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World Cup qualifying: England aim for two wins [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
England can avoid the need for a nail-biting World Cup qualifying group finale against Poland if they defeat Northern Ireland and Austria in their next two matches.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side had looked like needing at least a point from their last tie at home to the Poles, just as they had to secure draws against Turkey in 2003, Greece in 2001 and Italy in 1997 to qualify.
However, their 1-0 victory against Wales, coupled with other weekend results, means they are now in pole position to go through as one of the two best runners-up - if they can secure six points from their next two matches.
Victories against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Wednesday and Austria at Old Trafford next month would therefore make the final fixture against Poland largely irrelevant, apart from deciding which team top the group.
Rules dictate the eight European group winners qualify for the finals along with the two best-placed runners-up, with the six remaining second-placed teams going into the playoffs.
Either Sweden and Croatia, who are contesting Group Eight, could also qualify as one of the best runners-up.
But Romania's weekend victory against the Czech Republic - courtesy of two goals from former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu, who is now back after his drugs suspension - mean the Czechs are lagging behind England.
Eriksson's side, who have dropped just two points so far - in a 2-2 draw in Austria - must still secure victory in Belfast on Wednesday, when Michael Owen is expected to return to the side after suspension.
However, the pressure would then be reduced ahead of their back-to-back qualifiers against Austria and Poland at Old Trafford next month.
Given the experiences of 1973, when Poland secured a dramatic 1-1 draw at Wembley to deny England a place in the World Cup finals, that would be a major relief for Eriksson.
After all, as well as England's nail-biting finales to three of the past four group stages, they also needed to go through the play-offs against Scotland to make it to Euro 2000.
There is still a chance that even four points from their three remaining fixtures would be enough to see England through, but that would depend on results in several other groups going their way.
Just two European teams have so far sealed qualification, with hosts Germany having been joined at the weekend by Ukraine, who made sure of topping Group Two ahead of Turkey and Greece.
The other countries who will definitely take part are Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
PA Sport
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