England v Poland

Who wins?
You decide!

England 3-1 Poland.

Selection rumour:

James Milner to come in on the left for Danny Welbeck, to negate the threat of the Polish chap with 2 Zs in his name.

England 2-0

We'll no doubt take a while to score but should win this one. Nerves will be tested.

You mean Piszczek? Seriously worried if Milner is playing. Why play negatively, invites pressure & gives opposition confidence. We should be pushing them back. Playing negatively ends up with matches being drawn. Reason we are 17th in rankings & going to get a tough WC draw is because of those away draws against inferior teams, where Roy played players like Milner & Cleverley.

For me, it`s Jones for Walker & Wilshere for Lampard. Prediction 2-0 England.

I fancy England 3-0 or perhaps 3-1 ...as long as they play positively.

Try to sit back and it could be rather tense...

Hope they carry on where they left off last Friday.

No I meant Blaszczykowski - Milner will tuck in on the left to negate his threat it seems. Not something I would do, but it is only a rumour at this stage. Also, it seems Lampard will retain his place ahead of Wilshere (grrr).

Jones will come in for Walker, but that's expected.

Eng - Draw

San Marino do England a favour and win.  

A Mike Bassett moment perhaps, only with San Marino, not Luxembourg, as our saviours?

England have enough to win this game though, and with a bit to spare. Confidence is high, team spirit is high, and Roy Hodgson has stamped out complacency. Poland may very well be on the floor, even with their numerous "travelling" support.

I wouldn't be surprised if England bang in five or six tonight, and make it to Brazil in style. That is, of course, if England score early.

England 6-1 Poland = Something that could happen.

Come on England!

poland have a class keeper in boruc and a world class striker. tbh thats all i know about the poles although dont they have a decent centre md too?

england 2-1

Boruc, Blaszczykowski, and Lewandowski are the names that jump out at you from this Polish side. I would add Piszscek, the Polish right-back, but he's out with injury tonight - another boost to England, and perhaps incentive to stick with Welbeck over Milner.

Poland are a very ordinary side, with a very average back four and centre of midfield. Most of their attacks will come through Blaszczykowski and Lewandowski (the pair don't appear to get on it would seem, and Lewandowski rarely hits the heights for Poland). England know this, and England will negate this. Poland are a side that over the course of this campaign have: lost to Ukraine home and away, drew with Moldova, and conceded a goal to San Marino.

Average definitely springs to mind.

As long as England conquer their nerves, they should stick a few past Boruc tonight.

England 1-2 Poland.

None of that rubbish, Nicholas.

Unless you're trying to do a reverse jinx of course.

I hear Carrick may play instead of Lampard. Would like that, don't think Lampard fits into this England side. Not from the start anyway, I might hate him but he's on the plane.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I hear Carrick may play instead of Lampard. Would like that, don't think Lampard fits into this England side. Not from the start anyway, I might hate him but he's on the plane.

I heard that as well. Would much rather have Wilshere than Carrick.

Don't mind either change - Carrick is more naturally defensive than either Gerrard or Lampard, but he's decent on the ball and keeps the game ticking over, while obviously Wilshere is a more attacking option and would offer more if Poland try to pack the defence.

For me, Gerrard and Lampard have always been a bit too similar to be an effective combination, and even now that they are both getting on and their 'engines' are going, both are adapting in similar ways by playing deeper and more as distributors. Neither has ever been great at running with the ball and beating a man, and indeed both have a bit of a tendency (as do our centre halfs) of playing the ball the way they are facing.

Anyway, I just hope we get a decent start tonight, as I don't want to see us trying to cling to a 1-0 from the 665th minute...

dummy_half wrote:

.... I don't want to see us trying to cling to a 1-0 from the 665th minute...

Dummy - how much injury time do you reckon there's going to be ?!  

Yeah I don't think Lampard really fits into the system, Carrick does more for me. Still have reservations about him at this level, time for him to step up tonight

guildfordbat wrote:

dummy_half wrote:

.... I don't want to see us trying to cling to a 1-0 from the 665th minute...

Dummy - how much injury time do you reckon there's going to be ?!  

Damned dyslexic fingers...

Not quite that much unless Fergie has just been appointed Poland coach  

Expected team news:

Smalling in for Walker (bit surprised)
Carrick in for Lampard (big night for Carrick)

Lampard offers nothing nowadays, no chance him playing two games in a row.

Early goal for England will kill this match altogether & the Polish atmosphere. Hodgson should have us quick out the traps, showing authority. Want to see better link up between Rooney & Sturridge too. Big night for Cahill too, still unsure on him, tying down Lewandowski will be a good challenge.

England by 2 or 3. I look forward to the post game reaction on here, when hopefully we are qualified.

Chesney to start for Poland is the rumor

The FA ‏@FA
England Team: Hart, Smalling, Baines, Gerrard, Cahill, Jagielka, Townsend, Carrick, Sturridge, Rooney, Welbeck #EngvPol

Pleased he's stuck with Welbeck over Milner.

Come on England!

Overall, a good result. Poland were never going to be easy or hard. They do, however, make mistakes, as do we all at some point, which helps.

A good game with good, if not, great goals. Bring on Brazil.