THE TALK was of history at the national stadium, of England’s more celebrated tussles with the Poles with mentions of Jan Tomaszewski, the goalkeeper dubbed a circus clown by Brian Clough, never far away. Roy Hodgson sat through them all, musing a while on his own memories of 1973 and all that crushing disappointment, before his focus clicked back in.
“I don’t ever dismiss history but, for us, the bottom line is working for tomorrow,” he said. “It’s about what we’re trying to build. A knowledge of history gives you perspective, but it doesn’t help you win football matches.”
Hodgson’s team will attempt to impose themselves on Group H this evening, making up for a missed opportunity against Ukraine back at Wembley last month and, away from the contrasting five-goal thrashing of the section’s also-rans San Marino, injecting real conviction into their qualification campaign.
Victory could also potentially demoralise the Poles even at this early stage on the road to Brazil, knocking another of the contenders for top place off their early stride. Hodgson can take encouragement from an unbeaten 10-game tenure to date, glossing over that Euro 2012 penalty shoot-out defeat by Italy. Yet departing Warsaw victorious would feel significant.
It is a recognition of the awkward task ahead that Hodgson is inclined to resort to experience in selection.
The Poles may cling to those ties 39 years ago because they have won only once in 17 collisions between the countries – but they will fly at the visitors tonight.
“We’ll face a very highly motivated team, backed by a very vocal and enthusiastic support, because we are a scalp,” said Hodgson. “England have always been a scalp. Poland will be rubbing their hands with glee at this game, given that this is a match that, if they can win it, would be a real feather in their cap. We have to make sure we’re not the victims of that.”
It may be an evening for older heads to show their worth. Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole will return to the side to gain their 99th caps, the latter now very aware that Leighton Baines is a viable alternative at left back.
Glen Johnson will start at right back, the minor calf complaint picked up by Kyle Walker on Friday restricting him to a lonely jogging session while his team-mates trained at the national stadium yesterday evening.
Hodgson will reveal his selection to his players only today but he will be tempted to ask Michael Carrick to anchor midfield alongside the restored captain, Gerrard, most likely at the busy Tom Cleverley’s expense, with James Milner’s industry employed on the flank.
The onus will be on Wayne Rooney to coax and his strike partner, possibly the more clinical Jermain Defoe rather than the rookie Danny Welbeck, to be ruthless when chances are created. The Poles are far from watertight and have only just exorcised their own demons in the newly-built national stadium, their narrow friendly win over South Africa on Friday a first in the arena at the fourth attempt after their own toils at Euro 2012.
The loss of their captain, Jakub Blaszczykowski, represents a blow even if Robert Lewandowski has pedigree up front, Grzegorz Krychowiak has the ability to dominate midfield and Kamil Grosicki, of Sivasspor in Turkey, will be a potent threat on the break.
