Roy Hodgson would surely lead England to glory at a World Cup for left backs.
It is hard to think of any country with such an array of talent in the position as England have at their disposal.
Ashley Cole has been the best left back in the world for the past decade and only now is the Chelsea star facing question marks over his England place.
That is down to the threat of Everton’s Leighton Baines who is more of an attacking option as he not only loves to make forward runs but can also hit brilliant free kicks.
When Cole was out injured last week, Kieran Gibbs got the call-up after his outstanding start to the season with Arsenal.
You also have Luke Shaw emerging at Southampton and he has starred for England’s under-21s in the past year.
When Shaw pulled out of England’s win in San Marino, then up stepped Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson who has already won a full cap.
While there are problems in other positions for England – namely keeper and centre halves – there is a rich talent pool coming through at left back which should fill the squad for the next decade or so.
That is encouraging for both Hodgson and England under-21 boss Gareth Southgate whose squad face Lithuania on Tuesday night at Ipswich on the back of an encouraging win over minnows San Marino.
The problem with Southgate’s squad a few weeks ago was that so few were in first team starting line-ups in the Premier League.
Suddenly, with Ravel Morrison starring at West Ham, Shaw impressing at Southampton, Saido Berahino getting games at West Brom, they look much stronger.
Morrison, 20, in particular, is catching the eye because he has something different and special and that can give a real creative spark.
It left Southgate praising Morrison, a reformed bad boy, after his excellent start to the campaign with West Ham which has propelled him back into the England set-up.
Southgate said: "We’ve been very aware of him coming through the England junior teams. I’ve spoken to Sam Allardyce at length about his progress. The one thing I said from the off was I wanted creative talents in the squad.
"There always has to be a balance in your squad of characters and styles of player, but somebody who can, in the same way Raheem (Sterling) and Wilf and Jesse Lingard can, unlock defences are a valuable commodity.
"That is especially in the types of games we’ve got where teams are banking up against us and making it very difficult for us to break them down. It’s just great to see a young man enjoying his football."
The 2014 World Cup promises to be , with millions of people already planning trips to Brazil next summer.
With its unspoilt beaches, verdant forests and misty mountains, the country offers something for everyone. Those who do visit Brazil are sure to be spoilt for choice.
But the main event will of course be the football, meaning the ticketing process will come into focus over the next few months. Below is our guide for fans looking to go to games at World Cup 2014.
The sales phases
FIFA have divided the process up into three phases, with the first two each comprising two elements – a lottery and a first-come-first-served sale. The Phase One lottery has already closed, with over 6 million tickets requested already.
FIFA.com
The dates for the remaining phases are:
5 November 2013 – 28 November 2013: Phase One first come first served6 December: World Cup finals draw8 December 2013 – 30 January 2014: Phase Two lottery26 February 2014 – 1 April 2014: Phase Two first come first served15 April 2014 – 13 July 2014: Last minute first come first servedTypes of ticket
Tickets for individual games are divided up by category, with prices ranging accordingly. Disabled access tickets cost the same as Category 3.
There are also two special tickets available:
Team Specific Ticket: Fans looking to follow one specific country can by this ticket, which allows them to attend every match involving that team. These are available to cover between three and seven matches. If the team you choose is knocked out at the group stage, the ticket will be valid for games of the group winners. If the team exits in the knockout stages, it will be valid for games of the side that knocked them out.
Venue Specific Ticket: Pretty much what it sounds like – the ticket is valid for games at a particular stadium. Some arenas only host four games (including São Paulo and Belo Horizonte), while Brasilia offers six. The ticket for the Maracana does not include the opening match and the final.
How to apply
The easiest way to apply is to register . The process is relatively simple, although you will have to wait for one of the relevant sales windows listed above to open. Alternatively, a form can be downloaded that allows fans to apply via post.
Forty years of hurt will ease for Roy McFarland if England beat Poland at Wembley tomorrow.
Ease but never be totally erased because he suffered like no other member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s team in October 1973.
Failure to improve on a 1-1 draw with the Poles in their final World Cup qualifier was shattering enough for the pre-eminent English centre-half of his generation.
What made it all the worse was the fact Derby County had accepted Brian Clough’s resignation two days earlier.
McFarland recalls: "It was perhaps the worst week of my professional life.
"I hope to be sitting near Martin Peters and Martin Chivers in the Royal Box at Wembley on Tuesday with a smile on my face after England have booked their tickets for Brazil next summer.
"For me, three points will mean a little bit of payback for what that Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski put us through all those years ago.
"Losing out on a World Cup place and losing Brian Clough as my club manager was a massive double whammy, I was left reeling.
"We had won the league at Derby in 1972, been cheated out of the European Cup in the semi-finals by Juventus and there seemed no end to what the club could achieve under Brian and Peter Taylor.
"Beating Don Revie’s Leeds United and Bill Shankly’s Liverpool to the title was just for starters. Without doubt more trophies would have followed.
"Before the Poland match, Brian came up to me on the Wembley pitch.
