It was not the result Aidy Boothroyd would have had in mind beforehand but nights such as this provide a valuable learning curve for the England Under‑21 manager and his players. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s early strike should have provided them with the platform to win a game in which they looked the far more accomplished side, but a ruthless touch in front of goal was missing on an evening when Poland brought parity with a glorious free-kick.
Sebastian Szymanski’s perfectly executed set-piece, shortly after the half-hour, pegged England back just at a time when they were playing with freedom and enjoying themselves. England could, and probably should, have been at least a couple of goals ahead by that point. Instead they were punished by Szymanski’s moment of brilliance and unable to find a winner, despite pinning Poland back for long periods.
The bigger picture for Boothroyd is this summer’s European Championship finals in Italy and San Marino, and this will have been another useful lesson in that respect.
A freeflowing and entertaining game delivered plenty of goalmouth action from the outset. Calvert-Lewin, running on to Phil Foden’s pass, squandered an excellent chance to give England the lead before he opened the scoring in the 13th minute. This time the Everton striker could not miss after Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, who is on loan at Hoffenheim, glided around the Poland goalkeeper before cutting the ball back for the England striker to tap home from four yards.
An experimental England side were in total control in those early stages but would come to regret their failure to turn possession and chances into more goals during that period. Nelson, set up by the ubiquitous Foden, sidefooted wide at the far post after some lovely play from Ademola Lookman in the buildup. Then Jonjoe Kenny, another Everton player, drilled a long-range half-volley that was arrowing towards the top corner until Kamil Grabara, the Poland goalkeeper, clawed the ball around the upright.
At that point England could not have looked more comfortable and it felt like a matter of time before they scored again, yet in the blink of an eye Poland were level following a splendid free-kick. Questions will be asked about why Angus Gunn decided not to have a wall but that should take nothing away from the quality of the 30-yard shot that Szymanski curled beyond the England goalkeeper and into the top corner.
Although England got back on top in the second half – Foden lifted a right‑footed shot narrowly wide – Poland were proving to be awkward opponents and carried a sporadic threat on the counter-attack. England kept probing and a slick one-touch passing move almost led to their regaining the lead midway through the second half. Linking up with James Maddison and Foden, Kenny got in behind the Poland defence but saw his deflected shot superbly pushed on to the post by Grabara. A flurry of England changes followed but not a winning goal.