England currently lead Group H with 19 points, having won five matches and drawn four, as they take on Poland today. PHOTO: REUTERS
A point clear at the top of European qualifying Group H, England need to only match second-place Ukraine’s result away to San Marino, but with the Ukrainians almost certain to win in Serravalle, Roy Hodgson’s side will not be making calculations.
Poland’s 1-0 loss in Ukraine means that Waldemar Fornalik’s side can no longer qualify, but with 18,000 Polish supporters expected at Wembley, Hodgson does not anticipate a straightforward evening.
“I can’t imagine they will take their foot off the pedal,” he said. “They will want to come here and get another good result. We are going to be preparing for the very best Poland can be.
“If we are lucky and they decide not to turn up and allow us to stroll through them, so be it. But I am not expecting it.”
In-form Negredo keen to take his chance
World champions Spain can seal their place in next year’s World Cup with just a point when they host Georgia in Albacete today. The task appears a simple one against a side ranked 97 in the world given La Roja have never lost a World Cup qualifier on home soil.
However, despite weaving a relatively comfortable passage through a tricky group, Vicente del Bosque’s men have come in for criticism for their lack of cutting edge in recent games.
While forward Alvaro Negredo admits his side has had trouble breaking down limited teams recently, he believes their tried and trusted short passing style is still the best way forward.
“It will be difficult because Georgia will stick 11 players in their half, but we have a way of playing we need to maintain,” he said. “We need to keep the ball and take advantage of the chances we have.”
Uruguay resigned to play-off return
Uruguay have all but resigned themselves to the idea they will need to beat Jordan in a play-off in order to reach next year’s World Cup, even if they beat Argentina today.
It is a scenario that is far from unfamiliar to Uruguay, who have found themselves in this position in each of the previous three World Cup qualifying campaigns as well.
Avoiding that possibility seems highly unlikely as Uruguay trail both Ecuador and Chile, in third and fourth in the group, by three points, while those two face each other in Lima.
Even Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has been talking up the value of qualifying through that route. “I don’t share the view that the play-off is an unworthy route to reach the World Cup,” he said. “We made it to South Africa that way in 2010 and ended up finishing fourth.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2013.
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