The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 18

THE GUARDIAN Wednesday November 13 1991 Soccer European Championship Group Seven: Poland England Turkey Republic of Ireland Irish stay in the shadows iress ttesft four liragDauiiGfl's iraw LnraffltleiroaiD 18 SPORTS NEWS lot will depend on how Taylor's CyrstMa Btmen In Istanbul David Lacay In Poznan the teams would be level on points and goal difference but the Poles would have scored more goals. If England do go out, the domestic game will have to endure another of those periods of prolonged self-examination before conclusions are reached that the season is too long, the players play too many matches, the kids are badly coached and the clubs are too busy looking after their own interests to do anything about it. As Taylor said yesterday: "The World Cup gave our game a big lift-off yet we immediately faced a split between the Football League and the Football Association. We get back into Europe, Manchester United win a trophy and everything's fine, but football does have this marvellous habit of shooting itself in the foot." So a lot rests on Taylor's oddly assorted side in Poznan, where the most vital period of the game is likely to be the opening 20 minutes, when the latest mixture of troupers and tyros is sorting itself out and the nerves of the international novices will be at their tautest. David Rocastle, who was not even in the squad six days ago, now appears set to return to the team as Taylor seeks the mid-field balance missing in the Turkey game at Wembley last month.

Rocastle has not started an England match in nearly two years but it looks as if the 24-year-old Arsenal player will join Geoff Thomas and the previously uncapped Andy Gray in midfield. Should this be the plan, Taylor will be hoping it provides a strong base from which David Piatt can follow Gary Lineker in the search for goal but at the same time give England sufficient flexibility to close down space and win the ball back when Poland move forward. With another new cap, QPR's Andy Sinton, likely to play on the left, Taylor is gambling on yet another untried formation. Rocastle's recall would arguably be the biggest long shot of all. When he announced his squad Taylor said he did not think that Rocastle, despite the early success of his conversion from wing to central midfield, was quite ready to rejoin the international scene.

Rocastle virtually proved as much against Benfica two days later. Rocastle last appeared in an England match shortly before the 1990 World Cup when he came on as the substitute against Denmark at Wembley. He last began an England game against Yugoslavia at Wembley in December 1989 having helped Bobby Robson qualify for Italy with a goalless draw against the Poles in Katowice. "They kept coming at us," Rocastle recalled yesterday, "and I ended up playing more like a right-back than a right-winger. I don't think we'll be sitting back so much this time." Poland have problems of their own.

Wandzik, the Pan-athinaikos goalkeeper, and Wdowczyk, the Celtic full-back, have back injuries. The less experienced Waldoch is expected to be brought into a defence that hardly distinguished itself in drawing 3-3 with the Republic of Ireland last month. The last time England failed to reach the European Championship finals was when Rob-son's team scrambled off the coach outside the Municipal Stadium in Luxembourg in 1983 to learn that Denmark's 2-0 victory in Greece had already rendered their game academic. Tonight Taylor's players go into their match with everything in their own hands. Discipline and composure, particularly in front of their own goal, will be crucial to England's chances tonight.

When Robson's team forced a goalless draw with the Poles in Katowice they survived a first half of almost non-stop pressure largely because their central defenders, Butcher and Walker, kept their heads and a midfield bolstered by Bryan Robson and McMahon refused to panic. And even then Tarasiewicz hit the bar in the last minute. England's present back four do not lack experience and Woods is looking a worthy successor to Shilton, but if Poland, who have more to play for than they did in 1989, manage to maintain their attacks with similar pace and imagination, a RAHAM TAYLOR, asked how his less (experienced players I might react to being thrust into the vortex of a nation's expectations in Poznan tonight, replied: "Look, it's a football match, that's what we're sending them into." True enough, but it is a long time since the shape and mood of an English season depended so much on the outcome of one game. Should England draw with the Poles this evening, and a point is all they need to ensure qualification for the 1992 European Championship in Sweden, a season already partially deflated by failures in Europe at club level will retain something of the momentum carried over from success in the World Cup. However, a 1-0 win for Poland would be enough to put Taylor's team out.

In such circumstances, and whatever has happened between Turkey and the Republic of Ireland, Poland would be ahead of England Charlton has brought Hughton back into the defence, but he has not yet felt inclined to call up Chelsea's Vinnie Jones who yesterday was reported to be in Dublin trying to verify Irish ancestry through a maternal grandmother. "I would be interested in him if he could establish his Irish credentials," said Charlton. "But not in mid-field, where I already have some of the best players in the world. I think I could use him at centre-back where we have a problem or two coming up. If the lad fancies the idea, it is there for him.

