Poland vs. England: A sleepy match in Warsaw

England players given sleeping pills prior to the game weren’t as sharp and lively as expected...

15:19 20 October 2012

Following the postponement of the Warsaw match England players, who had 36 extra, un-needed, hours before the game, weren’t as sharp as lively as expected as they were reportedly given sleeping pills. The World Cup qualifier pushed through after 20 hours waiting time. 

 

Roy’s Hodgson’s side managed to scrape a draw when Wayne Rooney’s opener was canceled out by Kamil Glik. 

 

Hodgson was quick to admit that the players weren’t at their best saying, as quoted by The Sun: “On Monday, after the training session on the pitch, the players were looking very sharp and lively. I didn’t get that impression today.” 

 

His team slept on Tuesday afternoon but was given caffeine tablets for the 8pm kick-off. A strategy that backfired on them based on their performance on the field. 

 

Skipper Steven Gerrard has also said, in the same report by The Sun: “When you’re fired-up, pumped-up, you’ve had your massages and you’re ready to go, a postponement is not ideal but we’re professionals. 

 

“I slept fine. I won’t use the delay and conditions as an excuse. 

 

“The reason we didn’t win was we didn’t pass it when we went in front.”