Steven Gerrard: 'England must seize the day'

England captain Steven Gerrard has declared that he is taking success as Three Lions skipper personally ahead of tonight's crunch World Cup qualifier with Poland.

Roy Hodgson's side need a win to ensure safe passage to Brazil next summer, with anything less allowing Ukraine to steal the one automatic spot available at the top of Group H.

Gerrard has insisted that he will be the proudest man in England if his side triumph at Wembley this evening, challenging Hodgson's men to take advantage of controlling their own destiny.

He told the Daily Mail: "I'd be the proudest man in the country if we get the win we're after. Everyone knows the size of the game and everyone is itching to play.

"It will be a big personal achievement for me to say I was the captain through a campaign and led the lads to Brazil. I'd be delighted.

"They're aware of how big this is and what's at stake. We need to seize the day."

The 33-year-old also revealed that painful memories will drive him on at Wembley tonight, with a defeat to Croatia in 2007 still fresh in his mind.