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With England needing a win to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Three Lions will want to make sure they’ve covered all of Poland’s main threats in order to make their attempt at victory slightly easier later this evening.
Although only a handful of the Polish players are well-known by England fans, the eastern-European side have many threats that may not be as well-known to England that could cause the 1966 World Cup champions a nervy night.
Piotr Zielinski
Piotr Zielinski is a complete unknown player to England fans. Although largely confined to an impact substitute role with his club side Udinese, the attacking midfielder has been prolific for Poland since breaking into the squad earlier this year.
He scored the winner in the 3-2 friendly victory over Denmark in August. The 19-year-old also added a brace against minnows San Marino to his international tally.
Poland coach Waldemar Fornalik is allowing youth to have its place in his squad, and the nations collective hopes could well be pinned on the youngster in terms of the long-term future of Poland’s national team.
Zielinski’s main strength is his very accurate passing. Although not starting a game so far this season for Udinese, when the teenager has been used during games, he has had a great effect.
This is mainly through his very controlled passing ability. Zielinski has the quality to either slow the game down by taking control of the midfield, or speeding play up by spreading play to Udinese’s attack. He could be Poland hidden threat later this evening.
Zielinski has completed 82% of his passes so far this season
Jakub Blaszczykowski
Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski is a player that is more well-known than Zielinski. Although Blaszczykowski hasn’t had his most consistent season to-date, the Pole still possesses the skills to take any defence to the sword, and has a goal and an assist to his name with eight Bundesliga games gone.
The Borussia Dortmund winger said earlier this week: “It doesn’t matter that we only have honour to play for. Matches at Wembley are always very important to us.” This is suggesting that no matter how much we talk about the 27-year-old’s form this season, all will all be put behind him as soon as the game starts this evening.
The main tactical change England could make to manipulate Blaszczykowski’s effect on the game is a change on the right-hand side of midfield.
Whereas Roy Hodgson made a bold move to give Andros Townsend his debut on the right-wing against Montenegro on Friday, the England manager may swap him for a more defensively-minded, James Milner. This would be a bold move in itself from Hodgson as he will face a barrage of criticism from the English media if the Milner/right-wing plan doesn’t work.
But one suspects the former Liverpool manager will opt for caution on the night.
Blaszczykowski doesn’t shirk away from his defensive responsibilities
Last, but in no way least is the Borussia Dortmund and Poland goal-machine, Robert Lewandowski. Although England’s backroom staff will know all there is to know about Lewandowski – it won’t matter. Our advice to England’s defenders on how to play the Dortmund striker is to mark him for every second of the game.
The 25-year-old is once again in prolific form this season. He’s scored six and created nine chances in Dortmund’s eight games so far this campaign and will have a major part to play if Poland are to defeat England later this evening.
The former Legia Warsaw striker is Poland’s plan A, B and C. The Poles will be trying to get the ball to Lewandowski at every possible opportunity.
The Borussia Dortmund striker’s strength and technique mean he is adept at keeping possession and allowing runners to break from midfield to join in attacking areas.
His pace will also worry England’s back four, particularly when Poland have the chance to counter. This is where Leighton Baines will have to be careful and will be told to be a lot more defensively-minded than he normally is.
So, it’s important England’s defensive unit stop the supply line to the 25-year-old, particularly from wide areas. Expect England’s solid centre-back pairing of Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka to be given their toughest test to-date.
Not to mention Joe Hart. The England goalkeeper may have large periods of the game where he has little to do, but he must keep his concentration as Lewandowski’s clinical finishing could come into play at any moment.
