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England manager Roy Hodgson has a kick-about. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Torrential downpour: England and Poland will have to play it again

War… saw, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

DESPITE THE FACT that the National Stadium in Warsaw has a roof capable of closing and torrential rains were forecast, England’s away encounter with Poland was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Match officials bowed to the obvious at 9.56pm Polish time and postponed a match that never looked likely after the ground was hit with a deluge of incessant, heavy rain.

England coach Roy Hodgson was out on the pitch to assess the quagmire and had great, aquaplaning fun.

Polish officials revealed that they would have required 24 hours notice to close the roof on the stadium.

There was even time for a comedy moment when a Polish FA spokeswoman revealed to ITV’s Gabriel Clarke, at 8:57pm local time, that no initial decisions would be made until 9:00pm before scuttling off.

Come 9.45pm, the referee and his assistants were back on the pitch and throwing a ball onto the sodden surface to check if more rain had helped or hindered the situation.

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The World Cup 2014 Qualifier is likely to be rescheduled for Wednesday, possibly at 4:00pm (GMT).

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