"It was the first time I had seen him since his resignation.
"He was working for ITV and said, ‘Good luck tonight – don’t worry about what has happened, just make sure you win.’
"Don’t worry? That was easy for him to say. He’d given me lots to worry about.
"Brian predicted a 2-0 home win and branded Tomaszewski ‘a circus clown with gloves’ but the laugh was on us because he played a blinder.
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"Poland went in front 10 minutes into the second half when Norman Hunter had a moment which haunted him.
"There was a rare breakaway out on the left touchline near the halfway line.
"Norman would normally have put the ball into the stand, but we were trying to be creative and score ourselves.
"The Poles charged on and the ball was fed to an unmarked Jan Domarski, whose shot slid past Peter Shilton.
"I was backpedalling when Grzegorz Lato played the decisive pass and still ask myself, ‘Could I have done better?’ I don’t know the answer to this day.
"Allan Clarke equalised with a penalty with over 25 minutes to go – and never for a single moment did I think we wouldn’t score a winner.
"My Derby team-mate Kevin Hector came on as a substitute, Alf’s last throw of the dice, and he was literally inches away from becoming a national hero.
"Tony Currie sent over a corner and Kevin’s close-range header bounced off the knees of a defender on the line.
"The mood in our dressing room was one of devastation.
"Alf was numb, like the players, as he moved among us having a quiet word here and there.
"It was never his scene to sit us all down and rant and rave, and on an occasion as sombre as this, what could he say?
"He was a pragmatist and we had battered Poland to the point of submission.
"No one could understand why we hadn’t won and Alf put his hand on our shoulders saying, ‘Boys, you didn’t deserve that result.’
"There was disbelief that we hadn’t qualified, that the World Cup had passed us by, a sense that it was all an illusion and that there had to be another chance. But there wasn’t. It was game over.
"Headlines such as ‘End of the World’ and ‘Sir Alf’s future in the balance’ summed up the national mood the next morning."
The pain increased for McFarland when he snapped an Achilles tendon at Wembley in May, 1974 and watched the World Cup in West Germany on TV, lying on a couch with his left leg encased in plaster.
He says: "I followed Poland closely and they finished third, beating Brazil 1-0 in a play-off.
"I’m not saying England would have reached the final, but I remain convinced we were a better side than Poland.
Finally, qualification is done and dusted. England are heading to World Cup 2014.
Roy Hodgson’s side made us all sweat but got the job done in the end, meaning thousands will already be planning .
With that in mind, we’ve put together a guide to the host cities. From amazon outposts to beach paradises, there’s something to suit everyone…
For beach bums
Rio de Janeiro will probably be many people’s preferred destination next summer, and understandably so. Blessed with stunning natural beauty (the sight of rocky outcrops melting into golden sands is hard to beat), the city is also home to vibrant nightlife and a warm, welcoming local population.
While it will be winter in Brazil during the World Cup, the beach will still be the place to be. For a true Brazilian experience, just kick back and watch the runners, footvolley specialists, coconut sellers, hawkers and beach bodies compete for attention on Rio’s most feted – and most democratic – stage.
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Similarly picturesque is Salvador, located up the coast in the state of Bahia. A city of historic cobbled streets and endearingly dilapidated buildings, it also boasts around 50 miles of beaches. Visitors will also get a real flavour of the influence of Africa on modern Brazil – a legacy of the city’s role in the sugar and slave trades.
City slickers unite
Urbanites need look no further than São Paulo, the bustling business capital of Brazil. A concrete jungle with a work-hard-play-hard philosophy, it offers some of the country’s most varied nightlife, shopping and cuisine. From the kitsch Japanese enclave of Liberdade to the foodie paradise of Mercado Municipal, there is something for everyone. Just be sure not to get stuck in traffic on your way to the game.
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For a slightly more leisurely take on city life, Belo Horizonte is a good option. The capital of easy-going Minas Gerais, BH is a pleasure to explore, with its tree-lined avenues and hilly neighbourhoods. It is also home to plenty of the hearty home cooking for which the region is well known.
The heat is on
If you like it hot, head up to one of the three host cities on the country’s north east coast. Starting from the south, Recife is an alluring seaside sprawl that incorporates stunning beaches, islands and the city waterways that give it its nickname: Veneza Brasileira (the Venice of Brazil).
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Next up is Natal (literally "Christmas"), a stunning town nestled among the rolling dunes of Rio Grande do Norte. The safest city in the country according to a Brazilian thinktank, it should attract plenty of visitors. Fortaleza, the state capital of Ceará, is a bigger metropolis, which boasts an attractive beachfront and relics of Portuguese colonisation.
Cooler climes
For a more European feel, consider Porto Alegre in the south of the country. A destination for millions of immigrants over the years, the port city is known for its Germanic architecture and cuisine.
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Far cooler than cities in the centre and north of Brazil, this is a good choice for those who prefer a climate closer to that of Europe. The same is true of Curitiba, where it snowed earlier this year (much to the bemusement of many locals).
