Time for England to deliver

Such a scenario would significantly increase the pressure Eriksson is already feeling but, if his relationship with the players is as good as Michael Owen tells us, they will want to ensure the amiable Swedish coach is not put in such a perilous position.

"We don't have to defend him," said Owen. "His record is there in black and white for all to see."

The simple truth is that Eriksson has never lost a qualifying tie in the World Cup or European Championship. No other England coach can say that, apart from Terry Venables who never faced a qualifying tie in his two years before Euro 96.

Eriksson's record of 11 wins and four draws in 15 ties is impressive, though the clear priority tonight, having dropped two points in Vienna, is to add to the number of victories.

Although at times we overstate their prowess, there can be no doubt that, man for man, England have a better team and the ability to secure the three points that would suddenly give this trip a rosier complexion.

Even without the still-injured richly promising Wayne Rooney, players such as Owen, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Beckham give England a depth of firepower that many other nations envy.

Lampard, who has scored five goals in eight consecutive internationals, has been a revelation in midfield, although it is here that England need to sharpen their defensive responsibilities.

That was why Eriksson introduced Jamie Carragher after 82 minutes of the Austria match. He felt the Liverpool player's presence would reinforce a midfield that was being intimidated. This has never been a problem in the past but rule changes and the emergence of the Premiership as a non-tackling zone is diluting England's ability to produce midfield players in the mould of Nobby Stiles, Bryan Robson or Paul Ince.

What is guaranteed is that a hostile crowd - the Poles have always played their toughest games here in the Silesian coalfields - will be urging their own players to trample all over the egos of their glamourous and highly paid visitors.

Past England teams have always matched the challenge.

Alan Ball was sent off in Poland in 1973 and David Batty in 1999, and although Eriksson favours a disciplined form of resilience it is sometimes necessary to let the opposition know that, when it comes to the strong-arm stuff, we can give as good as we get.

The trouble is, I'm not sure we can anymore.

Following their win in Belfast, the Poles will be full of brutish optimism and England have to prepare themselves for a physical struggle to add to the mental battle.

"Yes, it's a difficult place to play but the players are full of confidence," said Eriksson.

It will help England's cause that Poland will be without strikers Emmanuel Olisadebe, who has a knee injury, and Piotr Wlodarczyk, who is suspended following his dismissal in Belfast. But the locals are hoping Maciej Zurawski - 102 goals in the Polish League - can repeat his goalscoring performance against the Irish when he put them in front.

My own guess is that England will respond positively, exorcise the second-half trauma in Vienna - and put a smile back on Sven's face.