Football: England beat Poland - just!

Fortune favoured the brave in Poland as Sven-Goran Eriksson finally displayed a ruthless streak that was matched by his team as they put their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.

Eriksson may have normally reserved his adventurous spirit for his personal life, but he dropped David James after his costly error against Austria and replaced him with 24-year-old Paul Robinson.

Even more decisively, the Swede turned to another younger model in handing 21-year-old Jermain Defoe his first international start and was rewarded by a sparkling display.

Defoe put England ahead in the 36th minute with an exquisite turn and finish and although the visitors again surrendered a lead when Maciej Zurawski equalised soon after the break, this time they refused to buckle.

In a display of considerable resolve under such intense pressure, Michael Owen pressured defender Arkadiusz Glowacki into deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

Well i for one was glad to see James dropped, he has had his chances and has failed when the pressure is on.

[Edited on 9/9/04 by TRD]

its disgrace full aint it that wwe just beat Pland !!!

The good thing that came out of it was David James got dropped and Jermaine Defoe started a game and scored a blinding goal.