Football: Taylor's tired troops await Wright verdict

THE LAST time England played in Poland their hopes of qualifying for the 1992 European Championship were revived 13 minutes from the end - Gary Lineker's goal, of course. Next Saturday they return for an even more important match in the long series of significant games against the Poles, this time in the World Cup. Although pummelled by the long domestic season they claim to be settled, confident and no longer in need of the nation's favourite rescuing knight. We shall see.

With Ian Wright last night reporting in with both a sprained ankle and a broken toe, England's confidence that they can find the necessary goals for what Graham Taylor was calling 'our two cup finals' against Poland and Norway was looking less convincing. Wright added his ankle injury during Arsenal's FA Cup final replay when he was tackled by Sheffield Wednesday's Paul Warhurst, who himself has had to withdraw from England's stand-by list - from which Earl Barrett, the Aston Villa defender, was promoted to the travelling party yesterday.

Yesterday Taylor was still taking the 'part-and-parcel of the job' line about the fact that he was setting off on his two most important matches with a squad full of bruises, some physical and, in the case of Carlton Palmer and Chris Woods (losers in the replay), some mental. 'Everything is in place except the players,' he said. Nevertheless, although Tony Adams, John Barnes, David Seaman and almost certainly Paul Gascoigne will not be going on the subsequent visit to the United States, all are available for the World Cup games. If Wright can stand the sprain, the team to face Poland will closely resemble that which drew with the Netherlands, except that he will take the place of Les Ferdinand, and Tony Dorigo will become left-back rather than Martin Keown.

Having made the basic error of conceding home points to their most threatening rivals, the Dutch and the Norwegians, England now go to Poland and Norway in all- too-quick succession and with an absolute minimum target of two points. Yesterday Taylor said all would not be lost if they failed in both games, but that is hardly compatible with the fact that he was on the edge of despair last month when he saw England lose the opportunity to avoid the pressure of the next five days by losing their lead against the Netherlands, when Des Walker gave away a needless penalty.

In spite of their problems in Italy, Walker, David Platt and Gascoigne are still fundamental to England's progress. Now that matches have to be won and people are beginning to think about the World Cup finals as only a year away, these three comprise England's only internationally above-average players. Their form will dictate whether England qualify and ultimately have any chance of real success. Now the chips are down, mere hustling is not likely to get the required points to reach the finals. But to be scrupulously fair, given the lack of sophistication in his squad, Taylor has made progress in the last few months, and emerged as a more confident manager than at first seemed likely.

The impression of confidence, whether firmly founded or not, counts for something. Don Revie's permanent self-doubt and Bobby Robson's lengthening worry lines became infectiously damaging to morale. Taylor is now adept at propagating the idea that England built on club lines ought to acquit themselves well. Perhaps at a time when standards internationally are unimpressive, he could be right. But whether that confidence remains in a fortnight's time is the real test.

If England fail, no doubt Taylor and a lot of others will blame the arduous domestic season. But, comparatively speaking, does it place him at a significant disadvantage? Obviously it would be better if his chosen squad played less often, but all international managers have crosses to bear. Are Poland and Norway given any advantage by their mid-winter breaks? The few international players still left playing domestic football in those countries are far from happy about coming in cold from the cold. Both countries have their players spread across Europe and a good many are not even playing regular first-team football. Take Norway. Eight of their current squad are with Premier League clubs, but only Gunnar Halle, of Oldham, and Erik Thorstvedt, of Tottenham, can command regular senior team places. Reserve football and sitting on benches is no more an ideal way to prepare for World Cup matches than playing too many important club games.

Although they lead the qualifying group, the Norwegians are not overflowing with confidence in their ability to qualify. After all, they also have two testing games within a week (against England and then away to the Netherlands). Like Taylor, they still think Poland, who have two games in hand over the Dutch, could be the real thorn.

The Poles seemed to jeopardise their chances with that meagre 1-0 home win over San Marino last month, but with their 3-0 victory in the return on Wednesday, they can still make it on points. If goal difference finally becomes decisive, that will count against them. They too have problems to equal those of England. While Taylor has players who are over stretched, the Polish manager, Andrzej Strejlau, says he is just as concered about his inability to spend enough time with his men, who no longer have obstacles placed in their way if foreign clubs make worthwhile offers. In a new market economy, the Polish clubs are no longer subsidised and have to sell to survive.

German clubs have hired several of the established Polish internationals, although the Footballer of the Year, Wojciech Kowalczyk, had the foresight to turn down Nottingham Forest. Whether Nigel Clough will do the same remains to be seen. Yesterday all he would say was that they had made him an offer he could not refuse without a lot more thought.

Vale victorious, page 30

Richard Williams on Des Walker, page 26