So it’s that time again where European teams find out whether they will be competing in the World’s biggest sporting event – the FIFA World Cup. England will know by tomorrow morning whether they will qualify for the tournament automatically or will be facing the gruelling play-offs to decide who jets off to Brazil come next June. They come up against a decent Poland team knowing that they need a win and nothing less to book their place in the tournament. It’s a huge game for England as a footballing nation, for player’s careers and the shape football for the next 2 years and beyond.

Basically from this game we will learn a bit more about this team’s character as this game is the most important it’s had to face so far. Hodgson has had enough time now to implement his way onto the team after taking over just before Euro 2012 – so this really is HIS team. His record has been good in qualifying with only 3 goals conceded and a decent goal difference. However some performances have been questionable such as the draw with Ukraine at Wembley last year, which is probably the reason they haven’t qualified already, and the draw with Montenegro earlier this year. At times Hodgson’s England are too cautious, deciding to sit back when taking the lead and invite pressure. There can be times for this but not against teams that we should be knocking 3 goals past. Whether you see England’s qualifying campaign as good, bad, ugly, or average the most important thing is that they just get there. Take a look back to England’s 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign where they won every game except one and thrashed every team in the group, England looked favourites for the tournament – until they got there and were a complete embarrassment under Capello. International football is a strange thing and performances, mood and confidence can change game to game so despite the media picking apart every performance it’s the actual tournament that counts so just get there!

England are competing with Ukraine for the automatic qualification spot as both teams got into tomorrow with only a point separating them. Ukraine have San Marino, who have only ever won a single game ever, yes ever. So basically Ukraine have already won which means England need to win, a draw will not be enough. This would make any man feel nervous going into such a game no matter who he is backing, but this is England – a reason to feel that extra bit nervous. This situation isn’t too dissimilar to 2007 when Steven McLaren’s England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 in the last game against Croatia – one of England’s lowest moments. England are experts at making things harder for themselves, for succumbing to pressure. Not only that but Poland aren’t a bad team and will be very disappointed that they won’t be going to the World Cup. They have Lewandowski, one of the world’s best strikers as well as a number of very dangerous players who can cause England huge problems. If England don’t win they go into the play-offs, simple as that and to tell you the truth if that’s the case I’m not confident England will qualify at all.

England looked good in the last game against Montenegro and will want to keep the same team for Poland. Walker is suspended after being booked against Montenegro so I expect Jones to start at right-back and right away our back four looks very inexperienced. The only other change that could be made is that Townsend is a doubt after a knock he got after scoring his screamer on the weekend which would be a major blow as he looked our best player with his positivity and intelligent runs. Hodgson may also want replace Lampard with Wilshere but I think he’ll stick with Lamps. England need a similar performance from the weekend and if they don’t match it then we could be in trouble. England have managed to make much easier situations look an absolute disaster before so the nerves will be rife come the morning. It doesn’t have to be pretty, I don’t care if it turns into a long-ball shit fight as long as get over the line so for fuck sake just go out there and win it England.