#sports #World Cup worry for England ahead of crucial Wembley clash (CNN) -- Where there should be excitement there is trepidation. Where there is hope, there is also fear. England expects -- but what it also anticipates is a night of high drama, tension and nails being bitten until they are no longer visible to the human eye. When Roy Hodgsons side take to the turf at the iconic Wembley Stadium, the Home of Football, it will attempt to secure a victory which guarantees a place at next years World Cup. Read: Quartet on their way to World Cup finals From civil war to the football pitch Football comes to Buckingham Palace Qatar 2022: Too hot for football? One win is all that separates England from challenging the worlds best in Brazil and yet it still seems so far away. Perhaps its not difficult to understand given the countrys history and that painful night 40 years ago when England faltered in such agonizing fashion. As on Tuesday, the opponent will once again be Poland. It was Poland and their goalkeeper, Jan Tomaszewski who was infamously labeled a clown by former Nottingham Forest and Derby manager Brian Clough ahead of the qualifier on October 17 1973, who proved the scourge of the Three Lions. Indeed, it was the Poles who had the last laugh -- claiming a 1-1 draw to progress to the 1974 World Cup finals and leave England desolated. Forget that Poland only had two efforts on goal to Englands 36 or that the home side hit the woodwork twice and had four efforts cleared off the line. Instead, that night is remembered as one of the most depressing in the history of English football. Read: Rio home owners already renting properties for World Cup 2014 North Korean footballer big in Japan World Cup winners and losers World Cup winners and losers Belgium\ s World Cup Red Devils Belgium s World Cup Red Devils Once again it is Poland, which will be roared on by more than 18,000 fans, which stands in Englands way -- a proposition which is enough to make England manager Roy Hodgson slightly nervous. Im a worrier. I think anyone who works in football is a worrier, Hodgson told reporters. It wont be my best nights sleep because at the moment all of my waking thoughts are around England versus Poland. On the other hand, I have great faith and trust in the players. I dont think I can be putting a stronger bunch of players, a more confident bunch of players, onto the field. But football is not a science. If it was a science and based on logic and science, I think we would be 99% there. But its not, its a game and things can happen in games that you dont really want to happen and thats what makes you worried. Its not that you are worried the team is not capable, its just that you are worried something untoward might happen. Read: Your country needs YOU! But which country? England has performed inconsistently during its qualifying campaign, holding Ukraine to draws on two occasions, while also finishing level away in Poland and Montenegro. Until Fridays 4-1 win over Montenegro, it had only managed to defeat minnows San Marino and Moldova -- a statistic which has left Tomaszewski unimpressed with Englands current generation. Back then they (England) were one of the worlds best teams, probably even the best, Tomaszewski told AFP FIFA corruption timeline FIFA corruption timeline What can football managers teach you about leadership? What can football managers teach you about leadership? Prince William hosts Buckingham Palace football match Prince William hosts Buckingham Palace football match Now England is weak, weak but theyre not falling below a certain level. They could have qualified already, like the Italians or The Netherlands, but theyve drawn too many games They (England) are still among the worlds best, but for sure now theyre not in as good form as 1973. But, objectively speaking, theyre the best team in the group. Something just isnt right with England these days. All the players are fantastic but during a game -- I mean individually these players are nearly the worlds best -- when they play together somethings off with the communication, its just not there. England last failed to qualify for a major tournament in 2008 when it missed out on the European Championship finals following a 3-2 home defeat by Croatia. Read: Balotelli secures Italys passage to World Cup finals That defeat signaled the end of Steve McClarens reign as national manager and left a deep and painful mark which resurfaced when England was humiliated 4-1 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by Germany. Should England fail to defeat Poland and Ukraine triumph over San Marino then Hodgsons side will face the lottery of the playoffs. But with the Poles having failed to claim a competitive victory over England in 40 years, Hodgson is in confident mood. Historys important when it comes to not making political mistakes but I dont think it has any relevance in sport whatsoever, added Hodgson. Every games a new game and each Poland team thats played England has been a very different team so, as far as were concerned, well do our job against the Poland we will face. Blatter: A controversial leader Blatter: A controversial leader The Zlatan Ibrahimovic burger The Zlatan Ibrahimovic burger From Burundi to the big leagues From Burundi to the big leagues Spain It is not just England which needs to gain a result to qualify -- defending champion Spain requires a draw from its final game to book its place in Brazil. Spain faces Georgia knowing that should it slip up then France can steal top spot. But the chance of that happening is remote according to captain Hugo Lloris. Read: FIFA has ugly culture Spain did the job on Friday (by beating Belarus 2-1) and we dont expect them to fail tomorrow, he told a news conference at the Stade de France ahead the game with Finland. Yes, we already have the playoffs next month in mind. France could meet Portugal in the playoffs unless Cristiano Ronaldos side pull off a huge victory over Luxembourg and Group F leaders Russia lose in Azerbaijan. France are the strongest we may face, Ronaldo told reporters after being asked about the prospect of the playoffs. They are the only ones I do not want to face. Bosnia In Group G, Bosnia can book its place at the World Cup for the very first time with victory in Lithuania. Bosnia sits top of the group alongside Greece with 22 points, but enjoys a superior goal difference. Greece faces bottom side Liechtenstein in its final game but Bosnia manager Safet Susic, a former international striker who played for Yugoslavia in the 1982 and 1990 tournaments, is confident of success. We are awaiting the game with impatience, he told reporters at Sarajevo airport. The most important thing is that nobody is suspended or injured and we have had a good rest after beating Liechtenstein. I am optimistic. Iceland Iceland is preparing itself for the most important game we have ever played according to captain Aron Gunnarsson. The nation has never competed at a World Cup but can clinch a playoff spot with victory in Norway. A draw or defeat would be good enough as long as Slovenia do not better their result when they face group winners Switzerland. Read: Is Belgium footballs coming force? We are young and do not scare easily, Cardiff City midfielder Gunnarsson told the UEFA website. We have already put pressure on ourselves and now we just have to handle it. We have Norway on Tuesday, which will be the most important game we have ever played.The Norwegians will not give us anything, like we wouldnt give them anything. They have nothing to lose so they might play well, but we just have to think about our game, stay cool and everything will be OK. Turkey While the Netherlands cantered to top spot in Group D, the race for second place remains wide open. Turkey is in pole position, leading Romania by four on goal difference going into the final matchday. But Turkey faces the Dutch while Romania hosts Estonia. Read: No FIFA decision on Qatar dates until 2014 Should Turkey fail to defeat its visitors then Romania can pounce and snatch the playoff place. But if Turkey and Romania both suffer defeats then Hungary could yet sneak in through the backdoor. South America Chile and Ecuador can both seal their places at next years tournament Tuesday. A draw between the two teams will be good enough for both to progress. Should there be a positive result then Uruguay could finish fourth with victory over an Argentina side which has already qualified.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:00:04 +0000
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