Outliers
Those looking for something a little different have a few options. Perhaps the most alluring is Manaus – not exactly a footballing Mecca but likely to be an intriguing place to be during the tournament. Located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, it will be attract those in balancing football with exploration of some of the country’s more uncharted areas.
Cuiabá, the westernmost of the host cities, is unlikely to be overrun by visitors during the World Cup and offers its own geographical selling point: the Pantanal. This colossal tropical wetland is home to animals and plants that cannot be found anywhere else in Brazil.
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Architecture nuts could also be tempted by the capital city, Brasília. Designed and built from scratch in the late 1950s and early 1960s by the legendary Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa, it has a certain charm – although it is lacking in the kind of natural beauty that defines so much of Brazil.
Darren Bent is on the verge of becoming a top 20 hit – and that will be music to the ears of Roy Hodgson, writes Dean Jones in The Sunday People.
is two strikes away from joining Paul Scholes on 107 top-flight goals, and once he reaches that mark he will be among the the 20 highest scorers in Premier League history.
Current Premier League stars Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe are also in the top 20 (see gallery below).
in the last step before World Cup 2014, Bent insists he still has hopes of making his mark for .
"I hope I can get into the World Cup squad," said Bent. "It’s been a while since I was involved. If I score a few goals this season and Fulham do well then I will give myself a chance.
"I’m not looking too far ahead but if I have a good season I will give myself the best opportunity to be in the squad.
"I’ve said since I was a youngster that England players should be picked on form – so there is no reason why I can’t be in one of the squads before the World Cup."
But now the real work begins for Roy Hodgson and England.
Seven months to ensure turn up ready to roar at the greatest party on earth, not meekly surrender.
Football Association chiefs will announce in the next 48 hours who England will play next month at the start of their World Cup warm-up programme.
Two Wembley friendlies to mark the FA’s 150th anniversary have been scheduled, one against Germany.
Both Argentina and Uruguay were sounded out for the second game but the latest, bizarre suggestion – given that t after their second successive 6-0 defeat – is Australia.
Far more important for Hodgson, though, is December 6, when he will be in Salvador, in north-eastern Brazil, to discover .
the seven seeds to join hosts Brazil will be taken directly from the next world rankings list, to be published on Thursday.
England, at a lowly 17th in last month’s list, will be in the top 10 after their back to back wins and Poland but still needed an unlikely series of results on Tuesday to take seventh place.
Hodgson will then have a maximum of four matches to decide his final 23 before he and his squad pitch camp at their chosen Rio hotel at the start of June.
If they are not in the elite group, England will be placed in the "European" section – the entire draw will be designed to split nations geographically and ensure the widest spread of the 32 competing sides.
England used the Windsor Atlantica Hotel on Copacabana beach for last summer’s friendly .
But Hodgson and his players were less than impressed with its facilities, especially with a FanZone planned for directly outside the hotel for the duration of the tournament.
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England, who will use the Brazilian Navy’s training facilities at Urca, in the shadow of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, are now due to confirm they will instead stay at the five-star Royal Tulip hotel on Sao Conrado Beach.
Hodgson’s only other friendly before the end of the season will be in March.
Denmark, who didn’t even qualify for the play-offs, have been mooted as potential opponents, although that seems to make little sense and December’s draw is more likely to signal the type of team England will meet.
Hodgson will then name his provisional squad by May 13 before the traditional "farewell" friendly at Wembley.
England will then fly to the USA – either New York or Boston – for one warm-up game, before heading down to Miami for an eight-day training camp.
The final deadline for squad selection will be June 2 – during the Miami leg , which will finish with a friendly against the USA in the Florida city.
England must arrive in Brazil at least five days before their opening match, meaning landing in Rio between June 7 and the opening day of the event on the 12th.
After which, it’s down to them…
World Cup 2014: Key dates for England
Oct 21: European play-off draw
Nov 15: England friendly (also European play-off first legs)
Nov 19: England friendly (also European play-off second legs)
Dec 6: Finals draw in Salvador, Brazil
Mar 5: England friendly
May 13: England provisional squad named
June 2: Final 23-man England squad named
June 12: World Cup kicks off
July 13: World Cup Final.
Watch Martin’s reaction to England’s result against Poland…
Roy Hodgson and his England side know exactly . Win and they are assured of a place at the World Cup Finals. Anything else, and it is a play-off, potentially against France or Sweden.
On 10 previous occasions, England have gone into knowing exactly what they need to make the big stage.
We look look back on the good, the bad and the very, very ugly.
October 17 1973 (Wembley) England 1 Poland 1
The night that plunged English football into nearly a decade of despair and brought the effective end of Sir Alf Ramsey’s reign.
Despite their defeat in Katowice, a Wembley win would take England to West Germany. Ramsey’s side had put seven past Austria the previous week and could have scored as many but were denied time and again by Jan Tomasczewski.
Then Norman Hunter’s error, compounded by Peter Shilton, . Allan Clarke’s late penalty was not enough. Doom descended.
November 18 1981 (Wembley) England 1 Hungary 0
Ron Greenwood’s campaign had teetered on the brink of humiliation after embarrassing defeats in Switzerland and Norway but Romania’s draw in Bern the previous week re-opened the door, meaning a win would end the eight-year absence from the world stage.
Typically, England achieved the victory is scruffy style, Trevor Brooking’s mis-kick falling at the feat of Paul Mariner, who turned home from close-range. Espana, here we come….!
November 11 1987 (Belgrade) Yugoslavia 1 England 4 Belgrade
This was winner take all with a place in Euro 1988 at stake and it was all over inside 17 minutes as Bobby Robson’s side raced into a three-goal lead.
Peter Beardsley nudged home the first after a defensive mess-up before John Barnes rifled in from an indirect free-kick inside the Yugoslav box.
Bryan Robson then crashed home after a Beardsley corner and a Barnes flag-kick saw Tony Adams, with his first England goal, make it four before the half-hour.
Sreco Katanec’s late header was an irrelevance and Robson’s men headed to Germany among the favourites for the tournament. Three straight defeats made those ambitious hopes look utterly hopeless.
October 11 1989 (Katowice) Poland 0 England 0
Robson and his men knew a draw would be enough to clinch a spot at Italia 90 but they made horribly hard work of getting it in the graveyard of Ramsey’s team.
The England manager knew he had been lucky to survive the Euro 88 debacle and there would have been no salvation this timeround without Shilton.
Shilton finally laid his own Polish ghosts, a stunning save from Celtic’s Darius “Jackie” Dziekanowski keeping England on terms although it was only the bar that kept out Ryszard Tarasiewicz’ last-gasp stunner.
Despite themselves, England had qualified. By the time they arrived in Sardinia, a certain Paul Gascoigne was established in the side….
November 13 1991 (Poznan) Poland 1 England 1
The same equation as Robson’s men had faced in Katowice two years earlier, the same opponents, but, in Graham Taylor, a different manager.
Taylor chose Geoff Thomas and Andy Gray – whose England career lasted precisely 45 minutes – in the central midfield axis and Andy Sinton on the left.
When Gary Mabbutt deflected Roman Szewczyk’s shot through his own net, Taylor was in trouble.
But 12 minutes from time, Mabbutt rose to meet David Rocastle’s free-kick and Gary Lineker hooked home the vital goal froma couple of yard. Nobody dreamed Taylor would end the skipper’s England career in Sweden the next summer.
October 11 1997 (Rome) Italy 0 England 0
Despite a Wembley loss to the Italians and the injury absence of Alan Shearer, Glenn Hoddle’s side did not drop another point and went to the Italian capital needing a draw to qualify from France 98.
They got it, too, deservedly, on a night when Hoddle looked like developing into the tactical master we had been looking for.
Key to it was Paul Ince, despite a heavily-bandaged head wound which Gazza declared made him “look like a pint of Guinness” while Hoddle nullified Wembley match-winner Gianfranco Zola.
Ian Wright might have sealed it – Hoddle could have done without chain-smoking “guru” Eileen Drewery claiming she had erected a “force-field” around the Italy goal to prevent a riot.
But when Christian Vieri nodded wide with Italy’s only serious chance late-on, it was mission accomplished for Hoddle.
October 6 2001 (Old Trafford) England 2 Greece 2
Sven Goran Eriksson and his side had stunned world football in Munich the previous month and needed to only match Germany’s result against a Greek side with nothing to play for.
You’d never have known it as England badly missed David Seaman, Sol Campbell and Michael Owen, Angelos Charisteas deservedly putting the Greeks ahead.
Time was starting to run out when David Beckham’s free-kick found the head of Teddy Sheringham, just on for Robbie Fowler.
But within a minute Themis Nikolaidis put Greece back in front and while Finland held Germany in Gelsenkirchen, he game was in the final seconds of injury time when Sheringham backed in a bought a free-kick.
Everyone knows what followed, Beckham’s brilliance transforming the mood of the nation with one swing of that right foot. Truly amazing, even now.
October 11 2003 (Istanbul) Turkey 0 England 0
Another draw required, another remarkable England night.
The week had been overshadowed by Rio Ferdinand, dropped from the squad – which sparked genuine threats of a player strike for missing a routine training ground drugs test.
By the time the dispute was settled – Beckham was the peacemaker – the stakes had been raised, especially with England fans banned by the FA from travelling.
On the pitch, though, Eriksson’s team were excellent, despite the absence of Owen, Campbell and John Terry superb at the back.
Beckham’s shocking penalty miss – to be repeated, at a far more costly price, against France in the opening Euro 2004 game kept Turkey in it. England held on.
November 21 2007 (Wembley) England 2 Croatia 3
A night of infamy, shame, humiliation – .
Steve McClaren, after a desperate start, looked to be finding his feet as England boss and Russia’s shock loss in Israel meant his injury-hit side needed only a draw against a Croatian side already through.
