ve been talking about. I think if we can get through them and then take a look at where we are, we’ll have a much better idea, rather than looking at next summer yet.’

Is it more difficult when you’re playing for a team like England, when expectations are high?

‘Sometimes you do know that the team playing against you would take a draw, and they’re going to frustrate you, whereas we’re expected to win every game. So the longer it’s 0-0, it’s hard work, but you hope that the quality will shine through in the end.’

What do you think it will be like in Poland and the Ukraine next summer, if England qualify?

‘I was with the England U21 squad watching when England played the Ukraine, and it was one of the most lively atmospheres I’ve ever seen, so it’d certainly be interesting to be out there next summer and playing in that kind of atmosphere.’

Thanks to Joe for taking the time to talk to us, and best of luck to all the squad for the vital games against Bulgaria and Wales this week. The new England Away goalkeeper shirt is on sale now, and you can buy it direct from the Umbro website.

Scoring his first goal for England earlier this year, Liverpool striker Andy Carroll is expected to play a key part in the remaining Euro 2012 qualification games. As he took part in the photo shoot for the new England Away shirt, we grabbed him for a quick chat about all things England…

How was it taking part in the photo shoot?

‘I’ve done a couple of similar things before, but not quite like that! It was pretty strange at first, shouting and singing the national anthem, but you kind of get into it.’

It’s the first time you’ve seen the kit, what do you think?

‘It’s a nice top, it feels good to put it on, and it’s a nice colour. It’s really smart.’

Can you remember England wearing blue shirts before?

‘To be honest, I don’t remember watching that much football as I was growing up, as I was always out playing it. I’ll watch games now, but at the time I just wanted to be out playing.’

How does it feel to travel to foreign countries and experience football in different atmospheres?

‘It’s good, for me personally to go out and see different things and other countries is really exciting. The atmosphere at some of the European games I’ve played in has been amazing. There were drums pounding throughout the game, they never stopped, it was great, to be honest.’

As a striker, what are the key things to remember when you’re playing in an away game like that?

‘You’ve just got to be alert and stay alert when you’re not involved. And then when the chance comes along you’ve got to take it, it’s as simple as that, to be honest. At away games you might have less chances than at home, but like I say you’ve just got to be switched on for when the chance comes.’

You scored your first goal for England earlier this year, how was that?

‘It was great, first of all to start the game against Ghana. I knew that if a chance came along I was going to take it, and as soon as it came along I knew I was going to score it. Sometimes, you just know that if you get the right touch, you’re going to bury it. It was unbelievable when it went in, obviously with it being at Wembley as well that made it extra special.’

With some key fixtures still to come, how are you feeling about the remaining qualifiers for Euro 2012?

‘Finishing top is what everyone’s committed towards. There’s only half the job done, so we just want to get the results in these forthcoming games and make sure we finish top.’

Thanks to Andy for taking the time to talk to us. In the picture above Andy Carroll wears the new England Away kit, which is available to buy now – you can now buy it direct from the Umbro website.

Over the past week we’ve been asking for your finest stories concerning England away from home, coupled with some inspirational stories from some of our football friends from around the world, and we’ve had some great responses – some of which we probably can’t publish! However, we have managed to pick out a winner for our terrific prize bundle, which includes a signed England Away shirt, a VIP trip to Wembley and a visit to an England training session to see the squad put through their paces.

For capturing an iconic England moment in a unique way, and simply for making us laugh in the space of two lines, here’s our prize winner from Ken Wilkinson. Congratulations to Ken on winning our prize!

“1986 World Cup, Argentina v England. I’m in Spain on holiday watching the game on TV in a bar. Maradona scores his hand of god goal, England crowd goes barmy, drinks and tables go all over the place but I’m in the bog trapped, the lock has broken! Spent two hours in there until the bar got cleaned up and my mates remembered about me.”

We’ve also got 5 runners-up, who win the new England Away shirt, congratulations also go to:

Martyn Murphy
Tom Cumberworth
James Taylor
Andy Moss
David Birnie

Thanks to everyone who entered our England Away competition. You’ll be able to see the new shirt in action for the first time next Friday when England take on Bulgaria, and we’ll have interviews with some of the squad’s star players next week as we build up to the big game.

