Wojciech Szczesny gave his best Jan Tomaszewski impression, but there was no repeat of 1973 as England booked their place at next year's World Cup.

Wayne Rooney's 41st-minute header and a late strike from Steven Gerrard proved the difference as Roy Hodgson's men defied a vociferous visiting Polish support and an equally robust Poland team to gain the victory they needed to top Group H.

Ukraine, as expected, defeated San Marino, so England knew that any slip-up would send them into next month's playoffs and a possible match-up with France.

In the end, England crossed the finish line comfortably and it is hard to fault a campaign that brought six wins, four draws, 31 goals and just four conceded.

Still, fear of failure must have weighed heavily on the minds of the English players at kick-off as they attacked towards the Polish fans, who must have numbered in excess of the 18,000 reported and produced a deafening din throughout the match. English fans beating their drums and playing their trumpets could barely be heard by comparison.

It was a night for England's players, young or experienced, to step up — and to a man they did just that. Andros Townsend replicated his brilliant debut on Friday and was a threat throughout. Wayne Rooney, too, gave a man-of-the-match performance, while Michael Carrick, in for Frank Lampard, dictated the game well from his position just in front of the defence.

Chris Smalling, who replaced the suspended Kyle Walker, had one or two wobbles, though overall he rose to the occasion well.

With better finishing — or perhaps without a superb display from Arsenal and Poland keeper Szczesny — England would have put this match to bed by half-time rather than in the 88th minute when Gerrard chased down a pass from substitute Jack Wilshere before hooking an effort into the net.

Almost from the start to the end, this was a tense, frenetic encounter, even if only one of the sides involved could qualify for next summer's tournament. Poland, buoyed by their huge support, seized with relish the opportunity to deny England top spot in the group table and they gave England several scares in the opening half hour alone.

Inside 10 minutes, Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski was allowed to run half the length of the pitch unchallenged before testing Joe Hart from range.

The open manner of that foray proved portent as chances came thick and fast. Moments later, Townsend fired a shot from the edge of the box. Szczesny, who has been forced to warm the bench for Poland in recent times, parried the shot into the path of Danny Welbeck, who appeared to lose his footing and the chance was gone. The England man claimed a nudge in the back from Poland's Piotr Celeban, but replays proved inconclusive.

Poland fought fire with fire, moments later ending another promising attack with a shot on goal from Waldemar Sobota, his effort rippling the side netting.

More warnings would come. On 23 minutes, Jakub Blaszcykowski's cheeky dummy allowed a cross field pass to find Lewandowski free on the edge of the area. He drove forward and unleashed a shot that fizzed a yard or two wide of Hart's goal. England were lucky not to be behind.

Moments before Lewandowski's chance, Smalling had narrowly failed to get on the end of an inviting Gerrard free-kick.

In truth though, it was Poland who had looked more dangerous. Roy Hodgson twitched in his seat nervously.

England needed a response and it soon came. Townsend collected the ball some 25 yards out and clattered a thumping left-footed effort against the bar. Szczesny was beaten all ends up, but had to be on his feet immediately to deny Daniel Sturridge at his near post.

Suddenly it was all England, with much of the good work coming through Baines down the left flank. England, though, were being terribly wasteful when chances came their way.

When a corner fell at the feet of Welbeck, the Manchester United man seemed to have a relatively easy finish from no more than eight yards. Instead he somehow lashed wide of goal.

Within minutes he an opportunity to finish a wonderfully flowing move, involving crisp one-touch passing from Rooney and Gerrard. Yet, as he raced clear into the area, he lost control of the ball and eventually his footing and the chance was gone. Rooney, too, had another effort from the edge of the area, with Szczesny pulling off a smart save to keep the scores level.

The game was barely 35 minutes old, but it was hard not to draw comparisons with 1973.

Unlike on that fateful night, England scored first though. Carrick fed the excellent Baines down the left flank. The Everton man produced a typically precise delivery and Rooney leapt highest to flick a header beyond Szczesny who had no chance.

Rooney, temporally without his protective headband, skidded across the Wembley turf on his knees. Hodgson looked like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.

Yet England still only led by one and Poland began the second half like a side that wasn't going to throw in the towel. Within seconds of the restart, substitute Mateusz Klich, on for Mariusz Lewandowski, was denied a goal only by a brilliant diving block from Gary Cahill.

The game had a wonderful ebb and flow — and England were playing with a panache rarely seen in recent years. In a fluid attack, Townsend fed Rooney, who in turn played in Welbeck. The United man failed to finish, but England nearly doubled their advantage from the resulting corner, Cahill forcing a fine save from Szczesny.

England continued to probe and were nearly gifted a second when Grzegorz Krychowiak, attempting to cut out Rooney's cross from the right, very nearly put the ball into his own net.

It was end-to-end stuff. Hart was soon called into action to save from Lewandowski and the impression was that a one-goal advantage might not be enough for England.

Rooney, having his best game for England in recent memory, was doing his best to improve that statistic. On 66 minutes he let fly again from range. Again though Szczesny pulled off an acrobatic save.

England were enjoying less of the ball though and it was no great surprise when, on 72 minutes, Hodgson withdrew Carrick for Lampard.  

Nerves were beginning to seep into England's play. Even so, they still made the clear-cut chances. On 77 minutes, Sturridge brought yet another fine save from Szczesny and then with the match in its dying embers Gerrard marauded forward, wriggling in between two Polish defenders before squeezing an effort beyond Szczesny.

The England bench erupted; the possibility of a gut-wrenching repeat of 1973 was no more. England are going to the World Cup and based on tonight's performance they have reason to be hopeful at least.