But having defended Paul Robinson throughout the campaign, McClaren panicked, picked rookie Scott Carson and saw him befuddled by Niko Kranjcar and Ivica Olic inside 14 minutes.
On at the break came Beckham, Frank Lampard scored a dodgy penalty, Peter Croouch levelled, only for Carson to throw in another from Mladen Petric.
McClaren knew he was toast before he entered the dressing room, lambasted and denigrated on the back pages, sacked by breakfast the next day.
October 7 2011 (Podgorica) Montenegro 2 England 2
As so often, England needed just a draw to qualify. Once again,they did it, the hard way, Fabio Capello left to rue on the price of his biggest error.
Not that it looked like that in the early stages as the home side suffered from stage-fright.
Ashley Young couldn’t miss from Theo Walcott’s cross and when Young then presented Darren Bent with a tap-in, it seemed like easy street.
But Wayne Rooney’s mix-up with debut-making Phil Jones allowed Elsad Zverotic to pull one back before the break.
Rooney, distracted by his father’s arrest on the eve of the game, then saw red, in both senses, booting Miodrag Dzudovic from behind.
Down to 10, it was about clinging on, especially after Andrija Delibasic nodded home in stoppage time. Capello subsequently admitted he should not have trusted Rooney’s state of mind.
England secured their place at the 2014 World Cup with a
Needed to win to be sure of qualification, the Three Lions didn’t make it easy for themselves but got the job done thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.
Leighton Baines turned in an impressive performance at left-back, while Rooney and Andros Townsend led the way in attack, especially in the first half.
Here’s what John Cross made of the England players.
What do you think?
England
OUR RATING
YOUR RATING
Joe Hart
Made a terrific block from Robert Lewandowski nd got lucky when the Polish striker dragged a glorious chance wide of the post. Made some good blocks on a morale-boosting night.
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Chris Smalling
Had a disappointing game. His distribution was poor, was vulnerable and often caught out of possession. A weak link at right-back.
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Phil Jagielka
Had a great chance from a first half header. Was eligible to play for Poland through his grandfather but his England career is getting better and better.
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Gary Cahill
The Chelsea defender made a sensational block to deny Poland substitute Klich. That would have been a certain goal.
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Mirror PickLeighton Baines
Was absolutely magnificent. He was England’s most dangerous outlet from left back, providing the cross for Rooney’s opener. Making an overwhelming case to be No1 left-back.
9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Michael Carrick
Good on the ball. His passing and composure helped England set up Rooney’s opener. He faded but justified his selection.
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Steven Gerrard
Late clincher capped a terrific night or England’s captain. Determined and composed to flick the ball home. Said before the game victory would make him the proudest man in England. He was.
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Andros Townsend
What an exciting gem Roy Hodgson has unearthed for England. Made powerful and strong runs to drive the team forward. Hit a cracker against the bar.
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Wayne Rooney
The Big Man IS back. That’s 28 goals in 55 competitive games. He has scored in every game he’s played in this campaign.
9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Danny Welbeck
Worked hard and got into great positions. But maybe the pressure of the occasion got to him as he snatched at and missed one sitter.
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Daniel Sturridge
Denied by a super Szczesny save. Was so hungry and determined to succeed that maybe he ended up trying a bit too hard.
A group of angry Newcastle United fans are planning a protest march about Mike Ashley’s running of – and are hopeful over 1,000 fans could turn out in support.
The Time 4 Change group have grown more and more frustrated with Ashley’s ownership after several high-profile – and controversial – decisions by the club’s hierarchy.
The decision to change the name of St James’ Park, the agreement to have payday loan company Wonga as the club’s principle shirt sponsor and – most puzzling of all – have all angered Magpies fans.
And Time 4 Change feel now is the time for action.
The group told the Newcastle Chronicle: "We have felt utter frustration, like many other fans, at the way the club has been run by Mike Ashley."
They added: “What is of real concern to us now is repeated club statements appear to suggest it lacks direction, ambition and is failing loyal fans who have put so much time, loyalty and money into supporting the team.
"The club has been through bad times before, but since finishing in fifth place, the club has revised and budgeted its targets down for two consecutive seasons."
While they acknowledge that one protest march is unlikely to spark wholesale changes at the club, they do feel it could have a unifying effect amongst supporters who they have say have become divided during Ashley’s tenure.
“We are not naive enough to think one march will suddenly make Ashley pack up and sell up," they said.
“The march, however, can be very significant symbolically, especially if it manages to unite the fans.
“Just as it has on a small scale during the organisation of this march, it is a wonderful way of bringing people who had not previously met together, and realising we share so many things in common and can gain strength in unity.
“If Ashley has been successful in anything during his reign it has been his unerring ability to divide and conquer the supporters; be it the fragmentation of the singing section in level seven which led to tensions elsewhere in the ground with other fans, or his ability to create amateur accountants out of passionate football fans.”
We like the look of Wayne Rooney to notch in an England win. How about you?
