Now last nights virtual cruise past the Poles may have suggested that the route to Rio was a fairly simple and straightforward one for undefeated England.. But it was anything but.
It started off that way. We travelled to lowly Moldova last September under Roy Hodgson for his first full qualifying campaign and came back with a 5-0 win and our first 3 points. Easy lark this qualifying eh?
From that England returned home for another easy win against Ukraine.. Oh wait. In the year that 'The Ox' burst onto the England scene, he started another game. But it was Ukraine that went in front through Yevhen Konoplyanka just before half time. It took an 87th minute penalty from super Frank to spare England's blushes. But was that just a blip?
In group H, 1 international squad would have their tickets for Rio handed to them after the 10th and final game. For the runners up, a tense, nervy play-off, with the possibility of penalties and we all know how deadly England can be from 12 yards in a shootout.
A month later we hosted San Marino in possibly the second most pointless game FIFA can give you. The most pointless being San Marino away! After 35 minutes of San Marino parking their very long and wide bus in front of the England strike force, the bus broke down allowing Wayne Rooney to slot a penalty home. Within 180 seconds, England's most deadly of strikers Danny Welbeck added a second, if anything was going to confirm how bad San Marino were, it's Danny Welbeck scoring. To enhance this, just over half an hour later he scored again. Followed by Rooney's second within a minute and then Oxlade-Chamberlain's brilliant first England goal confirmed a 50 rout, all without Gerrard and Lampard.
England then flew to Poland. The game was postponed a day due to rain. England got off to a good start, Wazza scoring on the half hour mark to put the 3 Lions 1 up, before a completely non-rare error from Joe Hart let Poland equalise. England gained a point. 8 points from 4 games in a win, draw, win and then draw format.
Going into 2013 England had 6 games left. The first of these was a visit to San Marino, ranked 207 in the world. Looking to avoid the 35 minute wait for a goal we suffered at Wembley. From the 11th minute on it looked ominous for the hosts. In the 59 minutes between the 11th and the 70th, England racked up 8 goals including a Jermain Defoe double.
Half way through everything was looking very promising for England. Yet their toughest test yet was about to come. Into the lions' den in Montenegro. A loud, hostile and intimidating ground. Wayne Rooney, looking to banish his memories of his red card in the final Euro 2012 qualifying game, did this by giving England a vital lead on just 6 minutes. Pressure came in wave and wave from the home side and eventually it told, a 76th minute equaliser from Dejan Damjanovic. Not the idea result for England but it'll do.
The 4th out of 5 international breaks came and Moldova arrived at Wembley. England saw them off easily. Rickie Lambert had a 'perfect week' according to him by scoring on his debut at Wembley to win a friendly against Scotland and therefore was handed a start by Hodgson. On 27 minutes he scored his first competitive goal for England to put them 2-0 up after Gerrard's opener. Danny Welbeck then highlighted how bad Moldova are by netting a double. 4-0.
England then underwent the delights of the long haul journey and stay in Ukraine. If England lost, they handed pole position in the race to Brazil to their opponents. A point or more saw England in a very strong position. Keen to ensure this, Hodgson picked a side including the world's most defensive winger James Milner. In the most boring game shown to man, the visitors came out with a 0-0 draw.
2 home games remained, it was simple for Hodgson's side, 6 points and England were on their way to the world cup.
The first of these 2 games saw Wembley host Montenegro. With no Mirko Vučinić, England were the happier of the 2 sides. King Roy surprised us once again, Andros Townsend thrown in for his full debut with no Walcott or Oxlade-Chamberlain due to injury. Is Roy a magician? No. Is Roy a brilliant tactician? Yes! Named man of the match, the Spurs winger had a blinder. Striking fear into the Montenegro defence as he ran riot. 4 second half goals, including one for Rooney and Sturridge saw the men in white run out 4-1 winners. Ukraine beat Poland.
This meant England had to win. Ukraine, a point behind, were away at San Marino. No room for error.
Man of the match from 4 days before Townsend got the nod once again. 10 minutes into the must win game he got into it through a sweetly struck left footed curler that hit the bar, this kid is going to be good. Poland were good on the counter and star man Lewandowski misfired on multiple occasions to let England off the hook. After 40 minutes of relentless pressure the deadlock was broken by that man Wayne Rooney. By now, Ukraine were already 4-0 up. Scouser Leighton Baines crossing for scouser Rooney to head home. The second half was much the same and on 86 minutes the tickets, hotel and training ground were booked as Gerrard, a scouser of course, slotted home to seal it.
So just for a change, England done it the hard way. All hail King Roy as the scousers sealed England's place in South America. Will we win it? I doubt it. But as long as we have a crack and do our best, I think we'll all be happy.
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