England boss Roy Hodgson reserved special praise for captain Steven Gerrard after Tuesday night's 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Poland.
The Liverpool skipper scored a late second goal following Wayne Rooney's opener to send the Three Lions through to the finals of Brazil 2014 and his performance was certainly not lost on the manager.
"I think it's fitting that the second goal was scored by Steven Gerrard because what a tournament that man has had. There has not been one of the 10 games when he hasn't played a captain's innings for us and I think he probably deserves more credit than he's been given so far," he told Sky Sports News.
"We played some spectacular football at times. We played some really exciting football at great speed, but unfortunately we didn't get that second goal so the second half was a bit nervy.
"I am so pleased for the team. They were so anxious not to miss out on a World Cup in Brazil, so determined not to waste what they think has been a tough but a good qualifying campaign, and luckily they have done it in these last two games."
