England vs Poland
At last, a World Cup 2022 qualifying game where England face a nation not ranked outside the top 500 in world football!
Ok, so I am being facetious, but my view hasn’t altered that, since expanding the number of teams able to compete in major championships, the quality has been massively diluted and many of the leading nations can now qualify for tournaments every two years without playing anyone of note.
Then, following the minnows of San Marino and Albania, I noticed a match-up with the potential for World Cup qualifying highlights.
England versus Poland at Wembley.
Yes, the English have a superior side but can’t take anything for granted as arguably the best player in the world spearheads the Polish attack.
My optimism did not last long!
Talking Points
For today I have found out that Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski picked up a knee injury against Andorra on Sunday, limping off after scoring twice in the 3-0 win.
Manager Paulo Sousa confirmed afterwards that the 32-year-old who, following a relatively modest start to his international career has scored 45 goals in 56 caps, had been withdrawn as a precaution and would miss the trip to London.
England counterpart Gareth Southgate is no doubt grateful that Lewandowski does not have the team-mates he possesses at Bayern Munich which negates their threat.
In truth, however, his absence makes this game far less attractive than first thought.
That’s not solely because the prolific frontman is a modern great and a big drawer with 379 goals in 488 games for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, plus 66 in 118 for Poland (including 47 in 42 matches this season).
It is also because, to prepare for Euro 2020, the England defence needs a proper test, something it has not had for some time.
Before I write Poland off completely, let me say they are far from a one-man team.
For example, having been linked with some of England’s top clubs earlier in his career, Piotr Zielinski made the move to Napoli five years ago and has become a mainstay in the side for the last three seasons.
The attack-minded midfielder is on form too with three goals and three assists in his last seven appearances and has also had a hand in 12 goals in 22 Serie A starts this term.
Elsewhere, strikers Arkadiusz Milik and Krzysztof Piatek will always pose a threat; they have a man familiar with English football in Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich; while Juventus’ Wojciech Szczesny, once of Arsenal, will be in goal.
The overall view, though, is that with a nation – realistically or unrealistically – expecting big things this summer, this is another game where England will probably win but learn very little.
Such is the current climate of international football.
History
For a spell in the late 1980s and 1990s, it seemed these nations were always drawn together in the qualifying stages for a major championship.
Indeed, between 1989 and 1999, they met 10 times – all qualifiers for a World Cup or European Championship.
The Polish must have had enough of seeing the Three Lions too as they won six and drew four of those clashes.
That is one of seven draws since their first-ever meeting in a friendly in January 1966 – the year of England’s sole World Cup triumph.
Alongside England’s victories, Poland have one success and that was in qualifying for the 1974 World Cup when a 2-0 Polish success, followed by a 1-1 draw at Wembley, saw the Poles reach the tournament at England’s expense.
Their most recent meeting came in 2013 when goals from Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard sealed a 2-0 win which confirmed England’s place in the following year’s World Cup.
The previous meeting in Poland, a year earlier, finished 1-1 as Kamil Glik equalised Rooney’s opener.
They have only met once at a major tournament and that was in the group stages of the 1986 World Cup when Gary Lineker scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 England triumph.
Betting Tip
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England vs Poland | Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.93 |
| April 01, 02:45 (GMT+8) |
The SBOTOP World Cup qualifying betting odds favour an England win and rightly so, given the nations are separated by 15 places in the FIFA world rankings.
In fact, it’s England all the way whether you assess odds of 1X2 @ 1.30 or Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 1.94.
Poland, by contrast, are available to tip 1X2 @ 8.75 or Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.25.
If there is to be a repeat of the last clash at Wembley – correct score 2-0 – then you will receive a payout @ 5.60.
I expect England to win, although not by too much, and my *** tip is total goal 2-3 @ 1.93.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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