With
Euro 2012 kicking-off - it's time to profile the countries taking part, from
their footballing beginnings to the present day.
Coach: Franciszek Smuda
Co-Host Nation
One to Watch: Robert Lewandowski
As
we approach the summer of 2012 all of our minds, well most of them at least,
will turn away from the domestic football competitions within our own
countries, towards the International arena for the eagerly awaited European
Championship Finals, to be held in Poland and the Ukraine. At it’s All In The
Game, I shall be profiling each of the 16 finalists who will bid to become the
champions of Europe until 2016.
One
of the co-hosts provides the focus for the next in the series of Euro 2012
profiles, namely Poland. The Poles have
a proud history in International competition, winning gold at the Munich
Olympics of 1972, taking silver at the subsequent games, and qualifying for the
World Cup finals on no fewer than 6 occasions.
The
1970s and early 1980s saw the “golden era” of Polish football. Under coach
Kazimierz Gorski, they qualified for four successive World Cup Finals.
Finishing third in 1974 they defeated, amongst others Argentina and Italy, only
narrowly losing 1-0 to host nation and eventual winners West Germany in awful
conditions in the semi-final . The irrepressible Gerd Mueller scoring the all
important winner for the Germans with a trademark header. Polish striker
Grzegorz Lato scored his seventh goal of the tournament to give his side a 1-0
victory over Brazil and secure third spot. Lato would score ten World Cup
Finals goals in an international career which spanned ten years, from 1972 to
1982.
Poland
repeated this magnificent feat eight years later in Spain. After coming through
the first group stage ahead of Cameroon and Peru, the Poles defeated Belgium
3-0 and, after a 0-0 draw with the Soviet Union in a politically charged
encounter, emerged from the second group stage to secure a semi-final spot.
Once
there, Poland would face Italy, a side they'd already held 0-0 in the first
group stage. Italy had beaten Brazil in their last second round match in what
has gone down as one of the tournament's most epic encounters of all time. A
hat-trick from, returning striker, Paolo Rossi had seen the Italians through
against the heavily fancied South Americans and, it was Rossi again who put the
Poles to the sword with two goals in the semi. The defeat didn’t stop this
wonderful Polish team from going on to defeat the France of Tigana and Platini
3-2 to clinch 3rd spot, whilst Italy would go on to win the World Cup.
Since
then, Poland have failed to recapture the magic of that "golden era".
The Poles qualified for Mexico 86 but, after scraping through the group stage,
were sent packing by Brazil, thumped 4-0 by the South Americans in the second
round. Poland would not qualify for another major international football
tournament for the next sixteen years. Successful qualification for World Cup
02 was met with hope of at least reaching the knock-out stages, however, it was
not to be as the Poles lost to South Korea and Portugal ensuring early
elimination.
2006
also saw Poland enter the competition with high hopes, especially being drawn
in a group which included Ecuador and Costa Rica, as well as Germany. A 2-0
defeat by Ecuador in their opening match, followed by a 1-0 defeat at the hands
of the Germans, however, were enough to dump Poland out at the group stage for
a second time in a row.
In
view of all this previous success in reaching World Cup Finals and competing
well at Olympic Games, it is surprising to note that Poland have managed to
qualify for the European Championship Finals only once. This success came in the
most recent tournament to be staged, four years ago in 2008.
At
the tournament however, an impressive qualification campaign counted for
nothing as Polish hopes were let down badly by poor performances in the
competition itself. Though in a relatively
strong group, which contained Germany, Croatia and Austria, the Polish campaign
was a great disappointment as they failed to win a match and were eliminated at
the end of the group stage having scored only once in three games.
The
jury is out on the current Polish team. Undoubtedly they have some talented
players, for example, Robert Lewandowski, an exciting attacking midfielder come
striker with a knack for scoring goals. Currently plying his trade with
Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, Lewandowski has been gradually cultivating
a name for himself as a quick-witted, fleet-footed, clinical striker. The
process has been accelerated vastly over the last season with Lewandowski
notching up 22 league goals for his club side and a hat-trick in the final of
the Pokal (German cup), as Dortmund secured the first league and domestic cup
double in their history.
Another
that may catch the eye in the summer is his Dortmund teammate Jakub
Blaszczykowski or “Kuba” as he’s known in Germany, a pacey winger who can test
defenders. Kuba also played a key role in Dortmund's league and cup triumph and, though lesser
known than his compatriot, possesses real talent and could shine on his home
stage.
Blaszczykowski
is backed up on the right hand side by yet another Dortmund team-mate, in the
form of Lukasz Piszczek. Piszczek was rated by whoscored.com as the best
right-back in the top five European leagues. He has a fantastic understanding
with the man in front of him at club level and the two transfer that form to
the international set-up. As well as being solid defensively, Piszczek loves to
get forwards and is a can threaten with
either foot, a fact backed up by his four goals and seven assists for Dortmund
last season.
These
three players, along with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny are undoubtedly Poland's
star players and they will look to them to provide the inspiration come
tournament time. Coach Smuda is known for his cautious, defensive style and
this has caused problems, with several members of his squad, including
Lewandowski, vocal in their criticism of his tactics. However, this is unlikely
to have an effect and Poland will, more than likely, play a similarly rigid
game, relying on a counter-attacking style which depends on pace down the
flanks and assured finishing when chances are created.
Poland
are in group a, along with Greece, sworn enemies, Russia and, neighbours, the
Czech Republic. I think that Russia will take the group as the strongest team
in it but Poland, despite being ranked lowest, are, I believe, next in line.
Their ranking is disproportionately low due to the fact that they are co-hosts
and, as such, haven't played a competitive match in two years.
Greece
and the Czech Republic are solid teams but neither is overflowing with
creativity and for me, Poland with their Dortmund trio and Szczesny, have the
tools to take second place and book themselves passage to the quarter finals at
least. After that, it will be tough for them to get any further but, with home
advantage and passionate support a given, you just never know.
This
is an enormous chance for the current crop of Polish players to update the
annals of the Polish football story and make their mark in front of Europe on
home soil. For so long the forgotten man of European international football,
this summer is the perfect stage to show the rest of Europe that Poland can be
a force to be reckoned with once more.
By Neil Patterson
Email: neil.b.patterson@gmail.com
Facebook: http://goo.gl/MJce0
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Neil1980
