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Poland will face the biggest challenge of their World Cup qualifying campaign as Paulo Sousa’s men face off against the unbeaten force of Gareth Southgate’s England side.
After two matchdays in Group I ahead of the upcoming Qatar World Cup in 2022, Paulo Sousa’s men sit second in the table, the only team ahead of them are Wednesday’s opponents, England.
The Three Lions are the hosts with this crucial clash most likely determine the group winners with Poland and England the two favourites in that group.
Sousa’s side hosted Andorra in their last encounter at the Polish Army Stadium with the match being the first home game for the white and reds.
After the constant onslaught, the deadlock was broken on the half-hour mark through all-time top scorer and captain Robert Lewandowski.
Maciej Rybus delivered a dangerous ball into the box from a free-kick which the striker caught on the volley. The ball bounced off of Moisés San Nicolás and flew into the back of the net beating Íker Álvarez in the Andorra goal.
The captain scored his second of the game in the 55th minute. A delivery from Kamil Jozwiak was met by the skipper as he skewed his first attempt but was able to fire the ball past Alvarez at the second attempt and subsequently doubled Poland’s lead.
Lewandowski was substituted not long afterwards with a suspected knee injury which will mean the forward will not play against England at Wembley.
On a more positive note, the white and reds were able to get their third through debutant Karol Swiderski. Kamil Grosicki delivered the ball into the box with the forward stabbing his foot at it. The ball rolled through the legs of the Andorran goalkeeper and into the goal with Poland winning 3-0.
England, on the back of a 5-0 victory against San Marino, travelled to the Arena Kombëtare to face Albania. The Eagles held their own for the most of the first-half and limited the Three Lions to little.
In the 38th minute, the deadlock was finally broken through Harry Kane. Luke Shaw crossed the ball into the England skipper as he headed the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring for Gareth Southgate’s men.
That lead was doubled in the 63rd minute after a goal from Mason Mount. Raheem Sterling intercepted the ball and passed it onto Kane with the forward laying the ball into the path of the midfielder. He delightfully curled the ball over Etrit Berisha and doubled the lead for the hosts.
Last time these two faced each other was back in 2013. Wembley was the setting for another World Cup qualifier ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
England took the lead four minutes before the end of the first-half. Wayne Rooney’s goal sunk Polish hearts as it was sign of things to come.
The Three Lions’ onslaught continued but it took them until the 88th minute to get their second. Steven Gerrard with the goal this time as England took their first victory against Poland since 2005 in the process.
Poland have only beaten England once but have never recorded victory on English soil and will be without key men Robert Lewandowski, Kamil Piatkowski, Mateusz Klich and Lukasz Skorupski after the skipper picked up a knee injury and the aforementioned trio out due to returning positive coronavirus tests. Grzegorz Krychowiak was also set to miss the game but has now returned a negative test meaning he will be able to feature in this one.
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