England are just one win away from automatic qualification to the World Cup in Brazil next year but if Hodgson’s men are to finish top of Group H they will have to beat a tough Poland side at Wembley tonight: bit.ly/getmetobrazil
Ahead of the starting line-up being announced, it is being rumoured that Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere will be brought in for Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
Beating a weakened Montenegro side 4-1 last Friday has added some much needed momentum to a less than convincing qualifying campaign from England, yet a win over Waldemar Fornalik’s team tonight would be enough to help them finish top of the group.
Brave selection choices, such as the inclusion of Tottenham speedster Andros Townsend, helped show England’s attacking potential and few changes are expected tonight in what is a must-win match.
Poland on the other hand are out of contention for Brazil 2014 next year but will be hoping to emulate the 1973 Polish national side who prevented England reaching the World Cup in West Germany thanks to a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski was the hero of that match and current Polish keeper Artur Boruc is aiming to stop England in their tracks.
“We are still talking about Jan Tomaszewski in Poland and we’ve all been brought up on what happened in that game,” Boruc told the Sunday Telegraph. “It’s not going to be the same sort of match as we can’t qualify but I just want to stop England.”
Thomson Sport are the official sponsors of the England v Poland live blog hosted on FootballFanCast.com and are the FA’s official Travel Partner, so if you want to join England in Brazil next year then head HERE: bit.ly/getmetobrazil
I just heard someone on the news refer to Townsend as “The saviour of English football”
My God, a good goal in a HALF decent performance, against a very average, very weak’nd side, and now he’s our saviour.
He is a good player, and I know it’s not his fault, in fact I feel a bit sorry for him but jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez !!!
It could be that our Szcesny will make a Szcesny miracle save sending us to the play offs! That will be a smack in the eye for his English critics!
FFS, just heard Ozil has gone off injured, does anyone know if there is any truth in this? They had already qualified, surely no real need to play him? Just hope it is nothing to worry about
The goal.com commentary didn’t mention any injury. Mertesacker was a sub, and there was a rumour he was sick. Gnabry scored for the youth team. Ozil scored for Germany, and at the end Ramsey scored for Wales.
@insert foot into mouth
Now goal.com is saying Ozil has a knee injury.
I heard it was a knee and he went straight down tunnel, but at least he walked off. God I hate international football, fingers crossed nothing too bad with Ozil and the rest are fine
Apparently the Germans are saying it is a likely a bruised knee, whatever the implications of that are.
Hopefully nothing more with our players.thought our keeper did well today
Finland’s OG came off a Giroud header.
Monreal didn’t play today.
Jenkinson was brought on at the 16 minute mark. The record shows he put at least 2 crosses into goal scoring situations.
Koscielny played the entire game.
Have seen the Germany game. What a match from Germany.
No Per on the field and it showed as Hummels didn’t have the best game.
Özil was great but Fuck you Low for not listening to my advice and play him. He got studs on his knee from a tumbling Swedish player. Walked off the pitch himself so hope it is just a painful contact with the studs on the kneecap.
Oh I hate those games and this would be a big blow.
It’s half past 9pm here in Alberta, so half past 4am in the UK? Morning news.
More info on Özil, it looks like it is just surface bruising, no downtime.
Going back 6-7 hours, I don’t see anything else with respect to Arsenal players coming back injured.
hmmnnn, Townsend, the saviour of English football. Well so be it. If it takes the pressure off Jacks a$#$……
And if it means they and ox can concentrate on us, so much the better Arsenal13, in such circumstances, I suddenly become quite pro the long running spud media hype, which ultimately, I feel does them more harm than good. Apparently this latest one has the qualities of George best! Have to feel quite sorry for him really,
Everton got shafted by the international break. The BBC is reporting that Gibson is likely gone for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury.