England's World Cup Opponents: Poland

Last updated : 25 February 2021 By Three Lions

In this most unusual of football years, England will begin their World Cup qualification campaign just months ahead of their bid to win a major tournament, the delayed Euro 2020, on home soil.

Gareth Southgate's squad will play ten qualification matches in 2021 in their bid to book a spot at Qatar 2022 next winter.

The Three Lions have been drawn alongside Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino in their qualifying group, with only the group winner guaranteed a World Cup berth.

England Badge with Three Lions logo

Poland will be at this summer's European Championships and have possibly the world's top player right now, striker Robert Lewandowski, in their ranks, but the nation's football federation decided recently that coach Jerzy Brzeczek wasn't the right man to take them into an important year.

Former Portugal international Paulo Sousa was appointed manager in January.

Familiar foes in World Cup qualifying, Poland's draw at Wembley in October 1973, a few months after they defeated England on home soil, retains its impact on the English game even though the Three Lions have not lost any of the subsequent meetings of the two teams.