Hart plays down significance of friendly wins

England delighted their fans with Wembley victories over world and European champions Spain and five-time World Cup winners Brazil in the last 18 months, but knows it is less glamourous outings such as the forthcoming double-header that really matter.

"We've had a few special moments," Manchester City goalkeeper Hart said. "We beat Spain last season and we beat Brazil last month - but they're friendlies.

"Yes, they count and it's a great feeling to get a full house at Wembley and send the crowd home happy, but we would much prefer to win on Friday and Tuesday."

England go into the qualifiers two points behind group H leaders Montenegro, who they meet in Podgorica next Tuesday, while minnows San Marino provide the opposition at Stadio di Serravalle on Friday night.

While a win against lowly San Marino is all but a given, Montenegro away is another matter entirely, with defeat in that match sure to make life very difficult for Roy Hodgson's men as they bid to reach Rio 2014.

"No one has a divine right to take part in Brazil - apart from Brazil!" Hart added.

"The games in the group are really tough. Montenegro, Poland, Ukraine, all those games are really hard.

"Away games are especially hard. We've got a job on our hands but we've definitely got the capabilities."

While Hart admits the lure of a World Cup in Brazil is great, he would be thrilled to take part in the tournament wherever it was held.

"A World Cup in Brazil does sound good. I like the ring of it, the colours and the place, the football side of it," he said.

"But it would be the same desire if the World Cup was in Greenland, the North Pole.

"It's taking part in a World Cup for England that the desire just burns.

"But if you start thinking about that then it's half the battle lost because you have to concentrate on what we're doing now.

"You can't get carried away until you've got that letter Q for qualifier next to your name."

Hart will prepare for San Marino as if he was playing against one of the leading nations, even though he may have little to do.

Supporters cheered on the few occasions he touched the ball during England's 5-0 win in the reverse fixture last year, and Hart said: "You can't prepare differently for any game now. You have to prepare to win. You have to be as prepared as can be.

"Games often don't turn out how you expect them to or how they've been billed. I treat them all the same. the same merits, the same preparation, the same commitment.

"My idea of being in goal is to do my bit and stay out of the way. If that means taking two goal kicks, that's fine by me. If that means having to make 20 saves, it's the same. I'll keep it to a minimum, try and stay out of the way, try and do my bit and let rest of the boys do the rest.

"I like to know all the opposition players. I like to know what foot they tend to shoot with, how they like to strike the ball.

"It doesn't matter who they are. They don't have to be a £20million striker. People can score past you. That's how it is and you've got to be prepared for that."