在10月12日进行的世界杯预选赛欧洲区第6小组最后1轮的比赛中，坐镇老特拉福德球场的英格兰队气势如虹，最终凭借着欧文和兰帕德上下半场的各1粒进球主场2：1击败波兰，以小组第1名的身份顺利进军2006年德国世界杯。本场胜利不仅表明英格兰队已经从两个月前的低迷状态中摆脱出来，同时也让他们成为了明年德国世界杯冠军的有力争夺者。赛后主教练埃里克森对球员们的精彩表现表示赞赏。

    据路透社10月12日报道，虽然英格兰队在世界杯欧洲区小组赛中的最终结局非常完美，但当主教练埃里克森被问及球迷是否就此会相信英格兰队在明年世界杯上会有精彩表现时，这位瑞典人的表白仍然是不置可否：“我们可以让球迷相信这一点，但媒体怎么样我就不知道了。”

    谈到世界杯英格兰队的前景，埃里克森仍然是雄心万丈：“我们是4到6支具备夺冠能力球队中的一支，当然这（夺冠）需要一点运气。我相信我们拥有一支非常好的球队。”

    虽然上周六（8日）英格兰队1：0力克奥地利队，已经为英格兰队至少以成绩最好的一个小组第2名的身份出线打下了基础，但英格兰队需要的不仅仅是出线，而是要争夺小组第1，以便重新塑造英格兰队强队的风范。为此，他们就需要在小组最后一轮比赛中战胜此前比英格兰队多出两分的波兰队。埃里克森深知，只有用一场漂亮的进攻来打败对手才能重新为英格兰队和他本人赢来自信和尊重。

    “我对球员、全体教练员和球迷都很满意，”埃里克森表示：“我认为我们在上周六的比赛中打得不错，而在今天的比赛我们简直打得太精彩了。”

    不过英格兰队本场比赛的精彩表现是在没有太大获胜压力的情况下取得的，毕竟在上周六战胜奥地利队后，他们已经确保了能够直接进军德国世界杯，因此12日的比赛对于英格兰队球员来说变得要相对容易一些。埃里克森对此也表示赞同，他说，“知道已经出线了，这样我们的球员打起比赛来要容易一些”，“但全队的表现绝对无可挑剔。我们创造了无数的好机会或者半好机会，而波兰队整场比赛只有一次机会，但他们进球了”。

    埃里克森对英格兰队本场一些球员的表现格外满意，其中就包括顶替停赛的贝克汉姆出战的赖特·费利普斯和前锋鲁尼。“鲁尼才19岁，但他已经27次代表英格兰队出战了，”埃里克森掩饰不住一脸地兴奋：“这绝对令人难以置信。他并不是一个天才，但他是一名世界级的选手，他还有很大的潜力。”

    在谈到为何在下半场把表现不错的费利普斯换下场时，埃里克森解释说，他是考虑到费利普斯在上半场的比赛中曾经和对方球员发生过激烈碰撞，另外本赛季加盟切尔西队以来，费利普斯很少打满过全场，因此对他的体能有所担心。不过替换费利普斯上场的高个子前锋克劳奇在上场时却遭到了球迷不满的嘘声。

    赛后，波兰队主教练雅纳斯认为本场比赛以及去年波兰队在主场1：2输给英格兰队的那场比赛都是“势均力敌”的，但英格兰队胜在“把握机会”上。

    Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson paid tribute to England's 2-1 qualifying victory over Poland on Wednesday and put his team on the shortlist to win the World Cup.

    England shrugged off two months of criticism for defeats and below-par performances to finish top of Group Six after Frank Lampard volleyed a late winner.

    Asked whether supporters could start believing in glory next year, underfire Eriksson said: "The fans can be convinced, I don't know about the media.

    "We are one of four, five, six teams who could win it, with a bit of luck, you can't be unlucky with injuries. But I am convinced we have a very, very good team," he told reporters.

    England's laboured 1-0 victory over Austria on Saturday helped them qualify for the finals.

    But winning the group with a committed, attacking display against the Poles was what England needed.

    "I'm very pleased for the players, the squad, the staff and for the fans," said Eriksson.

    "I think we did a good job on Saturday and I think we went on and did an extremely good job today.

    "But you have to remember how opponents play. Poland came here to play football and try to win. Austria were hoping for a draw, always defending with nine men, physically strong and all tall."

    "It's also easier to play when you know you're qualified. But the performance was absolutely excellent. I don't know how many good chances and half-chances we had.

    "Poland had one chance and they scored, which was very harsh after a very good (first) half."

    Eriksson singled out several players for praise, including Shaun-Wright Phillips, who replaced the suspended David Beckham on the right, and an inspired Wayne Rooney.

    "Wayne Rooney is 19 years old and he's got 27 caps," Eriksson said. "That's absolutely incredible.

    "He's not a talent, he's a world-class footballer, and he can get better."

    Eriksson said he substituted Wright-Phillips because he had suffered a knock in the first half and had also been short of full matches this season with Chelsea.

    Asked about the boos which greeted striker Peter Crouch when he replaced the winger, Eriksson said: "I don't know who was booed, whether it was me or Crouch".

    England begin their preparations for next year's finals in Germany with a friendly against Argentina in Geneva on November 12.

    "It will be a real game and...I know from the reactions in the dressing room today that the players are looking forward to Argentina," Eriksson said.

    "It's a big test. It's against one of the teams who could win the World Cup."

    Poland coach Pawel Janas, whose side were also beaten 2-1 by England in Chorzow last year, said: "It was an even match. But in both games, England were a goal better."