2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: England vs. Poland Preview
After Friday night’s impressively controlled victory over Montenegro, Roy Hodgson’s England side go into the final qualifier full of confidence and knowing a win will guarantee top spot in group H.
Confidence may be high, but England will no doubt be mindful having been in this situation before – against Croatia in 2007, Holland in 1993 and Poland in 1973 – the results of which led to failure and the end of the manager’s tenure.
Hodgson may be without Friday’s man of the match, Andros Townsend, after the Tottenham attacker picked up a knock during the game. Despite the knock, the England camp are confident Townsend will make Tuesday’s game.
“We’ll monitor [the knock] but are very hopeful he will be fit to play.” Hodgson said.
In the continued absence of Chelsea left back, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines gets another chance to build on his excellent performance against Montenegro and Manchester United team-mates Chris Smalling and Philip Jones are competing to replace the suspended Tottenham defender Kyle Walker at right-back.
Poland will be without the attacking, Borussia Dortmund defender, Lukasz Piszcek, but will have fellow Dortmund forwards Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszcykowski leading the attack.
Previous Meetings
Poland held England to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in Warsaw a year ago, with Kamil Glik’s second-half equaliser cancelling out Wayne Rooney’s opener.
Poland famously held Alf Ramsey’s 1973 England side to a draw in the final group game, ending England’s hopes of qualifying for the following year’s World Cup in West Germany, after goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski had a night to remember.
Formations
Roy Hodgson will hope to name an unchanged side after finally beating a side other than San Marino or Moldova in group H – lining up in the now settled, fluid 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 / 4-4-2.
If Andros Townsend doesn’t make tomorrow’s game, Hodgson will most likely turn to James Milner. Though, the call-up of Raheem Sterling into the squad offers the option of another surprise, left field selection for the England coach.
Poland will line up in a similar 4-2-3-1, looking to soak up pressure at the back, countering at pace with their talented forwards such as captain Jakub Blaszcykowski and the in-form Adrian Mierzejewski.
Robert Lewandowski
England will start the game as strong favourites against a Poland side that have faltered throughout qualification, but must remain vigilant of the Dortmund striker.
As we have seen on numerous big occasions, nerves and cautiousness may well set in if England fail to find an early goal. If they do, Lewandowski has the ability for that one moment of magic to make them pay the highest possible price – failure to reach Brazil next year.
Artur Boruc
After an inauspicious start to his Southampton career, Boruc seems to have now found his feet on England’s south coast, excelling for the Saints this season.
No doubt the 18,000 Polish supporters expected at Wembley will be hoping for the type of Tomaszewski-esque performance that could scupper England’s 2014 travel plans.
Key battle
Danny Welbeck vs. Piotr Celeban
With Lukasz Szukala and Lukasz Piszcek unavailable to Polish coach Waldemar Fornalik, the inexperienced Celeban will most likely get an opportunity on the right of defence.
He will most likely be matched up against Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck, whose movement and link-up play from his wide attacking berth, seemed to go by without the credit it deserved.
Welbeck was excellent in Friday night against Montenegro and has been involved in much of the good attacking displays since breaking into this England side.
Alongside Wayne Rooney and an in form Daniel Sturridge, England may have finally found an attacking combination with the fluidity and movement required to succeed at this level.
After appearing relatively barren nit too long ago, England suddenly appear to have a potentially potent attack in the making.
All in all this could be a stern test for the inexperienced Polish defender.
Probable starting eleven
England: Hart; Jones, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Lampard; Townsend, Rooney, Welbeck; Sturridge
Poland: Boruc; Celeban, Jedrzejczyk, Glik, Wojtkowiak; M. Lewandowski, Krychowiak; Blaszczykowski,
Mierzejewski, Sobota; R. Lewandowski