Eriksson is rewarded for a new tactical ruthlessness

Poland 1 England 2

Eriksson may have normally reserve his adventurous spirit for his personal life, but he dropped David James after his costly error against Austria and replaced him with 24-year-old Paul Robinson.

Even more decisively, the Swede turned to another younger model in handing 21-year-old Jermain Defoe his first international start and was rewarded by a sparkling display.

Defoe put England ahead in the 36th minute with an exquisite turn and finish and although the visitors again surrendered a lead when Maciej Zurawski equalised soon after the break, they refused to buckle.

In a display of considerable resolve under such intense pressure, Michael Owen pressured defender Arkadiusz Glowacki into deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

And so Eriksson found the pressure lift off his shoulders into the Katowice sky. Not necessarily forever, but four points from two tricky opening away games is an entirely adequate return.

With Robinson and Defoe both starting, it was such a young side that there was no player in his thirties and just two of them Gary Neville and David Beckham older than 26.

England took time to settle, with Grzegorz Rasiak dangerous in the early stages, but Ledley King and John Terry did well to cover for each other whenever the home side threatened to break through.

Defoe, meanwhile, with just three substitute appearances behind him, had no problem in taking to the international stage, with his innate confidence shining through the scrappy early stages.

After he had exchanged passes with Frank Lampard, the midfielder wasted the shooting opportunity, while Defoe himself fired wide from just inside the penalty area.

He was not daunted by the miss, however, and after Beckham had come close with a flick, Defoe duly put the visitors ahead.

Beckham's initial free-kick delivery was poor but the ball was only half-cleared and when the England captain got possession back again, his sharp pass found Defoe inside the penalty area.

The striker's reaction was pure instinct. With an impressive turn, he left unfortunate marker Glowacki floundering helplessly in his wake before finishing with aplomb into the far corner.

Taking the lead is one thing, however. Holding onto it is something else, as a painful stretch of England's recent history shows.

Eriksson's side had already lost Neville through injury, while Robinson was saved by Terry's goal-line clearance before then producing a smart save from Rasiak at the near post.

The visitors' goal continued to come under pressure, only for Sebastian Mila to miskick one chance and then see another shot blocked by King.

England were left to threaten on the break, with Defoe combining with Ashley Cole, who fired a long-range effort narrowly wide.

However, their lead lasted just two minutes after the restart as, once again, an advantage was frittered away.

Kamil Kosowski drove forward through the centre and conjured a defence-splitting pass which Zurawski was onto in a flash, firing his shot into the top corner to leave Robinson with no chance.

Rather than wilting, however, this time England stood firm, gathered their thoughts and came again.

Beckham's shot was deflected just wide before Gerrard injected some impetus, finding Cole down the left flank.

His low cross looked certain to be cleared by Glowacki but instead, pressurised by Owen, the Pole seemed to divert the ball past Liverpool keeper Dudek.

England's tails were up, with Bridge's effort deflected wide, while Beckham and Owen (twice) also came close, but the key was in holding the attempted Polish revival at bay.

Previously England have been lured into defending too deeply when in the lead and have been punished for their tactical naivety.

This time, however, with Poland rather fading away it was the visitors who continued to pressure Dudek's goal, with Lampard also going close.

Although Ashley Cole survived appeals for handball, Robinson was not seriously troubled and Eriksson's faith in youth was vindicated.

Thirty-one years ago, defeat in Poland ultimately cost England a place in the 1974 World Cup finals and Sir Alf Ramsey his job.

Eriksson, however, now returns to England with his possession strengthened.

Four days is, indeed, a long time in football.

POLAND: Dudek, Mila, Rzasa, Zewlakow, Glowacki, Bak, Rasiak, Krzynowek, Zurawski, Lewandowski, Kosowski.

ENGLAND: Robinson, Neville, Terry, King, Ashley Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Bridge, Defoe, Owen.

Referee: Stefano Farina (Italy).