Co-hosts are hoping Borussia Dortmund’s Lukasz Piszczek, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowsk can reproduce their club success on the international stage It is a paradox of football that the hosts of a tournament can enjoy a low profile. Attention will, of course, soar when Poland take the field against Greece in the opening match of Euro 2012, but Franciszek Smuda’s side can be pleased that they have only provided meagre information for their opponents. The same can be said of the co-hosts Ukraine, yet it is Poland who could be […]
Read more about "jakub blaszczykowski"
Poland coach Franciszek Smuda produced no surprises when he named his 23-man squad for Euro 2012 on Sunday. It was largely expected that Smuda would drop midfielder Tomasz Jodlowiec and striker Michal Kucharczyk, who had fared poorly in a friendly win against Latvia, as well as defender Kamil Glik from his provisional group of 26. “I would like to thank them because they gave it their best, they worked at full capacity and I hope they stay in contention for squads in the future,” Smuda told a news conference. On […]
Poland’s debut at the European Championship four years ago ended in disappointment: three games, zero wins. The Poles have shaken things up since then – they’ve hired a new coach, revamped much of the squad and uncovered a trio of players who have found success in one of Europe’s toughest leagues. As co-host of Euro 2012, Poland is hoping the changes make a difference when they take on Russia, Greece and the Czech Republic in Group A. ”It is our goal to advance from the group and I am convinced […]
Coach: Leo Beenhakker Group B: Germany, Croatia, Austria, and Poland Introduction Cause For Optimism There has never been a better time to be a Polish football fan. A burgeoning squad developing in self belief under the guidance of one of the shrewdest managers around, the time is right for Poland to shake off their tags as international under achievers at Euro 2008. Qualification for the tournament already indicated that Poland are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Drawn into Group A, with 8 teams, it was always going to […]
Do the present national squad members have a chance to play? Polish football was never famous for great, football stars (maybe apart from few exceptions like Boniek, Lato or Deyna). Goalkeepers Although slowly, but everything changes for better, because Poles are said to be those who make goalkeepers great (what a pity that only goalkeepers). One should concentrate on this crucial matter and think is it really true, and whom of the present national squad members have a chance to take part in Euro 2012. Not so long ago, we […]
A coach should have a detailed plan for every group match. Franciszek Smuda, 63, has been leading the national team for 25 months. – In the clubs he used to be adamant. He worked hard for a great respect and recognition, because he focused on the work with the team and he wasn’t interested in nothing else – says Marek Koźmiński, 46-time representative, a silver Olympic medalist from Barcelona from 1992, who played over 100 matches in Series A and appeared at the World Cup in Korea. – In the […]