That's the spirit! Hodgson relieved to bury ghosts from England failures past
By Matt Barlow
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Half-time was looming when the cameras found him. Heavier and rounder than 40 years ago but it was unmistakably him, high in the stands, wearing a blood red tie in support of Poland, casting his spell.
How else could you explain the strange force-field around Wojciech Szczesny’s net. Shots veered wide, Andros Townsend rattled the frame of the goal, Szczesny made saves and his defenders made blocks.
It was goalless, it was anxious, everyone was thinking of Jan Tomaszewski and then he appeared with the air of a mystic villain, high above the mist from the Polish flares.
Look forward: England boss Roy Hodgson had urged his players not to linger on the past
We've done it! Roy Hodgson celebrates after guiding England to the World Cup Finals in Brazil 2014
England looked him squarely in the eye and scored.
Is this what Roy Hodgson (below) meant by burying the past? Stop lingering on those painful failures, end the introspection and reach for the future?
His team certainly look stronger and a more cohesive unit than they did at the start of this campaign. There have been shoots of promise in these last four days.
Next stop Rio de Janeiro and England have qualified as group winners, albeit from a group that perhaps should have been won before last night.
The caipirinha cocktails are on Roy, a manager who trusted his players and was repaid for this faith. Last night, he picked his team and left them to it.
He barely left his seat from the moment he shuffled out of the tunnel before the anthems were played until Wayne Rooney’s header hit the net moments before half time.
Brazil bound: England players - Frank Lampard, Danny Welbeck, Joe Hart, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Leighton Baines - celebrate
Assistant manager Ray Lewington was the man on the touchline, directing the traffic.
Yet Hodgson and his team nailed the important changes when they were needed, unlike when England allowed three points to slip from them in Montenegro as he was criticised for his inactivity.
On came Frank Lampard and his experience was vital, even if his passing was awful. Wily Lampard took a booking on the chin as he killed a dangerous Polish counter-attack. This is the sort of on-field experience centurions are there for.
On came James Milner and promptly won possession to release Steven Gerrard for the second goal, two minutes from time.
Gerrard had been ticked off by the boss on the eve of the game for lingering on the past and in particular on the defeat to Croatia in 2007 but how better to cleanse the gloom than by scoring the goal to settle it. England’s captain displayed strength and determination as he brought Milner’s pass under control and forced it past Szczesny.
The pain in the rain, the Wally with Brolly, it all washed away.
Former Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski watched the game but Poland could not keep England out this time
Headstrong: Poland's most recent keeper Wojciech Szczesny tosses away Wayne Rooney's discarded headgear
On the touchline, Hodgson was out of his seat, hopping around like a child in need of the toilet.
It has been a tense first campaign for the England boss. At times he has bristled at accusations of over-caution but his tactics were vindicated last night. He has won the group as he always insisted he would and silenced Gary Lineker.
Brazilian music was piped into the arena as the players completed a lap of honour, although many supporters did not stick around for it. Perhaps they were dashing off to check their diaries and their savings accounts. Who wants to miss a World Cup in Brazil?
It had not always been quite so serene. There were definite here-we-go-again moments; Jan Tomaszewski moments.
Roo little beauty: Wayne Rooney celebrates after giving England the lead with a headed goal
For 40 minutes, Szczesny and his defenders stood firm, battled hard and rode their luck. Townsend hit the bar but England worked harder and harder and refused to take the hint.
There was no real surprise that Leighton Baines was integral to the goal.
The Everton left-back had been a useful outlet all night on the over-lap. Baines never stopped shuttling up and down. His delivery is dependable and he found Rooney before the break to score and release the tension.
It need not be the end of Ashley Cole, but why go back? Baines adds another dimension.
He is a capable defender but adds a little more: dead-ball precision and a different dynamic in open play.
Centurions: Steven Gerrard (above) and Frank Lampard didn't let their country down
There is invention to his play and increasing quality. The cross for Rooney’s header was delicious, a striker’s dream.
Finally, Hodgson leapt from his seat, arms aloft, finally coaxed to his feet. His team seem to be learning to walk.
How he will hope to have them in this form in May. How he will hope Rooney’s appetite and desire is as it has been this week.
The Manchester United striker has led the team from the front.
June is a long way off, of course. So much can happen but Hodgson’s team is slowly improving and they have buried a few ghosts.
Jan Who?
Heir to the throne: Leighton Baines staked his claim to replace Ashley Cole in defence
Job done: Roy Hodgson leaves the pitch as attention now turns to the future in Brazil
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henry 8th, england, 1 hour ago
Buried the ghost of what? Taking it to the last game in a group the should have had wrapped up ages ago