I'll speak to him when I get home." Sepp Piontek, Turkey's coach, would have preferred to face the established Irish side. "That way you can legislate for the opponents," he said. "The other way you don't know the players coming in. I need a good result because I am still looking for my first win in the championship. I can wait, but I don't think the people can." He is in danger of losing his job as a result of next week's cabinet reshuffle which will mean a new sports minister.

The Republic's cause will be helped by the absence of Tanju, Turkey's best striker, and the midfield playmaker Unal, who caused England such problems. Otherwise their team will be the same as the one that lost 1-0 at Wembley. REPUBLIC OF MKUNDi leaner (Celtic): Hughton (West Ham), PbekM (Wimbledon). McCarthy (Millwall), fflaery (Arsenal). Byrne (Sunderland).

MeOrath (Aston Villa). 1 DUSK fell warm and velvet over this city, Jack Charlton 1 whipped the covers off his team selection for the European Championship qualifying match against Turkey. But with his squad reduced through injury to 16, it had not been much of a guessing game. Charlton has had less room to manoeuvre than the hurrying, scurrying ferryboats that dart across the bows of the huge freighters ploughing down the Bosphorus. Irish hopes will disappear over the horizon in the same sort of twilight if Poland fail to beat England tonight But a Polish victory is not enough; the Republic must win their match too.

A sombre Charlton said after training yesterday: "Without a result here, the one in Poznan is of no event We' certainly won't be shouting the score at the players. We'll just let them get on with it. They know what they have to do. I'm not really concerned about the result in Poland." But that said, he believes the Republic have everything to play for. "I don't think England are too sure of what they are going into.

I can see a few problems for them. They have a few new players and there will be a big crowd and atmosphere." Only 10,000 are expected at the 40,000 Inonu Stadium, and about a quarter of those will be Irish supporters. They never say die but the vibes from the intuitive Irish are not optimistic, particularly in view of the injuries which have excluded Houghton, Irwin, Quinn, Townsend and Sheridan. David Lacey on why the England manager Taylor ready for is prepared for the day the criticism starts flying the barrage if the balloon Croup Two: Scotland San Marino Roxburgh sure off delivery GRAHAM TAYLOR may be 24 hours away from filling Bobby Robson's role as the football lampoonists' favourite turn. Sooner or later it is the lot of every England manager to become the butt of that vein of national humour which delights in pulling the rug from under those in high places.

Robson, with his mannerisms and malapropisms, was a natural target. Taylor may be harder to pin down. His sense of humour is selective, he is not one for telling jokes, but he has a nice line in self-deprecatory one-liners that might deflect the unkinder barbs. Last week he made a slip of the tongue but had recovered his verbal balance before anyone could laugh. "I know the team that's going to play against Turkey no, Poland oops Bo-bby Rob-son," and he sang his predecessor's name with a rueful grin.

There was a stage in Robson's management when such an insignificant lapsus lingua would be offered in some quarters as final proof of his unsuitability for the job. England managers have always been allowed one failure, usually in the European Championship. Taylor's problem, as he readily acknowledges, is that memories of the success of Robson's side in reaching the 1990 World Cup semi-finals are still too vivid for people to contemplate failure against Poland in Poznan tomorrow with equanimity. Yet Taylor is in a not dissimilar position to Alf Ramsey, who in his very first game saw a weakened England team knocked out of the European Nations Cup 5-2 by France. Don Revie and Robson failed to qualify for the European Championships of 1976 and 1984 when they had stronger hands to play, but were given a relatively easy ride by the critics.

When Ron Greenwood inherited Revie's squad in 1977 the damage had already been done and although Greenwood breathed new life into a side bemused by his predecessor's paranoia it was too late to stop the Italians qualifying for Argentina in 1978. even by defeating them at Wembley. Ramsey, Revie, Greenwood and Robson aroused the critics' full wrath only when they failed more than once. Revie, makeshift midfield copes. The England manager's natu ral inclination is to attack.

"I pick teams to win and, if we don win, then I looking for us to draw," he said. "Either of those results will get us through. That's no different to the philosophy I've had since I took the job and in 14 games we've managed to achieve this 13 tunes. "We musn't be irresponsible or naive. They will cut through us like a knife through butter if we throw ourselves at them, but we're still looking for progressive football, for people to recognise situations and go in there and hurt Poland.

