Match Summary

Poland Team

England Team

    Match Report (Mike Payne's exclusive report coming shortly)

Jermain Defoe repaid Sven-Göran Eriksson's faith with a goal as England sealed a crucial World Cup victory.  Defoe was one of two changes, with David James dropped for Paul Robinson and Alan Smith also axed.  He turned brilliantly to put England ahead after 36 minutes, but Maciej Zurawski levelled with a powerful finish two minutes after half-time.  England's winner came after 57 minutes when Arkadiusz Glowacki deflected Ashley Cole's cross past Jerzy Dudek.

It was a vital morale-booster for England after the disappointing draw in Austria, giving Sven-Göran Eriksson's side four points from their opening two games.  And Defoe's performance has given Eriksson a pleasant dilemma once Wayne Rooney recovers from his foot injury.  Defoe has looked comfortable at international level, but he was betrayed by over-anxiety as he wasted an opportunity to put England ahead after 20 minutes.

Wayne Bridge and Cole combined brilliantly to set up Defoe, but he sliced a volley well wide.  But he made no mistake when given a second opportunity nine minutes before half-time.  Defoe took a pass from David Beckham and turned brilliantly before firing into the far corner past Jerzy Dudek. 

It was the perfect tonic for England, who had lost Gary Neville through injury seconds earlier, when he was replaced by Jamie Carragher.  The goal sparked Poland into life, and after a period of pressure leading up to the interval, they were level after 47 minutes. Kamil Kosowski played in Zurawski, who gave Robinson no chance with a powerful finish.

But the Poles' joy was short-lived as England regained the lead after 57 minutes, when Cole's cross was diverted past Dudek by Glowacki.  England stepped up the pace, with Bridge denied by Dudek's fine diving save and Michael Owen narrowly off target.

FA explains player silence

The Football Association has revealed England's players refused to talk to the media after their win in Poland in protest at criticism aimed at them.  England's players were angry at coming under fire after drawing in Austria.  FA head of media Adrian Bevington said: "They feel they have been treated very unfairly in a number of areas."  David Beckham was rounded on for his recent performances but it is understood that newspaper condemnation of David James was the final straw.

Readers were asked in a poll whether they would prefer a donkey or James in goal after his error had presented Austria with the equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw.  England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson backed the squad's media blackout.  "The group has been badly criticised over the last few days. They try to defend every single player in the group. It is their way of protecting each other and they are fully right to do it.  They want to defend all the players, whether or not they are on the pitch, if they are on the bench, or in the stands.  They feel very strongly about that. I have not read everything but I think sometimes the critics do overreact a little bit."

Bevington added: "Individual criticism that goes way beyond that of the way they perform on the football pitch is something that clearly, in their view, is very unfair.  I have to accept and respect their decision but they have made it clear that when we get together again in October for the game against Wales, it will be back to business as normal.  The players will continue to conduct their daily media activities in a very professional manner.  They felt it was time now to make a stance. It is not the first time they have felt like this in a long period of time.  They regularly receive criticism but they felt it was so intense on this occasion that it was time to make a stand.  Some of it has been very unfair on the players and more so on their families. People sometimes don't take them into account.  I spoke to the players and made them aware of the potential consequences but I fully understand.  I have probably been following the media more closely than anybody and the criticism levelled at them has been very, very hostile. There has been a great deal of misrepresentation. I have to say that listening to some of the interviews, then reading the copy and listening to the coverage, I found it very unfair."