Whatever the truth of England's Poland trauma, the lessons of 1973 still resound | Jonathan Wilson

Sir Alf Ramsey’s side were in decline and England missed out on two World Cups, but Poland drawing at Wembley gave birth to an enduring myth that they were a bogey team

Version one: England played really well at Wembley, had 36 shots to Poland’s two, conceded to a goal that stemmed from uncharacteristic mistakes by Norman Hunter and Peter Shilton, and were unfortunate to draw 1-1.

Version two: England deservedly failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup as they could only draw against Poland, their lack of attacking intelligence exposed by the way they spent the final minutes of the game as they chased a winner endlessly lofting the ball into the box.

Related: Ward-Prowse scuttles and shines to lay down Euros marker for England | Barney Ronay

Ramsey had remained too loyal to too many of his World Cup winners for too long, and there was a sense of an era coming to an end

Continue reading...