That's one of our strengths." A performance blessed with the right collective spirit could get Taylor the result he badly needs but the match is looking a far closer-run thing than it did before his players laid an egg against Turkey. POUND (probable): Bako; Czachowskl, Szewcyk, Soczynskl, Waldoch, Werzycha, Tarasiewicz, Kosecki, Zlober, Urban, Furtok. NOMHD (probable): Woods; Dixon. Walker, Mabbult, Pearce, Rocastle, Gray, Piatt, Thomas, Sinton, Lineker. goes up PHOTOGRAPH: FRANK BARON Gascoigne in right mood for latest medical PAUL GASCOIGNE sees a specialist about his wounded knee on Saturday, confident that the verdict will point him towards his target of returning for Tottenham in the European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals in March.

Spurs' most prized asset is certain he will recover in time from two knee operations to pass the stringent medical on May 31 which will determine whether his projected 5.5 million sale to Italy goes through. Gascoigne said yesterday: "Hopefully, I will pass the medical. No, not hopefully, because I will do it, and become a Lazio player." The midfielder has been exercising gently at Spurs' Mill Hill training HQ, and these routines, to build up the quadricep muscles, are performed without putting strain on the knee. Gascoigne added: "It's coming on well. I'm taking my time and hoping to get the go-ahead on Saturday to increase my workrate.

Then we will progress from there." Meanwhile, Spurs are still waiting to hear whether Lazio will release the 5.5 million lodged for Gascoigne now rather than after May 31. and is what makes me tick but if, at the end of the day, international manager or not, I have to depend on football totally, if that is the start and end of everything, then there's something very wrong." This semi-detached view of the situation may be about to face its first stringent test As Taylor has acknowledged: "I get the feeling that there are certain people who want me to fail, and for the life of me I don't understand why. It won't enrich their lives if it happens, For a fleeting moment they can say 'I told you so', and then they'll have to get on with their own lives and problems. "When you get a bad performance, or the hint of one that may not go right, they smell the blood. It's like a pack of hounds, those hounds who have stayed at the back and just watched, waiting to see if there is a scent of blood to follow then brushing others aside and coming to the front.

They can smell the blood of an Englishman and in this case the Englishman's name is Taylor." At Watford Taylor worked for a chairman who was the prey in a campaign more vicious than any that England managers have had to endure. But then Elton John had the means to round on the pack. When Greenwood used to talk about critics coming out of the woodwork he usually had the press in mind. So far Taylor, who was originally going to follow his father into journalism, has been relatively impervious to newspaper criticism. "I don't mind the press so much because writers have to put their names to articles.

But as a club manager I sat many times watching international football under Bobby Robson and Ron Greenwood and listened to the comments of some of the people inside the game. Our game is full of bickering, jealousies and envy, and when you are at the top end, as I am, you get more than your fan-share of it." Admirably argued though this measured philosophy might be, Taylor needs the right result tonight to enjoy the critical breathing space that no fair person would deny him. But if England fail in the European Championship now he had better watch out for the royal hunt of the Sun. from time in Istanbul. A 25,000 crowd admitted free to Galatasaray's Ali Sami Yen stadium saw the Turkey striker Hakan seize on a rebound in the 79th minute to clinch his country's first win in the competition.

Turkey had taken a 40th-min-ute lead when their winger Cafer converted a skidding, low cross from the left-back Hamza. Ireland equalised nine minutes after half-time when the Shamrock Rovers striker Barry O'Connor headed in a deep cross from Manchester United's Kevin Toal. Uefa's insistence that tonight's Group Two European Championship qualifier between Romania and Switzerland starts at the same time as Scotland's game with San Marino has raised fears that the Bucharest floodlights may not last the 90 minutes. The 9pm kick-off is the latest ever scheduled in a country whose chronic energy crisis restricts night-time public transport and limits the electricity supply. The Romanian FA is negotiating with the electricity authority to avoid a blackout.

suspecting that the FA was planning to sack him, resigned to take a job with the United Arab Emirates. Greenwood, upset by personal criticism, was persuaded to stay only by his players. Ramsey simply ignored die critics; Robson, who suffered more personal abuse than the rest put together, showed an inner steel which won him new friends when the media campaign was at its muckiest. Taylor, who has witnessed most of this as an interested bystander, appears to be sandbagging his emotions, hoping for the best but ready for the worst. Only once so far has the air of controlled reasonableness and logicality that he shares with Douglas Hurd slipped.

