RECORD BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TROUBLED BEFORE
FOUR CLASSIC ENCOUNTERS June 6, 1973
Poland 2 England 0
World Cup qualifier Poland’s solitary win, but what a knock-on effect it had on English football. Bobby Moore had a day to forget. Arguments still rage over whether Moore or Poland’s Jan Banas deflected Robert Gadocha’s free-kick past Peter Shilton early on. There was no doubt about his part in the second, however, as Moore dallied and was robbed by Wlodzimierz Lubanski, who raced in on goal to fire home.
October 17, 1973
England 1 Poland 1
World Cup qualifier
A draw with Wales and a damaging 2-0 defeat in Warsaw left England needing victory to qualify for West Germany 1974. Poland scored early in the second half and although Allan Clarke’s penalty pulled England level, a heady mix of amazing saves and pure luck from keeper Jan Tomaszewski, combined with incredible England misses, handed Poland the point they needed and led to the FA sacking manager Alf Ramsey.
June 11, 1986
England 3 Poland 0
World Cup
In losing to Portugal and drawing with Morocco, England had failed to score a goal in the World Cup. Cue Gary Lineker. England had already survived two early scares when the Everton striker delivered a first-half hat-trick through three typical Lineker strikes – from six, seven and five yards. Poland, who led the group going into the final game, found themselves not only beaten, but down to third and into a last-16 meeting with Brazil.
October 15, 2013
England 2 Poland 0
World Cup qualifier England went into the final group game knowing they would have to beat Poland to qualify for Brazil 2014. With 20,000 Poles inside Wembley, nerves were beginning to jangle until Wayne Rooney headed in just before half-time. But nothing was assured until Steven Gerrard’s 88th-minute finish to win the group by one point.