Familiar Foes: England vs Poland

As England prepare to face Poland in the final World Cup qualifier of this international break, let's take a look at meetings between the two sides that occurred during the 90s. 

October 17th 1990: England 2-0 Poland (Euro 92 qualifier) 

After England's exploits at Italia 90 and Bobby Robson's abdication, England strode out at Wembley for their first competitive game under Graham Taylor's management with a new era dawning. They do say though that the more things change, the more they stay the same and this became clear as Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley got their names on the scoresheet. Lineker's goal came from the penalty spot in the latter stages of the first half while Beardsley made the points safe in the last minute of the second half after he had replaced the injured Lineker. It was so far, so good for Graham Taylor's England. 

November 13th 1991: Poland 1-1 England (Euro 92 qualifier)

Needing just a point to secure their qualification for the finals in Sweden, England held their nerve in a tense encounter and came from behind to get the required result. England, with debutants Andy Gray, Andy Sinton and Tony Daley in their ranks, went behind just after the half hour mark when Roman Szewczyk's long shot cannoned off Gary Mabbutt and beyond the despairing grasp of Chris Woods. 

The goal England were in need of came with thirteen minutes remaining. After Mabbutt had headed David Rocastle's corner kick towards the six-yard area, captain Gary Lineker lashed the ball into the net with a tremendous volleyed effort. The result proved to be a rare highlight during Taylor's reign as England boss. 

Ace Marksman: Gary Lineker's 46th England goal was enough to send his side to the Euro 92 finals in Sweden

May 29th 1993: Poland 1-1 England (1994 World Cup qualifier)

Despite being unbeaten in the World Cup qualifiers by the time the two sides met in Chorzow, questions were beginning to be asked regarding England's chances of making the finals in the USA, especially after the way Taylor's side had capitulated from 2-0 ahead to draw 2-2 with Holland at Wembley a month earlier. 

Again as had been the case in 1991, England had to come from behind to get a draw with the Poles with Ian Wright notching the equaliser with six minutes remaining after Darius Adamczuk had opened the scoring after outpacing Des Walker and lifting the ball over Chris Woods. 

Wright Place, Wright Time: Arsenal's Ian Wright rescued a point for England with his late equaliser against Poland in May 1993

September 8th 1993: England 3-0 Poland (1994 World Cup qualifier)

As surprise package Norway looked certain to take the first spot in the World Cup qualifying group it was between England and Holland to fight it out for the elusive second spot at the finals. 

In their 700th senior international, England gave their chances of qualifying a welcome boost with a resounding 3-0 win over Poland at Wembley. Les Ferdinand gave the home side a perfect start with his fifth minute strike with further goals coming from Paul Gascoigne and a fine free-kick from Stuart Pearce giving the team a confidence boost ahead of what would prove to be a do or die clash with Holland a month later in Rotterdam. 

October 9th 1996: England 2-1 Poland (1998 World Cup qualifier)

A lot had changed in the three years since the two sides last met. England had been under the stewardship of Terry Venables, football had come home for Euro 96 and the side were now in the hands of Glenn Hoddle. 

In their first home game since the semi-final heartbreak at the hands of Germany almost three months earlier, England made it two from two as the began their journey to the finals in France. Again they had to come from behind after Marek Citko capitalised on a mistake by Gareth Southgate to put the visitors ahead after six minutes. Fortunately for Hoddle, Alan Shearer displayed the sort of form that had persuaded Newcastle United to make him the world's most expensive player with a fine brace. The first came after he headed David Beckham's excellent cross field ball into an almost unguarded net after Polish keeper Andrezj Wozniak made a hash of meeting the cross. The second goal came after some fine linkup play between Shearer and Les Ferdinand which ended with the England captain hammering the ball into the top corner of Wozniak's net. 

Captain Fantastic: Recently appointed captain Alan Shearer grabbed two goals on his first home outing as England skipper in October 1996

May 31st 1997: Poland 0-2 England (1998 World Cup qualifer)

Glenn Hoddle closed out the season of World Cup qualifiers with a fine 2-0 win over Poland in Chorzow with the old SAS combination of Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham delivering the goods for England. 

Shearer's tenth goal in eleven internationals got England on their way to victory when his first-time shot swept beyond Polish goalkeeper Andrezj Wozniak after just four minutes with Sheringham making the result certain in the second half, tapping home from close range after Rob Lee had done all the hard work and probably should have scored himself after going one-on-one with Wozniak, England were even afforded the luxury of not needing to worry about Shearer missing a first half penalty. The win provided a timely confidence boost as the side headed to France for Le Tournoi, a competition they eventually won. 

March 27th 1999: England 3-1 Poland (Euro 2000 qualifier) 

It was very much the honeymoon period for Kevin Keegan as he led out the national team for the first time as manager in the bright spring sun with England giving their new manager a dream start to life in the top job and resurrecting their floundering chances of making the finals in the Low Countries. 

On the day, Manchester United's Paul Scholes grabbed the headlines with a tremendous hat-trick to help England to a 3-1 victory. The first goal was a classic poacher's finish before heading home his second with United clubmate David Beckham providing the cross. The hat-trick and win was secured in the second half when Scholes scored another header, this time gratefully receiving Alan Shearer's flick on from Gary Neville's throw-in. 

Hat-Trick Hero: Paul Scholes celebrates as his hat-trick helped Kevin Keegan to a winning start as England manager in March 1999

September 8th 1999: Poland 0-0 England (Euro 2000 qualifier) 

Six months after the glorious start of Keegan's reign, England's chances of qualifying for Euro 2000 were left hanging by a thread after this disappointing stalemate in Warsaw. 

In a poor performance littered with errors (David Batty almost scoring an embarrassing own goal), wastefulness in front of goal (Robbie Fowler was guilty of missing several chances) and eventually infamy when Batty was sent off with just eight minutes remaining for a needless, rash challenge. Poland could have even won it when Andrezj Juskowiak headed for goal only for his effort to be thwarted by Nigel Martyn's point blank save. 

The result saw England needing Sweden to do them a favour and beat Poland in order to secure a play-off berth in order to complete their skewed journey to the finals. 

Seeing Red: David Batty was given his marching orders to compound England's misery on a difficult night in Warsaw. 

Thanks for taking a look at this piece, I hope you have enjoyed it. Remember to drop me a follow on Twitter @DanBarkerGray for more 1990s sports nostalgia.