That was after England had beaten Turkey 1-0 in Izmir when, with a pack of fans baying their discontent at the performance just out of camera range, he bit the head off one of the BBC's most courteous interviewers. England are about to play their most important match since the World Cup with a team knocked sideways by retirements and injuries. Robson's squad barely had one more major tournament left in it and would not have gone as far as it did had Paul Gascoigne and David Piatt not come good when they did. Now Taylor has lost Gascoigne; and Piatt, for all his cheerful Mancunian matter-of-fact view of things, is struggling with Bari at the foot of the Italian League. Taylor, therefore, already has a strong case for mitigation should things go wrong for him tomorrow.

But this has not stopped him preparing the ground for the critical barrage, both by talking himself through it in advance and trying to see the England job in what he believes is its proper perspective. "I look at it sensibly, the job that I'm in, but I take myself less seriously than I take the job," he said. "And there is no way that a member of the public or the media will ever get me to alter that. There is just no way that will happen. "Simply by getting the job that I'm in I've achieved an ambition and I now want to do exceedingly well at it.

But there's no way that this job will affect me as a person looking at the wide picture. "Football has been my life A makeshift England side were weakened by the withdrawals of 10 injured players but provided some stern resistance in between the goals. Mark Draper grazed the Polish crossbar with a cross shot, David Lee had a close-range effort blocked on the goalline and Tommy Johnson was only inches wide with a left-foot volley taken on the run. Leicester's Paul Kitson lifted English hopes with a deserved equaliser after 54 minutes. He volleyed into the far corner after Johnson's long cross from the right was punched clear.

At last there was something tangible to cheer for a small group of England fans among the 12,000 crowd. They had paid 12 for tickets available to the Poles at the equivalent of 7Sp. EM LAND UNOUI-aii Jamae (Watford); Oodd (Southampton), Vlnnleombe (Rangers), Blake (Aston Villa). Cundy (Chelsea), Im (Chelsea). KHson (Leicester), Draper (Notts County), Shearer (Southampton).

WMarm (Derby County), Johnson (Notts County). POLAND: Ktakl StanMt, Immndowskl, KoxmJrukL Bajor, Oestor, Swtorcnerehl, Mielearahi, Adamoiuh, Brzeoiek, Juakomriakf Refanet Aho Republic of Ireland finished bottom of the under-21 group after losing to a goal 11 minutes Staunton (Aston Villa). Sfceedy (Everton), (Tranmerej, rancanno (ceittcj. group Seven Turkey. defenders and two of them briefed to push into their opponents' penalty area at every opportunity is probably the most attack-conscious it was possible to pick.

As expected, Robertson of Hearts wins the third striker's spot from Johnston, lining up beside McCoist and Durie. But it is the "delivery men" that Roxburgh hopes will open the San Marino door for others. "Players such as Paul McStay, Maurice Malpas and Gordon Strachan will be our delivery men," he said. "They will be asked to do the most important job, the subtle one which will prevent a clutter in the penalty area." The Swiss will qualify if they win in Romania tonight, whatever Scotland do. But victories for Romania and Scotland would postpone the conclusion of the group until Romania have met Bulgaria in Sofia a week today.

If the Scots and the Swiss finish with identical points, goal differences and goal totals, Scotland will qualify by having taken three points out of four off the Swiss. SCOTLAND) Qeram (Rangers), McPhwwm (Hearts). Makm (Dundee U), MoAHatar (Leeds), Gough (Rangers). MoCall (Rangers), Strachan (Leeds), Robertson (Hearts). MeColat (Rangers), MoStay (Celtic), Ourle (Tottenham).

Oroup Two 7 4 AM 1 19 6 10 1 10 7 BuhjarbL. 2 14 2 11 7 8 6 7 7 29 Hemamlng nxture (alter today): Nov 20, Bulgaria Romania. Luxembourg for broke ways physical. We won't change that until we get players who are technically perfect, as in Europe. We will always have scrappers and big defenders." Yorath has underlined his words by giving the captaincy to Peter Nicholas, who returns for a record 73rd appearance after being suspended for last month's 4-1 defeat by Germany.

Yorath has selected his team but not told the players "95 per cent of them have an idea what it will be He revealed that Mark Hughes will move up from midfield to partner Ian Rush in Saunders's absence. Ryan Giggs, 17, is hoping for his first start in Hughes's vacated slot although the signs are that Gary Speed will support the front two at the start. WALKS (probable): Souttull (Everton): PnMpe, Bowen (both Norwich), MelvMe (Oxford). Young (C Palace), Ahlevrood (Bristol C), Home (Southampton), Nleholaa (Watlord). Spaed (Leeds), Hughaa (Manchester U), Rush (Liverpool).