5:56 pm
England yet to qualify but official fans' WC trip advertised in FA programme, with "fail to qualify" refund
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris)
6:06 pm
Ravel Morrison has scored in England’s Under-21 game against Lithuania, putting the Young Lions 1-0 up after just a couple of minutes.
Wilfried Zaha was instrumental on the left-hand side, cutting back a beautiful pass into the box. Morrison finished from six-yards out, bouncing his shot over the flailing keeper.
England’s back four are currently at the halfway line, which is always a good sign. The future’s looking bright.
6:17 pm
How much to you know about England’s (senior) opponents this evening? If you don’t know your Warsaw from your Wroclaw, .
My favourite? "The Polish alphabet consists of 32 letters." Edgy.
6:26 pm
The whispers coming out of Wembley suggest Manchester United pair Phil Jones and Michael Carrick are going to be drafted into the England XI this evening, replacing Frank Lampard and the suspended Kyle Walker.
There should also be another start for Andros Townsend, . .
Matt Lewis – The FA
6:31 pm
James Ward-Prowse has extended the England U21s’ lead over Lithuania, curling a gorgeous free-kick home at the near post.
The Gareth Southgate managerial bandwagon is up and rolling.
6:44 pm
Steven Gerrard looks set to become England’s fourth-most-capped player of all time tonight, overtaking the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton.
But how far does he still have to go to break into the top three?
6:49 pm
The teams are in. You can ignore what we said at 6:26pm; it’s Chris Smalling that gets the nod at right-back, not Phil Jones. Blame Sky Sports News for that one. Michael Carrick does start in midfield, however.
England vs Poland isn’t the only World Cup qualifier worthy of your time today.
The first match on that list has just finished, and quite the game it was too. Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 to take command of their play-off tie.
7:04 pm
"I’m a bit surprised Roy Hodgson’s gone that way. Although I would probably have done the same thing."
Michael Owen there, perfecting his criticism/praise cocktail on BT Sport before he returns to his primary task of describing things in the most simple terms possible.
"He has kicked that football with his foot. It was his right foot."
7:17 pm
How have England done in past crunch qualifiers? The answer is, as you might expect, a mixed bag.
. Will we have another happy ending to celebrate tonight?
7:17 pm
Looking swell, Wembley:
My view for the next three hours. Huge roar as Szczesny comes out to warm up.
— Ben Curtis (@benjamin_curtis)
7:25 pm
And Martin Lipton dips into the archive once again to . Plenty of retro fun to be had in there.
At Portman Road, Saido Berahino has put England U21s 3-0 up against Lithuania, curling home after Wilfried Zaha’s pass.
7:33 pm
Let’s get the lowdown on this Poland side, shall we? Ryan Hubbard, an expert on football in that region, has whipped up two great pieces:
Should we be quaking in our boots tonight? Perhaps not, according to Ryan.
7:34 pm
Gareth Southgate’s U21 side are absolutely flying against Lithuania. Ravel Morrison makes it 4-0 with a glorious run and cool finish, before Said Berahino slots home a penalty to make it five.
The youngsters certainly appear to be enjoying themselves in Ipswich tonight.
7:38 pm
Forget everything I’ve said until now. The evening just took on a tragic air. Roy Keane has… *sob*… Roy Keane has gone clean shaven.
Gone is the two-tone, badger-king magnificence of Friday night, replaced by bare cheek and chin. What have we done to deserve this, Roy? What?
7:44 pm
Let’s temper our growing excitement a touch, shall we? Allow me to point you in the direction of.
I wonder whether Hodgson’s status will be elevated a touch should England win tonight. His job was just to get the Three Lions to Brazil, after all…
Michael Regan – The FA
7:48 pm
Revealed: The underground crime lord who stole Roy Keane's facial hair as the pundit slept
— MirrorFootball (@MirrorFootball)
7:52 pm
Kick-off is fast approaching at Wembley, but there’s still time to .
"Sixteen years ago," he writes, "Hodgson sat alongside Glenn Hoddle 24 hours before his day of destiny in Rome. Now it is Hodgson’s turn."
7:55 pm
And here’s Andy Dawson, who thinks
The teams make their way onto the pitch at Wembley. Looks (and sounds) like a lively atmosphere in north west London. Football!
7:59 pm
The talking is over, ladies and gents. It’s judgement time.
What will it be next summer, the Copacabana or a cabin at Butlins? We’ll find out in the next couple of hours.
8:01 pm
With the pitch swathed in smoke due to flares let off by fans, the game gets underway. It really does sound noisy at Wembley. Perhaps getting Poland fans in instead of the prawn sandwich brigade might be a tactic worth exploring on a regular basis…
8:04 pm
Phwoar!
Wembley shrouded in smoke after Poland fans set off flares
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris)
8:07 pm
England have started the game positively, looking to get the ball into Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney at every opportunity.
A couple of easy passes have already gone astray, however. Could nerves be a factor early on at Wembley?
