The coach had promised a role for Scholes, and Parlour's discomfort on the left flank against Luxembourg meant this switch was widely predicted.

Neville has come in to shore up the defence against a far stronger Polish team, his experience with England and Manchester United giving him the edge over Dyer.

Once again, Michael Owen must make do with a place on the bench.

England kicked off in the tight Legia stadium, Poland's lucky ground, on a bobbly pitch. Poland were first to attack when Hajto volleyed just over the bar from an early corner. England defending cagily to begin with.

With five minutes gone Miroslaw Trzeciak drew clear on the right-hand side, turning Stuart Pearce who immediately berated the referee for missing what he thought was a foul.

Trzeciak didn't use the time and space he was gifted though and Nigel Martyn comfortably watched his cross float wide.

Steve McManaman failed to threaten the Polish goal with England's first shot at goal in the eighth minute. But as the game settled down England gained their first corner when a Pearce thunderbolt from 35 yards struck a Polish defender.

Alan Shearer was deemed to have fouled the keeper from the resulting spot kick.

In the 12th minute Gary Neville was replaced by his brother Phil when he suffered a groin injury and Martin Keown was shown the yellow card for tripping Trzeciak.

And Poland were unlucky not to score when the dangerous whipped cross from wide on the left glanced off David Batty's head and hit the post. England managed to scramble the ball clear in a nervy start for the visitors.

Poland continued to press as England struggled to find any rhythm. Every measured England attack has been broken down by a packed Polish midfield who have broken quickly on both flanks already.

Nowak won the ball in midfield on 20 minutes and his quick cross from the right was headed clear by Pearce. A clever lay-off by Robbie Fowler a minute later brought Enlgand's best chance of the match as Shearer' sprinted down the right and crossed for Paul Scholes, but his header was easy for Matysek.

At the other end of the pitch Siadaczki sneaked round the back of a static England defence but his cross was well covered by Martyn.

On 25 minutes England managed their first sustained attack but McManaman slipped at the vital moment.

After 27 minutes Fowler should have done better with a header as England enjoyed their brightest period of the match.

Beckham sent Neville clear on the right and his cross found Fowler in the middle who could only head wide.

And Shearer stumbled in the penalty area when it looked easier for him to score as a misdirected McManaman volley caused temporary panic at the back for Poland.

Stuart Pearce gave away a free kick in a dangerous position on the left wing when he clipped Trzeciak who slipped goalside on the veteran defender. The free kick was headed harmlessly over.

England were awarded a free kick by the referee after Haijto had roughed Fowler up on the left hand side. Fowler himself was caught offside after the free kick was cleared and returned by Tony Adams.

Polish goalkeeper Matysek was booked after he threw the ball at Paul Scholes as he stood in front of him on the edge of the area after 36 minutes.

And the giant keeper, who was beaten three times by the Manchester United forward in the corresponding fixture at Wembley earlier in the competition, was lucky not to receive his marching orders for continuing the argument.

Beckham was lucky not to be cautioned as the referee didn't see him use his elbows on a Polish midfielder.

Moments later first Fowler and then Shearer came close to opening the scoring.

First Fowler pounced on a mistake by the Polish defence but he could only shoot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.

Then Shearer was brought down in the box but all the referee gave was a corner.

With only two minutes left in the first half Fowler found himself in acres of space on the edge of the box but the final ball too him was woeful and easily cleared.

Poland's booked keeper Matysek pulled off a stunning block from Fowler after more confusion, this time from a corner, in the Polish defence.

Tony Adams made a nuisance of himself from a Beckham corner and as the ball fell to Fowler on the edge of the six yard box he hit it powerfully, but Matysek flung himself to his left to pull off a magnificent block.

The referee blew the whistle after two minutes of stoppage time on a first half which England started scratchily - and could have been a couple of goals down in the first ten minutes - but grew more and more confident and should have had at least a goal advantage.

THE TEAMS:
Poland: Matysek; Klos, Waldoch, Siadaczki, Zielinksi, Hajto, Michalski, Iwan, Trzeciak, Krzwzstof, Miroslaw.

England: Nigel Martyn; Gary Neville, Stuart Pearce, Tony Adams, Martin Keown, David Batty, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Alan Shearer, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman.