England v Poland

Can it really be 48 years ago since that night at Wembley when a 1-1 draw against Poland eliminated England from World Cup qualification?

It was a game when England missed chance after chance – they had 53 against Poland’s 2.

I recall Kevin Hector of Derby coming on right at the end and he could have had a hat-trick.

As ever, the story was more about England’s failure and failings than Poland ‘s success.

Poland went on to finish third in the 1974 World Cup.

England’s only presence there was the Final referee Jack Taylor who awarded Holland a penalty in their first attack.

In fact the damage had been done already to qualification when England lost two-nil in Katowice in June 1973 and one year earlier a Gunther Netzer-inspired West Germany outplayed England at Wembley to win 3-1.

The failure to qualify cost Alf Ramsay his job and England never reached a Final, let alone win anything again.

We had the golden generation of Wayne Rooney, Stevie Gerrard and Frank Lampard but as likely as not fell at the quarter final stage on penalties.

So-called smaller nations like Denmark, Greece and Portugal won trophies whilst now Belgium and Croatia look more likely to.

In tournaments England lack the mental strength of Germany and the technique of Holland, France and Italy.

Although often called underachievers England are remarkably consistent in only occasionally getting beyond the quarter finals.

We are playing Poland again tonight.

Although Alf Ramsay’s nemesis, England have gone 15 games undefeated against then since that inglorious Wembley night.

No doubt we will qualify and, if the World Cup takes place in Qatar, not reach the final.