England 2-1 Poland
England shrugged off recent criticisms and finished top of their World Cup qualifying group with a vibrant display to beat Poland at Old Trafford.
Michael Owen, captain in the absence of David Beckham, skilfully diverted in a Joe Cole shot to put England ahead.
Tomasz Frankowski's volleyed equaliser for Poland flattered the visitors and their keeper Artur Boruc twice saved from Owen to keep his side level.
But Owen set up Frank Lampard to volley in and give England a deserved win.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side started the match with the freedom of knowing they had already qualified for the 2006 World Cup and caused some early moments of panic for Poland.
A Lampard free-kick, meant as a cross, was tipped over the bar by back-tracking Poland keeper Boruc and a forceful Wayne Rooney run epitomised a determined England team.
The home side dominated possession with quality passing and movement, which proved too difficult for Poland to handle.
Ledley King powered an 18-yard strike over, Lampard went close with a header while Rooney was agonisingly just high with a 25-yard shot.
Cole was similarly close with an effort from the edge of the Poland area as England showed little sign of the lack of confidence from recent games.
Eriksson's players were also making light of missing some of their star names with Shaun Wright-Phillips and King, in for Beckham and Steven Gerrard respectively, making their presence felt.
Owen deservedly put England in front with his 22nd goal in competitive matches - his 33rd overall - for the national team which equalled Gary Lineker's record.
But the home side made the mistake of relaxing momentarily and Poland levelled with their first noteworthy attack of the game when Frankowski volleyed in at the far post on the stroke of half-time.
England continued to attack after the break and Rooney skied a snapshot from close range after Rio Ferdinand headed back a Lampard corner.
Owen was denied a second when Boruc saved instinctively as England pressed for the victory to leapfrog Poland and finish top of Group Six.
They duly did so when Lampard clinically finished off an England counter-attack with his far post strike 10 minutes from time.
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England: Robinson, Young, Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher, Wright-Phillips (Crouch 67), King, Lampard, Cole (Smith 87), Rooney, Owen (Jenas 84).
Subs Not Used: Neville, Kirkland, Bent, Defoe.
Goals: Owen 44, Lampard 80.
Poland: Boruc, Jop, Baszczynski, Bak, Zewlakow, Sobolewski (Radomski 79), Smolarek (Krzynowek 46), Lewandowski, Kosowski, Zurawski (Frankowski 39), Rasiak.
Subs Not Used: Kowalewski, Rzasa, Mila, Klos.
Booked: Baszczynski, Sobolewski.
Goals: Frankowski 45.
Att: 65,467
Eriksson joy as England hit form
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was delighted with his side's return to form after their 2-1 win over Poland.
"We needed to turn our form around after starting the season so-so but now we are there again," said the Swede after his side topped Group Six.
"If we can keep this spirit and quality we will be very difficult to beat.
"We won the group and lost very few points in 10 matches and I'm extremely happy for the players and the staff," added Eriksson.
"We wanted to try to win the ball as high up the pitch as possible and I think we did very well. It is difficult to do it for 90 minutes but I'm very happy after this game.
"I think Poland had one chance and scored. I don't know how many we had but it was a lot."
Shaun Wright-Phillips caused Poland problems down the right side of midfield and his performance impressed the Old Trafford crowd, who booed when he was taken off in favour of Peter Crouch.
Eriksson explained: "Wright-Phillips was absolutely excellent in the first half. He got a bad knock and he wasn't 100% right.
"It was the right decision to substitute him but I understand the reaction
"I don't know who was being booed, whether it was me or Crouch.
"Crouch is a good footballer. He had played just one and a half internationals before today. He has something other players don't. It is very harsh to judge him yet."
Ledley King was another who produced an eye-catching show in the holding midfield role.
"Ledley King came on and did very well against Austria on Saturday and played excellent again," said Eriksson. "You can see he is very useful in that role, he's strong and very good on the ball.
"He's another option and it's very good to have many options when you know that next summer you will play a lot of games in a short space of time."
Frank Lampard believes the win was an ideal riposte to the some of the criticism aimed at the side.
"I think we've answered a few questions," said Lampard. "We took a bit of stick and no-one has criticised us more than ourselves.
"We thought we improved against Austria and against Poland we wanted to play with a lot of pace in our game and a lot of attacking verve.
"I think we did that and were unfortunate not to score more goals."
Striker Michael Owen cited Poland's tactics as one of the main reasons for a fluid England performance.
Owen was captain for the game and his opener saw him equal Gary Lineker's record of 22 goals in competitive matches for the national team.
"They came with a 4-4-2 and wanted to get a result which suited us," he said.
"When teams do that we can go at them but it's sometimes difficult when teams play so many defensive players."
Owen upbeat over World Cup hopes
Michael Owen delivered a rousing World Cup message after helping England to round off their qualifying campaign in top spot after victory against Poland.
Owen, who was England captain in David Beckham's absence, was on target in the 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
And he told Sir Stanley: "We're very confident ahead of Germany. I wouldn't swap our squad for anyone else's.
"We've a good team and a good squad, and although you always need luck, we feel we've got a really good chance."
Owen said England's win against the Poles confirmed his pre-match claim that Sven-Goran Eriksson's side would flourish against quality opposition.
He said: "I think this was a big improvement on our recent performances. The players know as well as anybody when we haven't done well.
"We played against a good Poland side that came to Old Trafford to have a go, and in some ways that makes it easier for us to play, which was the point I was trying to make.
"It's not us that tries to spoil games like some teams do when they come to England, and even when we go to certain countries they feel 0-0 is a good result against England.
"Poland tried to attack and sometimes it is easier when you are playing against a side that fancies its chances against you and vice-versa."
He added: "I thought it was a good game and what I would call a really good 'English' performance - there were tackles, it was played at pace, we created chances and did things at a really good high tempo.
"We needed a performance to give everyone a boost and I thought we did that. It was a very decent game.
"We are optimistic about the World Cup, but you need luck to run for you. You don't want people getting sent off or what happened in Portugal at Euro 2004, when Wayne Rooney got injured in the quarter-final."
Owen is also happy to be back in the Premiership at Newcastle and settling down to life in England again after his return from Real Madrid.
He said: "I'm very happy. I've joined a good club where the people are very nice. It's good to be back in an English dressing room and I'm enjoying my football.
"I always enjoy coming away with England because it's a really good dressing room and there is a good atmosphere in the squad."