Another tale of watching England away from home today, which will hopefully offer some inspiration to anyone wanting to enter our England Away competition. You’ve only got until the end of this week to enter, so get your stories submitted for a chance to win our terrific England bundle. Today’s story comes courtesy of The Football Ramble‘s Marcus Speller, telling a tale of trying to find a football match to watch whilst in Peru….

“I was on my travels in deepest darkest Peru with an Arsenal-supporting friend of mine. We’d heard that the Gunners were playing Newcastle the next morning (Peruvian time) so we thought we’d get some much needed Premier League action. The next day we headed towards the main square to find a bar showing the game. En route we were distracted by persuasive locals trying to sell us alpaca goods (jumpers, finger puppets) and children wanting to kick a ball around with us.

After we bought a few woolly numbers and showed the local kids how to play a long ball to no-one we reached the square and its array of bars. We approached a number of likeable chaps standing outside said bars trying to tempt anyone in with “buy one get one free deals for Cuba Libres”, and every time we put our inquiry to them they would start a conversation about the Premier League telling us about their favourite team and players.

One bloke actually said his favourite player was Peter Crouch, which really amused my friend and I more than it should’ve. Anyway, after all the fuss someone pointed us in the direction of a bar, which was an Irish bar, of course. We ate shepherds pie and drank Fanta whilst watching the game and coincidentally the only goal was scored by a Peruvian – Nolberto Solano. My mate didn’t find any consolation in that, though.”

Thanks to Marcus for telling his tale – if you think you’ve got a better story about watching Englandaway from home, you could be in with a chance of winning a great bundle of prizes. Click here to find out how to enter our competition.

We’ve had some great responses to our England Away competition so far, where we’re asking you to tell us stories of when you’ve watched the team abroad, or the interesting places you’ve travelled to so that you can catch your team. Today, we’ve got another guest telling us about some of the memorable occasions they’ve had overseas. Nick Schonberger is Features Editor at KCKRS, and he’s also a big England fan. Here he captures some memorable occasions he’s had, perhaps not for the best reasons…

“1996. Hopes high – memories of Gazza’s terrific run at the Scots still flickering and Stuart Pierce’s quarter-final celebration fresh – and praying the magic of home field advantage would propel the English side to victory in the European semi-finals.

Baddiel and Skinner had sung it, and I believed. Football was coming home. Yet, I was in Greece. Sat with my brother and mum in a seedy hotel bar, hands wrung, watching Gareth Southgate line up for the sixth spot kick.

We were, suffice to say, outnumbered. The three of us, amounting to roughly 2 full-blooded English people, surrounded by old German men. The atmosphere, naturally smoky, had been emotionally tense throughout the match. Southgate’s miss stung.

As those in the bar rose to cheer, I sank. We were strangers to the moment. Away from home, amid the opposition, and with little to comfort us… not even the usual ammo of the English, a cup of tea.

In 2004, I watched England lose to Portugal on penalties in a bar in Camden. The collective disappointment was somehow comforting. All assembled faced with the same troubling anger. The same thoughts of “really, this again?” There’s little fun in losing. Yet, home makes things a touch easier.

Two years later, I was back in Greece… figuratively, of course. In reality, I was in New Bedford, MA. Once again, England and Portugal had reached stalemate after extra-time. The dreaded moment of a shootout boiling the blood, the town around me began to heave.

You see, the majority of New Bedford’s population is of Portuguese origin. I was, once again, a fan away. Misery loves company, they say. Sadly, my misery that day was isolated. From my apartment I watched as cars speed through the streets with flags flying.

I removed the shirt I’d faithfully worn for each match of the cup and placed it in the trash. Football still hadn’t come home. And, neither had I.”

Thanks to Nick for digging up some of those painful moments! It doesn’t have to be as detailed, but if you think you’ve got a good story about watching Englandaway from home, you could be in with a chance of winning a great bundle of prizes. Click here to find out how to enter our competition.