8:09 pmAndy Dawson
Andy Dawson is in position… on his sofa:
"Quite an exciting start. Pretty sure that Roy Hodgson won’t have told them to make it exciting.
"He’s probably chained up in a sack in a Wembley storage cupboard right now. The man on the touchline is an impostor, either put there by MI5 or by the FA’s new enforcer, Danny Mills."
8:11 pm
Chances at both ends. Leighton Baines gets free down the left and digs out a cross for Danny Welbeck. The Manchester United man tries to guide a shot but cannot hit the target.
Robert Lewandowski then stings Joe Hart’s palms with a shot from range, before Andros Townsend brings a fine save from Wojciech Szczesny. Danny Welbeck thinks he should have a penalty on the follow-up but there’s nothing doing.
8:16 pm
Ukraine have taken the lead against San Marino (), meaning that as things stand, England would be heading for the play-offs.
Still early doors, of course. Waldemar Sobota almost complicates things further, however, firing a shot into Joe Hart’s side netting. Close.
8:19 pm
And Ukraine are 2-0 up now. Doesn’t look like England are going to get any favours from San Marino tonight. Thanks guys. Thanks a bunch.
At Wembley, Leighton Baines instigates what appears to be a training-ground free-kick routine. It fails horribly. Why can nothing go right?!
8:22 pm
That’s better from England. Steven Gerrard whips in a tempting free-kick from the left towards Chris Smalling, who somehow beats the offside flag. The defender stretches to reach the ball but can’t quite connect, the ball dropping just wide.
Ukraine are 3-0 up. Shall we stop looking at that score now?
8:24 pm
Goodness me. England are sliced open by a glorious Poland counter attack, Jakub Blaszczykowski stepping over the ball to leave Robert Lewandowski bearing down on goal.
The Dortmund striker elects to shift the ball onto his left foot before shooting, and drags his effort wide of the far post. A huge let-off for the hosts.
8:26 pm
England threaten again, Andros Townsend roasting his man down the right and squaring for Daniel Sturridge. The Liverpool man looks to pirouette away from his man but the Poland defenders get back to clear.
From the ensuing corner, Gary Cahill nods wide.
8:28 pm
Oof! England are getting closer here. Andros Townsend – who continues to look the part in an England jersey – crashes a long range shot against Wojciech Szczesny’s crossbar. The goalkeeper was well beaten there.
Daniel Sturridge then stings Szczesny’s palms with a shot from a tight angle. The Three Lions are knocking on the door.
8:29 pmAndy Dawson
Andy Dawson checks in:
"That was a close one for Poland a few minutes ago. Is the close-up footage of Roy reacting to it with some ‘industrial language’ up on YouTube yet?
"The atmosphere at this match is brilliant. If England are ever hosting a team that can’t bring 18,000 fans along, we should just get few hundred coachloads of Scots to come to Wembley and spice things up."
8:33 pm
Danny Welbeck really should score here. Leighton Baines’ corner creates chaos in the Poland box, Welbeck wrestling his way past his man to get a sight of goal. He is off-balance as he hits the ball, but has to hit the target.
He doesn’t hit the target.
8:36 pm
Chances galore now. Welbeck has another chance to shoot but loses his footing at the crucial moment. Wayne Rooney then hits a fine shot from the edge of the box, bringing a sprawling save from Wojciech Szczesny.
Can the home side find the breakthrough before the interval?
8:40 pmAndy Dawson
Here’s Andy Dawson to see us through this lull in play:
"The clown is there! The Polish Clown! Which idiot had the hare-brained idea of inviting HIM?
"We all know how this is going to end don’t we? Meanwhile in San Marino, Ukraine have probably gone 9-0 in front…"
8:42 pm GOAL: England 1-0 Poland (Rooney)
And breathe. England have the lead at Wembley. Leighton Baines is the architect, digging out a delightful touch from the left flank for Wayne Rooney. The striker – who appears to have lost his headband – makes no mistake, nodding emphatically past Wojciech Szczesny. It’s nothing less than the hosts deserve.
8:44 pm
Daniel Sturridge has the chance to make it 2-0, drifting away from his marker before stooping to meet a cross from the left. He makes a mess of his header, however, failing to test Wojciech Szczesny. Poland (and Ukraine) fans let out a sigh of relief.
8:48 pm Half-time: England 1-0 Poland
That’s the end of the opening period at Wembley. England, who have been on top for the vast majority of the half, lead thanks to Wayne Rooney’s header just minutes before the break. Roy Hodgson must be delighted – not just at the scoreline but at his side’s bright, positive display.
Getty
8:55 pm
The other half-time scores from games involving the home nations:
Belgium 0-0 Wales Scotland 1-0 CroatiaRepublic of Ireland 2-1 Kazakhstan
And a full-time score:
Israel 1-1 Northern Ireland8:57 pm
Danny Welbeck: The perfect diversion.
PHOTO: Wayne Rooney rises to head in front against Poland five minutes before half time
— The FA (@FA)
9:03 pm
Back underway at Wembley, and Poland have an early chance. Matheusz Klich, who has just come on as a substitute, hits a low shot that Joe Hart does well to palm wide.
