Lewandowski ruled out of Kane head-to-head in blow to Poland hopes
➤ bayern striker back at club after injuring knee in qualifier ➤ england captain ‘in a good place’ after ending goal wait
England received a surprise boost ahead of their World Cup qualifier at home to Poland when Robert Lewandowski was ruled out through injury.
Gareth Southgate had hailed Lewandowski as “an arch marksman who is a master of his trade” but the 32-year-old has returned to his club, Bayern Munich, after suffering a knee problem in the 3-0 win over Andorra, in which he scored twice.
The Polish Football Association said the striker would be out for 10 days with ligament damage, which means he faces a race against time to be fit for next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris St-germain.
Lewandowski’s absence against England deprives the encounter of a much-anticipated match-up between arguably the two best centre-forwards in world football.
Harry Kane scored his first international goal in seven matches in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Albania, having said he could not let the debate over his future at Tottenham Hotspur distract him ahead of this summer’s European Championship.
Southgate, the England manager, said he had not spoken to Kane about his club future, but added that the 27-year-old was in “a good place” and had remained focused.
“What’s pleased me about Harry this week is that he’s been super positive about everything,” Southgate said. “His view of where the club [Tottenham] are at, they’re three points off a Champions League place, League Cup final to look forward to. That’s the only thing he’s discussed with me.
“From our point of view, he’s led the group really well again. I’m pleased he’s got his goal, because I know it shouldn’t matter – I remember when Alan Shearer was with me as a player [ahead of Euro 96, when Shearer went 12 games before the tournament without an England goal].
“Those months without matches, added on to that period where you’ve not scored an England goal, sounds a lot worse than it is at times. It’s good that he [Kane] was able to bury that. So, he’s in a good place and we’re pleased to have him ahead of the game against Poland.”
Victory over Poland tomorrow would give England control of Group I in the final get-together before Southgate names his squad for Euro 2020 – having already suggested he has a provisional list of 31 he is working from to be reduced to 23.
“It is a key game in the group,” Southgate said. “We have given ourselves an opportunity that if we can beat Poland at home, we are in a really strong position already. We have to make sure we can make that count.”
England lead the group with six points from two fixtures. Poland are second with four points, having drawn their opening tie away to Hungary, in which Lewandowski also scored.
Nevertheless, Southgate is demanding improvements from his team following the win over Albania.
“They are a group who we keep talking about in terms of potential but we have to learn how to win these important matches and do it in a way that it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, we shouldn’t be offering up chances or offering them a possible route back into the game,” he said.
Given Southgate has reverted to a back four for the first two qualifiers, it will be interesting to see whether he returns to the back three with
‘Harry has been positive about everything. From our point of view, he has led the group really well’
wing-backs against the highestplaced nation in the group after England in the Fifa world rankings (England are fourth, Poland 19th, one place below Wales). Even without Lewandowski, it will be a sterner test for England.
One permutation Southgate may consider is pairing Declan Rice and Mason Mount in central midfield, especially if he switches to a 3-4-3 formation.
“I think as Mason physically develops, then he’s going to be more capable of playing in those deeper areas more regularly,” Southgate said of Mount, whose versatility means he is an almost certain starter at the Euros. “It is impossible to work with a player like him and not be impressed.”
The manager also praised the “maturity” of Rice, who may become even more central to his plans should Jordan Henderson lose his battle to be fit in time for the tournament.