Dudek upbeat ahead of clash
After a comfortable 3-0 win over Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Saturday, Pawel Janas's men are brimming with confidence ahead of their next World Cup qualifier at home to Sven-Goran Eriksson's team.
Dudek has experienced mixed fortunes since coming to England to join Liverpool in August 2001 but has established himself as first-choice stopper. He insisted the problems highlighted by a 5-1 loss to Denmark last month are behind the Polish squad.
"We had problems in the camp and did not perform well. We did not play as a team but we have worked hard to put that right," Dudek said.
"The coach called us together and we had a couple of frank meetings. That did the trick. We are now a unit as we showed against Northern Ireland. It is always essential to start a campaign well and we started very well," he said.
But the former Feyenoord man realises England will pose a stiffer test than their Northern Irish neighbours.
"They are a nice team to watch. They are more attack-minded than they used to be and better tactically. It is not how England used to play. Then they were more kick and rush. Now they are much more exciting.
"Our confidence is high but I am not going to fall into the trap by saying we can beat England. All I would say is that we are in the right frame of mind to give it our best shot."
Meanwhile, his club colleague Steven Gerrard believes England "need to move up to the next level" before they are good enough to win major tournaments.
The Liverpool midfielder feels it is crucial that England have to learn to deal with how to win when taking the lead in major games.
Eriksson's side failed to press home their advantage when moving in front against Brazil in the World Cup quarter-final in Japan two years ago and also against France and Portugal this summer.
And the same worrying tendency reared its head again on Saturday when England were cruising at 2-0 against Austria in a World Cup qualifier only to concede two goals in quick succession.
Gerrard said: "I think we have got to improve to get to that next level. I definitely think we can qualify as winners of this group, get to the World Cup and have a good tournament.
"But we still have got a lot of improving to do to get to that next level. There are still question marks.
"Getting knocked out by Brazil in Japan and losing to Portugal in June showed we've still got to prove we can improve to get onto the next level.
"I think getting to the quarter-finals is about where England are now.
"If we are to progress past quarter-finals in these big competitions, we need to learn. We need to learn on the things we are doing wrong at the moment," he said.
Gerrard, who scored a superb second goal against the Austrians, added: "We need to learn how to deal with being ahead in games and finishing teams off. Maybe it is a bit of both psychologically and tactically.
"We have got to keep our shape and keep doing the things we were when we were leading but it is a mental thing as well. When you have let games slip before, it does creep in mentally.
"Perhaps there is now a bit of nervousness when we do go ahead and are comfortable because we know things can happen in games.
"England have got the ability to beat these teams in competitions and do well. We've just got to put it right. It is puzzling."
Gerrard underlined the support in the squad for Eriksson, who will come under more fire if England slip up again in Poland.
He said: "The players love Sven as a manager and we are 100% behind him. We feel as if he is the right man to stay as England manager.
"But we do understand if things don't go right on the pitch it is him who is going to take the majority of the blame. We as players feel that is unfair because it is us who go out and try and do the job.
"I think that gives us an extra incentive to try and support the manager by doing better."
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