By SHAUN CUSTIS
THE roof could fall in on England’s World Cup qualifying hopes if they do not get their act together.
This game was postponed for a day due to a waterlogged pitch because the Poles did not close the roof on their national stadium.
When it finally got going, England were a right shower and lucky to get out of Warsaw with a point.
It is 39 years since the 1-1 draw against Poland at Wembley cost England their place at the 1974 World Cup. And the Poles are still causing the Three Lions grief.
This was woeful — and the Road to Rio is turning out to be one full of potholes. England have beaten the two easiest teams in Group H and failed to win against two of their main challengers, Poland here and Ukraine at home.
They also face a couple of games against Montenegro, who are shaping up to be the toughest opposition of the lot. And by next month Montenegro will be top once they have dispensed with whipping boys San Marino.
All over the pitch, England were found wanting last night.
Wayne Rooney scored but had one of his worst games in an England shirt. So disappointing was the Manchester United striker, he was hauled off after 83 minutes.
Even his 31st-minute goal was a scruffy affair, with the ball coming off his head on to his shoulder and in off a defender’s hand.
The normally reliable keeper Joe Hart admitted costing his side victory when he failed to get to a corner and Kamil Glik headed in the equaliser with 20 minutes left.
Ashley Cole, back in place of the unlucky Leighton Baines, also struggled on his 99th appearance, while there was an obvious lack of width.
Hodgson’s decision to play Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard and Michael Carrick in midfield meant that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had to be sacrificed.
Only when The Ox came on did England look capable of stretching the impressive Poles down the flank.
Hodgson had to plead with Carrick to come out of international exile but you wondered about the wisdom of that request as the Geordie kept giving the ball away.
The manager admitted he did not feel his side were ‘up for it’ the way they had been the day before.
But Poland certainly were — and they put England right under.
With the stadium surprisingly full considering the afternoon kick-off, they were roared forward under the now closed roof.
The thousand or so England fans who had commendably stayed an extra day had good reason to be concerned early on.
Kamil Grosicki miskicked 12 yards out and Hart thrust out a hand to prevent Lukasz Piszczek getting his shot in.
The Manchester City keeper added to the visitors’ uncertainty with a poor kick which put in Poland’s star striker Robert Lewandowski but his shot flashed across goal.
England were hanging on — then scored totally against the run of play. Skipper Steven Gerrard, another winning his 99th cap, was tackled to earn a corner.
And his flag kick picked out Rooney who bundled the ball in.
You thought that would settle England down yet it did nothing of the sort. They kept presenting the ball to the opposition. Luckily, the finishing left much to be desired.
Grosicki sliced wide just before half-time and Glen Johnson got in ahead of Lewandowski to prevent the striker breaking clear.
Johnson was one of the better performers and it needed his intervention just after the break to keep Poland out again.
Centre-back Phil Jagielka got in a tangle and was bailed out by brilliant work from Johnson, who slid in to save the day with Lewandowski poised to pounce.
When Hart tipped over from Ludovic Obraniak and Piszczek fired into the side-netting it defied belief that England were still ahead.
Strangely they should have doubled the lead as hard-working Jermain Defoe met Gerrard’s cross at the far post only to fluff his chance.
That was his last act as he was replaced by Danny Welbeck.
Welbeck immediately set up Old Trafford club-mate Rooney who fired over the bar. And England paid for that miss as Poland deservedly levelled from a corner.
Hart flapped at the ball and Glik rose to thunder home. Rooney was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain who at least gave the full-backs something to think about.
But Glik headed over for Poland and Welbeck glanced a header wide from a James Milner cross before the whistle brought an end to an eventful couple of days.
The England players saluted their fans before heading down the tunnel.
They knew who the heroes were on this trip.
The worrying question for fans was whether this was a team heading down a slippery slope.
Brazil is looking that little bit further away.