Oroup Five 5 3 4 3 5 2 A Pie 6 1 MMea. Germany- 4 9 LraMMhra 4 0 Rwnalnine fixture (attor today): Nov 20. Belgium Germany. Dec 17, Germany Luxembourg A Pt ninhmrt 3 2 0 6 2 8 of Inland 5 1 4 0 10 5 Poland 5 2 2 1 7 5 5 0 0 5 0 11 Handling the poles Taylor prepares for the coming onslaught ataWSaaldaaW AaVaVBBam WHETHER or not Scotland are still in the European Championship at the end of their final qualifying match against San Marino at Hampden Park tonight, Andy Roxburgh's bad dream will come to an end. When the draw was made Roxburgh described Group Two as the "group of And that was before what he called yesterday "the most horrendous" run of disruptive injuries he has known in his 5' years as national coach.

Under the circumstances his makeshift teams in this championship have done well to lose only once. "I only have to tell you that Richard Gough has played one match, and Paul McStay just two, to give you an idea of the disruption we have had," Roxburgh said. "I called this the group of death because there wasn't a big country to brighten it, to capture the imagination, to get people out of the house and into Hampden Park. Romania and Bulgaria have outstanding talents but they are not a draw. The Swiss are the same, emergent and improving, but not attractive.

A France, an Italy, a Germany, even an England in our case, was needed to lift the thing. But we have one last chore and the Scotland team I wanted is here." McStay and Gough are back in a side which, with only three Group Five: Wales Wales go RiMMllThonwa STATISTICS can be made to prove anything, but Terry Yorath argued against two sets yesterday when he insisted that Wales can still qualify for Sweden next summer and by doing it his way. Red mist has cost Wales nine cautions and two sendings-off Dean Saunders and Clayton Blackmore are suspended tonight but Yorath said: "We are not dirty." Despite his poor Liverpool re cord, Saunders enjoys Wales's best goal ratio, so past sins may cost Wales dear as they need a win preferably by a large margin in their final game. Yorath also remains defiant in the face of statistics suggesting the cause is not doomed despite Germany's two remaining games and superior goal difference. Yorath believes the Welsh ap proach throughout the qualifi ers has been correct and says he "won't be changing my players' orders" at this late stage.

"Wales have always been physical British teams are al European Under-21 Championship: Poland 2, England 1 Youngsters polished off Maidstone fight for League life nVAD news arrived a day 1 huearly for England, whose UBrunder-21 side were beaten 2-1 by an impressive Poland in their final Group Seven European Championship qualifier in Pila yesterday. England, who had already been eliminated, conceded a goal after six minutes and struggled against a side who take a 100 per cent record into the tournament's final stages. They also beat England in their opening group match at White Hart Lane. Yesterday the Lech Poznan striker Andrzej Juskowiak scored both Poland goals and was denied a hat-trick only by the legs of Watford's goalkeeper David James. Juskowiak's first came after Jason Dodd failed to control the ball from a long clearance by Marek Bajor.

The Southampton full-back was dispossessed by Juskowiak, who beat James with a crisp shot from just inside the England penalty area. The striker added a second in the 75th minute when he shot low from 20 yards after a short free-kick by Jerzy Brzeczek. "will definitely take place" at the Watling Street ground shared with Dartford. The statement said: "He (Thompson) had been deeply moved by the loyalty and affection shown by the fans last night the best way for the fans to show their loyalty is to turn up in their thousands on Saturday The club's general manager, Bill Williams, said he "had no knowledge" of reports of talks over closure today. He would not give details of the rescue package.

Williams said the club had been losing 1,500 a week since moving to Dartford, where they began their League career in 1989. Hendon's future is in doubt after the Diadora League club's Claremont Road ground was repossessed by Barnet council yesterday. It is understood the council is owed 12,000. Manchester United have brought forward the kick-off of their European Super Cup match against Red Star Belgrade at Old Trafford next Tuesday to 7.15pm from 8pm. A 4AIDSTONE United last night started pre-I VI paring a rescue package aimed at keeping them in the Football League, writes Russell Thomas.

Monday's local council rejection of the homeless Kent club's plans to build a 30 million sports and leisure complex at nearby Holl-ingbourne saw Maidstone go into protracted talks with their financial and legal advisers yesterday. The club's chairman Jim Thompson, "distraught" at the Maidstone borough council's verdict, had warned before the Monday vote 11-2 of closure if the scheme was rejected. After reports yesterday afternoon that Maidstone were to meet liquidators today to discuss closure, the club issued a statement to the opposite effect. The Maidstone message was that the fight goes on, and that they will appeal against the planning and transportation committee's verdict. And Saturday's FA Cup tie with Sutton United.