Poland v England: England match ratings


After Tuesday's postponement, England finally got to play Poland and played out a lacklustre 1-1 draw.
Wayne Rooney opened the scoring on the half hour but the Three Lions were pegged back by a determined home side with 20 minutes left.  The equaliser coming from centre back Kamil Gilk.  
Roy Hodgson made six changes to the side that thrashed San Marino with Jermain Defoe starting up front alongside Rooney and Danny Welbeck left on the bench.
England captain Steven Gerrard returned to the side after his suspension and Ashley Cole got a recall at left-back.
Right back Glen Johnson, centre back Joleon Lescott and James Milner all returned, while Tom Cleverley kept his place.
Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill, Leighton Baines, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Welbeck were the six players to miss out.
Total Football’s Simon Wright assesses how the starting 11 and replacements did in the encounter with the Poles.

Joe Hart

By his high standards, Joe Hart had a poor evening.
At fault for Poland's equaliser when he dashed off his line to collect a corner that he never looked like getting.
He was largely untroubled otherwise but will be disappointed to have cost the side a big victory. 5/10 

Glen Johnson

Johnson started sluggishly but bailed both of the centre backs out with two well-timed challenges either side of half-time to deny major danger threat for the hosts in Robert Lewandowski.
He was limited with his attacking abilities but for once, this was a good thing. One of his better showings for the national team.6/10

Joleon Lescott

England’s number one centre back looked very shaky again on his return to the starting 11.
Struggled with the Polish attack and needed Johnson's help to bail him out when he gifted possession away to Lewandowski before half-time.
Although Hart takes the blame for the equaliser, he failed to track Gilk's run and didn't show enough aerial strength. He lacked conviction throughout. 5/10 

Phil Jagielka

He looked more assured that his centre back partner. Phil Jagielka shouldn't need to worry too much about a regular place in the central of defence.
Made some timely interceptions early on when the home side began as the brighter unit.
A few moments where he looked to dither in possession but was always in a good position to sort out any danger building up on the English goal. 6/10 

Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole earned his 99th cap for England and was under pressure throughout the contest, as he struggled to cope on the left side of defence.
He showed absolutely nothing going forward and perhaps the headlines of the past fortnight affected him more than what has been let on.
One of the best left back performers in the world has had a tough time of late and on this evidence, might struggle to hold on to his place ahead of Leighton Baines. 5/10 

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick looked totally anonymous throughout. The game seemed to pass him by.
Dismal in possession, lacked chemistry in the centre of midfield with Steven Gerrard and lost control of the crucial midfield battle.
He gave it his all but the heavy pitch conditions seemed to get the better of him. 5/10

Steven Gerrard

The Liverpool skipper (pictured) might not be in the best form domestically for his club but never write Steven Gerrard off at your peril.
Like Carrick, he was careless in possession and his attempted passes often found opposition players rather than Three Lions away shirts.
However, his whipped crosses from set pieces were a constant threat and it was his corner that provided the goal for Rooney on the half hour.
This was a major improvement on recent England displays but still could do a lot better. 6/10

James Milner

In my view, James Milner was England's best player.  
As usual, he wasn't outstanding but was solid and certainly kept possession far better than the likes of Cole, Gerrard and Carrick.
Some of his crossing was disappointing but nearly produced a fine ball for Welbeck in the second half and protected Johnson well on the right flank.
He worked hard again and lasted the distance in a routine performance from the Manchester City midfielder. 7/10

Tom Cleverley

Started on the left side of midfield in a surprising choice and I don't think he will play there again.  
Cleverley began with plenty of energy but faded as the match wore on and drifted out of proceedings.
He looks far more comfortable in the centre of the park and this is a valuable lesson in his fast learning as a senior international player. 5/10

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney might have scored his 32nd goal for his country with a fortunate header on the half hour but was generally unimpressive.
He tracked back well and made some important tackles but looked lethargic in attack and showed no sort of partnership with Defoe.
Missed a glorious chance before Poland's equaliser and was replaced before the end. He needs to start performing far better in an England shirt on a regular basis. 5/10 

Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe won his place back in the starting 11 but never troubled the Polish backline and was replaced well before the end by Danny Welbeck.
Didn't do anything particularly wrong and made some useful runs but struggled to hold up play like a Welbeck or an Andy Carroll would.
An unspectacular showing leading the line in attack from the in-form Spurs ace. 6/10 

Danny Welbeck (Replaced Defoe on 67 minutes)

Danny Welbeck was unlucky to not start the game and looked far brighter than both Rooney and Defoe.
He had more energy than most of the starting 11 out there and gave the defence something else to think about.
His arrival was slightly too late to change the outcome though. 6/10

Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain (Replaced Rooney on 73 minutes)

He should have started and this was a big mistake Roy Hodgson made on a tactical scale.
He gave England a big spark that was evidently missing, with mazy runs and dangerous crosses.
Like Welbeck, a little bit too late to turn the match back in England's favour. 6/10
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

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