Poland vs England LIVE: World Cup qualifying result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the fallout from Warsaw as Poland disrupted England’s serene qualification for the 2022 World Cup with a 1-1 draw
England played out a 1-1 draw with Poland tonight in Warsaw in what was a crunch match at the top of Group I in World Cup qualifying. Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 finalists remain top of the group with 16 points from a maximum 18, while Poland moved to 11 points but dropped to third place as they ended the Three Lions’ perfect record in the battle for the one automatic qualifying spot to reach Qatar next year.
England won 2-1 when the sides met at Wembley back in March, thanks to Harry Maguire’s late winner, but it was Poland who struck late this time, Damian Szymanski heading an equaliser in stoppage time to cancel out Harry Kane’s long-range opener.
With Robert Lewandowski – injured six months ago – restored to the Polish line-up as captain, this always looked set to be a different kind of encounter, and the Bayern Munich striker in fact provided the assist for Szymanski in the final moments, as a raucous Warsaw crowd roared in celebration to cap off a feisty affair.
Follow all the fallout from the game at the National Stadium below, live.
Poland 0 - 0 England
24 mins: There’s a well fought battle playing out in midfield as both teams try to control the ball press the other back. Walker has pushed up a number of times to help out with Phillips and Rice dropping deeper to cover the defence. Walker wins the ball again and sends it up to Grealish who’s sprinted across to the right side to receive the ball. He carries it to the byline before being dragged down by Kamil Glik. Again though the referee lets play continue.
Poland 0 - 0 England
21 mins: Almost! England haven’t had a great deal to celebrate but Raheem Sterling makes something happen. He’s given the ball wide on the right and decides to take on Puchacz by shifting the ball towards the byline and sprinting after it. He beats the left-back to the loose ball and whips a pinpoint cross into the box where Kane pops up. The England captain has a free header but he can’t find the target.
CLOSE! Buksa nearly scores for Poland
18 mins: Walker closes down the ball in midfield but it’s played past him and Puchacsz is free to sprint into the vacant space on England’s right flank. He drives the ball forward before swinging a very good cross into the middle. Adam Buksa hangs on the shoulder of Maguire and both men dive for the ball but it flies past them only a couple of inches away from Buksa’s outstretched leg.
Poland 0 - 0 England
15 mins: Lewandowski weaves his way into the front centre part of England’s penalty area but is closed down by John Stones and Harry Maguire. He slips the ball out to Moder approaching from the left but Walker is on to him quickly and Moder’s shot comes simply through to Jordan Pickford.
Poland 0 - 0 England
12 mins: England’s free kick is sent into the box by Shaw. Grealish and Lewandowski tussle to get there with the big Bayern Munich striker going to ground. A failed clearance almost drops for Harry Maguire but the ball bounces too high for him to wrap his foot around.
Poland 0 - 0 England
9 mins: England aren’t getting a lot of the decisions. There’s been a couple of strange decisions against the Three Lions. Kalvin Phillips has been booked for standing on Puchacz’s right left foot as he spun away from a challenge.
Finally England win a free kick as Grealish draws in Jozwiak and shifts the ball away from him at the last moment causing the defender to take him out.
Poland 0 - 0 England
6 mins: Poland have had the better start to the game. Declan Rice is forced to track back and help out Luke Shaw as the home side attack down the right side again. Rice blocks a low cross and gives away a corner. Jakub Moder fires the set piece into the box, Lewandowksi misses the ball as he tries to head it at goal but it comes to Karol Linetty whose shot is cleared by Harry Kane.
Poland 0 - 0 England
3 mins: Robert Lewandowski gives the ball to Kamil Jozwiak who sends the ball down the right wing for Pawel Dawidowicz. The right back whips in a deep cross and finds Tymoteusz Puchacz arriving at the far side of the box. The Polish left back meets the ball on the volley but his strike is blocked by Kyle Walker.
Poland 0 - 0 England
Kick off: England take the knee just before kick off and are met with a few whistles and boos but nothing like the what they experienced in Hungary a week ago.
Poland kick off the game. A long ball is cleared by Harry Maguire who also wins a free kick for England.
Here come the teams
Robert Lewandowski leads out Poland and receives a loud round of applause from the home crowd. No away fans have been allowed to travel due to Covid-19 so it’s going to be an overwhelming experience for England.
The Three Lions look focused though as Harry Kane leads them onto the pitch. Kick off is next.
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