In the opening match at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, the Poles will pit themselves with the national team of Greece.
The balance of matches with European Champions from 2004 is surprisingly positive for our team. Poland won 10 out of 15 matches, there were two draws and three times our team left the pitch defeated. Balance of goals is 29-11 to our benefit. For the last time, we had the chance to pit ourselves with Greeks in March last year, and the match ended with a goalless draw.
It is very difficult to predict the progress of that duel and its outcome. Our team will surely be under immense pressure, but let’s hope that it disappears when the fans start a fantastic cheering. The strong point of our team will be Robert Lewandowski, supported by fast wingers who will be the driving engine of our team.
Very important will be the extent to which the Greeks allow us to play; the Poles like playing from counterattack, but the head coach Franciszek Smuda with his training staff has surely found the weak points of our rivals that will be used by our team to turn the scale to our benefit. The favorites of bookmakers are in this match the White-Reds.
In our opinion, the match will be very balanced with Poland’s predominance, and the final result will be decided in consequence of one crucial action.
Greece is not as strong as it was in 2004
As I had mentioned previously, we should theoretically defeat the Greeks, but in practice it can be quite different. After all, the Greeks are European Champions from 2004, when the event took place in Portugal. Everybody had crossed them out, nobody had given them any chance and despite that they managed to win the final match by defeating the host’s team.
So you can’t scorn them, although it is without doubt not the same team as it was in 2004. It is worth turning attention to the factor thanks to which they were able to win that trophy. At that time their absolute advantage was the solid defense, which was completely impassable. In the end, neither Spaniards, nor French, or the above mentioned Portuguese were able to get over them.
The ranking of both teams looks very discouraging. Poland is at present on 65th place while the Greece takes up a very good 14th position; although the distance between them looks like a football precipice, you still should remember that that ranking does not reflect the current shape of both teams. Nevertheless, our rivals still have footballers who are able to scare us; every football fan knows such names as Samaras, Charisteas or Gekas and this is why the Greeks should be treated with a great respect.
The situation in Greece is not too good; continuous scandals, quarrels, and lots of economic problems are factors that don’t help to consolidate the team; on the contrary, they can dishearten them and it is possible that the Greeks won’t come to Poland at all, what announced the football federation, explaining that the state’s problems could lead to the team’s expulsion from the tournament, in consequence of government’s politics aimed at interference into autonomy of the federation. The parliament of Greece passed an act that allows the state’s authorities to control the clubs finances.
We had played four times against Greeks in front of our own public and all matches ended with our victory. We scored in total 8 goals and lost only two. So we seem to have a way to cope with that rival and all we have to do is use it one more time.
Bet: Poland will win 1-0 or 2-1 with Greece.
Poland – Greece Betting Odds
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Poland win | 1.90 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 1.95 | 2.04 | 1.95 |
| Draw | 3.20 | 3.00 | 3.15 | 3.30 | 3.20 | 3.25 |
 Greece win | 4.33 | 3.30 | 4.00 | 4.25 | 3.80 | 3.95 |
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Group A
Our bet: Poland win
Match: Poland v Greece
Stadium: National Stadium, Warsaw
Time/Date: 18:00 8th June 2012
