Pre-World Cup Friendlies : What To Expect From England And Poland

With the national team having confirmed grade one tune-up dates with World Cup-bound teams, Poland and England, the first of which comes up in less than three months time, it is important to do reconnaissance, as to what we are bound to face — on the face of it, all and sundry would have fathomed as much that navigating these ones unscathed is sure to have its own big psychological boost going into the tournament.

The Gareth Southgate-led side who are yet to kiss the dust in a formidable streak running from the 2017 games, failing to win just twice in 10 of their world cup qualifiers are coming into the game in rousing confidence and even though their last two friendly matches of the previous year saw dour stalemates played out, that is simply less likely to set hearts fidgeting; there is after all, very little shame in a second string side failing to score against Germany and Brazil.

So with David Platt's goal having separated Nigeria and their soon to be rivals back in 1994 at Wembley in one of their only two meetings to date, this time will see the Super Eagles come up against a Harry Kane-led Three Lions alongside precocious Anglo-Nigerian youngster, Dele Alli and the twinkle toed Marcus Rashford and the indefatigable Jamie Vardy and the gritty John Stones — the list goes on.

With the 2002 World Cup stalemate also popping up in a realist sense, maybe it is only natural that the vague familiarity it bears with it would come with the least of knowledge alongside.

Then 2008 Euro champions, Poland would trade tackles with Nigeria at the Stadion Miejski in Wrocław on March 23 in what would be their first game since Mexico got the better of them last year.

Also aside that away blip to Denmark in one of the last games of their qualifiers, the Eagles nervelessly took care of business against their group opponents, doling out heavy trouncing along the way and when you have Jakub Błaszczykowski, Kamil Grosicki and Łucasz Piszczek in the middle of the park with Robert Lewandowski leading the lines — it can't just get any better for Adam Nawałka.

Very few would guess correctly to what degree these coming events would play up, an antecedent which clearly depicts the uncertainty of future but make no mistake, the Super Eagles have shown time and again that they are a side willing to dig deep and win games simply by refusing to lose.

Presumably, either of these two games would present a chance to build on the good tidings of the previous year. Thus, how Gernot Rohr and his wards handle these ones will be cautiously instructive and perharps, necessary in the forming of opinions.

Emmanuel Chinaza