The same player then unleashes a powerful volley that goes just over. Warning signs for England.
9:08 pm
Chances for England. Danny Welbeck’s cross-shot is cleared at the last by a Polish defender. Gary Cahill then rises well to meet a corner but heads wide.
Ukraine are now 4-0 up against San Marino, but we’ve stopped caring about that one now, I would say.
9:09 pmAndy Dawson
Andy Dawson is still with us:
"Was Rooney wearing his rubber nutting helmet in the first half? Can’t say I noticed it when he scored the goal.
"It’s hard to remember what he looked like before he had it welded on. Hope he keeps it, like Petr Cech and his Sex Hat."
9:12 pm
England are almost gifted a second, Grzegorz Krychowiak coming perilously close to diverting the ball past Wojciech Szczesny in the Polish goal following a Wayne Rooney cross. The defender did well there, to be fair: if he hadn’t intervened, Daniel Sturridge would have been in on goal.
9:16 pm
Steven Gerrard is the latest to go close, pinging a shot just wide of the target after some nice footwork on the edge of the box.
Robert Lewandowski than has an opportunity at the other end, racing through only to be thwarted by Joe Hart.
9:21 pm
England are being forced to defend rather more than they would like now. Poland haven’t been particularly threatening so far but are beginning to enjoy more of the ball, pushing the home side back.
It would only take one moment of genius from Robert Lewandowski to send Wembley into crisis mode.
9:24 pm
Is it time to add a midfielder to the game?? Get control of the game and dictate the tempo, play in their half…easy to say…
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5)
9:26 pmAndy Dawson
Here’s Andy Dawson once more:
"Yes, this is all very comfortable. A one-goal cushion should be plenty sufficient to see England book their tickets to SambaBall 2014 by 10pm.
"I mean, what have Poland got up front apart from ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI, ONE OF THE DEADLIEST STRIKERS IN EUROPE.
"I’m gibbering here. Gibbering."
9:31 pm
Interesting one. Roy Hodgson shuffles his pack, withdrawing Michael Carrick for Frank Lampard. The former had been playing rather well, I thought.
But then I’m not a football manager. Yet.
9:34 pm
Daniel Sturridge has not quite reached top gear this evening, but this is great play. The Liverpool striker nips inside his man and hits a powerful right-footed effort from the edge of the box.
Wojciech Szczesny does brilliantly to react, pawing the ball over the crossbar. Jack Wilshere was warming up but appears to have sat down again.
9:37 pm
Wayne Rooney has his name taken by the referee after breaking up a Poland attack in cynical fashion. He wouldn’t want to get sent off here; Rooney more than anyone know the pain of bans that seep into major tournaments.
Matt Lewis – The FA
9:38 pm
Jack Wilshere does now enter the fray, replacing Daniel Sturridge. It looks like Waybe Rooney will plough a lone furrow in attack, with Wilshere forming a midfield three with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
Danny Welbeck is going to continue on the left. His long legs and energy could be vital in the final minutes here.
9:41 pmAndy Dawson
Andy Dawson files his latest dispatch:
"If England are this nervy at home against Poland, I’m sure that an actual World Cup tournament in the searing heat of Brazil will be a BREEZE.
"Just get the ball and take it into the corners. For ten solid minutes."
9:42 pm
England are in full lockdown mode. James Milner comes on to do his diligent-work-dog thing, replacing Andros Townsend on the right flank.
The clock is ticking. The nerves are spreading. You never make it easy, do you England?
9:46 pm GOAL: England 2-0 Poland (Gerrard)
Phew. That’s got to it, surely? Steven Gerrard makes a forward foray, bursting into the area on the right before appearing to be pulled down. It looks like a penalty but Gerrard plays on, stretching to turn the ball past Wojciech Szczesny and into the net. Wembley explodes. Roy Hodgson smiles for the first time in months.
9:47 pmAndy Dawson
Andy Dawson is happy slash relieved slash confused:
"RIGHT! THAT’S IT! WE’RE GOING TO SAMBABALL 2014!
"My garage is jam-packed to the rafters with England tat that I paid 3p a pop for after we got knocked out of Euro 2012.
"Plastic bowler hats, car dashboard flags, pencils, wigs, I’ve got the lot.
"It’s ALL going on eBay, at a massive mark up, from midnight. Get it before it’s all gone."
9:56 pm Full-time: England 2-0 Poland
It’s all over at Wembley.. The Three Lions didn’t do it the easy way (when do they ever?) but got the job done, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard notching in a 2-0 victory. Dust off your swimsuits; we’re off to Brazil!
Getty
10:03 pm
That’s about all we have time for this evening, folks. Before we go, here are some things you might want to read now we’re GOING TO BRAZIL!
10:15 pm
All that remains is to recall a breathless game with and .
We hope you enjoyed that as much as we did. Stay with Mirror Football for all the World Cup 2014 info you could possibly need.
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