Poland or Pooland?

Manager: Franciszek Smuda

Captain: Jakub Biaszczykowski

Star Player: Robert Lewandowski

Bio: Poland qualified for the Euro by being one of the 2 host nations. They are a side without real star quality. In Wojciech Szchesny they have one of Europe’s top young Goalkeepers and in Robert Lewandowski they have a striker that has proved this season with Dortmund that he can score goals. Other players of note are Jakub Biaszczykowski a winger from Dortmund and Celtic’s Pawel Brozek. My worry for this team is that they wont get passed the group stage. I like seeing a home nation go quite far. Of the 2 home nations I think Poland stand a better chance than the Ukraine of getting passed the group stage. My fear is that both the Home Nations will be whipping boys.

The Real Problem with Poland is the Defence. Their defence they have called up are Wasilewski (31 years old plays for Anderlecht in Belgium), Jakub Wawrzynick (28 year old left back or Centre back who plays for Legia in Poland. He has had a 3 month ban for Drugs), Tomasz Jodlowiec (27 year old plays for Polonia in Poland), Lukasz Piszczek (27 year old who plays for Dortmund). Heard of any of them? I think I have heard of Piszczek but I may be wrong. Szchesny of Arsenal is going to need to be on top form for this team to progress.

They will play Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic in the group stage. Looks weak on paper but Greece won the euro in 2004. Russia were semi finalists in 2008 and Czech Republic were finalist in 1996 and have players like Chelsea’s Cech and Milan Baros of Galatasaray who was the top scorer in Euro 2004. Poland are Opening the Tournament with their first game against Greece on the 8^th June 2012. I think they have a chance in this game as Greece had an easy group to qualify and one of their star players is Man City Reject Samaras. As this is a Poland home game I would say they have a chance. I would fancy Russia and Czech Rep to beat Poland and Progress but a win over either of them and Greece could see them through to the Quarter finals where they will almost certainly lose to the group winners of the Germany, Portugal, Holland and Denmark group.

The manager needs to get these guys to watch the Greece 2004 team as they need to play as a team otherwise they stand no chance.