Wayne Rooney's 32nd international goal has given England the half-time advantage in their rearranged World Cup qualifier in Poland this afternoon.

The hosting Poles began the half the brighter of the two nations and created their first opening with eight minutes played. Left-back Kamil Glik cut the ball back for Kamil Grosicki, but the midfielder scuffed his shot from the edge of the area and Ashley Cole headed clear.

England's first real sight of goal arrived in the 25th minute when James Milner drilled in a cross for Jermain Defoe, whose goalbound effort was blocked by a sliding Jakub Wawrzyniak.

Rooney's goal arrived with 31 minutes on the clock. Steven Gerrard won a corner, which he swung in for the Manchester United frontman, who in turn found the net with a combination of both his head and his shoulder.

Grosicki had Poland's best chance to draw level in the closing stages of the half, but he volleyed wide of the target after Robert Lewandowski had flicked a pass over the top of the England rearguard.