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Call Ups For The Czech Republic And Slovakia. Boruc And Dudka Return.

September 30th, 2008 | By: tomasz | 25 Comments »

The speculation is over, Artur Boruc and Dariusz Dudka paid the price for their insubordination in Lvov and both return to the national team. The biggest surprise, however, is a call up for Lukasz Sosin, a player who scored more than 100 league goals in the Cyprian league. Can a 31 year old striker be an answer for Leo’s problems?

The call ups for the upcoming qualifying matches:

Goalkeepers:

Artur Boruc (Celtic Glasgow), Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal London), Wojciech Kowalewski (Iraklis Saloniki)

Defenders:

Michal Zewlakow (Olympiakos Pireus),Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (Lech Poznan), Piotr Polczak (Cracovia), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia Warsaw), Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht), Mariusz Jop (FC Moscow), Marcin Kowalczyk (Dynamo Moscow), Dariusz Dudka (AJ Auxerre)

Midfielders:

Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan), Roger Guerreiro (Legia Warsaw), Tomasz Bandrowski (Lech Poznan), Radoslaw Majewski (Polonia Warsaw), Jacek Krzynowek (Wolfsburg), Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund), Rafal Boguski (Wisla Krakow)

Attackers:

Euzebiusz Smolarek (Bolton), Robert Lewandowski (Lech Poznan), Lukasz Sosin (Anorthosis), Lukasz Piszczek (Hertha Berlin), Pawel Brozek (Wisła Krakow)

Backup list:

Tomasz Jodlowiec (Polonia Warsaw), Lukasz Gargula (GKS Belchatow), Wojciech Lobodzinski (Wisla Krakow), Lukasz Zaluska (Dundee United), Pawel Golanski (Steaua Bucharest), Marek Saganowski (Aalborg), Seweryn Gancarczyk (Metalist Kharkiv)

Analysis: Leo decided to forget about what happenned in the recent past and picked Artur Boruc, Dariusz Dudka and even Radoslaw Majewski, who was supposed to suffer a month-long injury. We are yet to learn if the call up for Boruc is a good idea; it all depends on how he reacts to being benched. Yep, the word on the street is that Lukasz Fabianski will almost certainly maintain his number 1 spot. It seems that Leo wanted to talk with Artie to learn about his attitude towards being a backup for Fabian. Apparently, Boruc is ready to accept such decision, otherwise his name wouldn’t feature on the list. I hope the whole “Boruc or Fabianski?” situation will be clarified as soon as possible, we need a confident goalie for the next two games.

It’s also interesting if Dariusz Dudka is to fill a defender or midfielder spot. Leo is still looking for a player who can partner Michal Zewlakow in central defence. If Dudka is considered a midfielder then we’re left with Mariusz Jop and Piotr Polczak. We all know about the questionable reliability of the FC Moscow defender; Polczak also doesn’t look to be the solution, he plays for one of the poorest teams in the Polish league and struggles to rise above his teammates this season. Tomasz Jodlowiec is only a backup, whereas Bosacki’s name is nowhere to be found. For my money, Dudka is there to play in defence.

I’m also a bit surprised that Pawel Golanski is not included in the initial squad list. It may be caused by his recent injury problems. As a result, the usual ‘who’s our starting left back?’ question remains as open as always. This time the competitiom is between Marcin Kowalczyk and Jakub Wawrzyniak. Feel confident? Yeah, me neither. A shame that Piotr Brozek wasn’t included, he remains the only untested option left.

No surprises as far as our midfield is concerned. The only question is whether Leo goes for defensive Bandrowski (or Dudka), semi-defensive Murawski or decides to go gung ho with Roger partnering Mariusz Lewandowski. Kuba Blaszczykowski is certain to start (with Boguski as a backup), whereas Krzynowek and Smolarek will rival for a place on the left flank. Lukasz Gargula may be called up if Majewski’s injury proves too serious. Personally, I think three conditions have to be fulfilled for our midfield to dominate the Czechs: Blaszczykowski in his recent form, Murawski able to transfer his local form on the international scene and Roger showing enough magic for the team to be a bit harder to decipher.

I’m sure that Leo will keep his promise and include Pawel Brozek in the starting lineup against the Czechs. Why then all this hassle with Sosin? He may be a king at Cyprus, but at 31 he never even played a non-friendly game for Poland. With his club Anorthosis reaching the CL group stage this is the first chance for him to prove himself on the international stage. But why the national team? Brozek was named a starter some time ago and Robert Lewandowski deserves another go after his performance against San Marino. In all probability, Sosin was called up because he’s a different type of striker than the aforementioned duo. He’s tall and scores a lot with his head. At the same time, he can be easily benched as he isn’t exactly a renowned player outside Cyprus. Can Sosin be a short term solution? Yes, such goalscoring record can’t be a coincidence. Can he be a long term solution? I’d go for Brozek and Lewandowski here.

Can’t wait for the games.

Tags: Beenhakker, boruc, Dudka, Group A, Poland, sosin

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Comments

By Hieronim | September 30th, 2008 at 10:04 am

I’m excited for the games too.

Could somebody tell me what’s going on with the PZPN and the UEFA? on the uefa website it’s talking about only recognizing Michał Listkiewicz as the only legitimate head and that there’s something going on with the olympic committees. i live in the usa and don’t speak polish….

Posted from United States

By zaraza | September 30th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

There’s more information here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Football_Association

The government had to crack down on PZPN’s corruption issues sooner or later, PZPN won’t do it themselves. And if FIFA wants to punish us for intervening, it simply means that they support corruption.

Basically if FIFA plans to suspend Poland again, I’m fine with that. In the long run Polish football will be better off. The only thing that can get Polish football back on track is someone from the outside forcing the PZPN to clean up their act. Fuck FIFA if they have a problem with that. Their rules are nonsensical.

Posted from Canada

By mateusz | September 30th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

the next two games are huge, we can come out on top of the table or the old Polish national team struggling, I’m glad Boruc and Dudka are back we need them for the games

Posted from United States

By Witold | September 30th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

Boruc will be the polish player of the year for 2008, Boruc plays regularly for a good international team, Boruc has to take the no 1 shirt, If the fact that Fabianski has play not too bad against 2 minors teams on september doesn’t means that he is a top level goalie!!! Give him time to play regularly with a team before make him our new heroe!
Sosin? Wow! As Alek has say : I’m really hoping now that Leo can somehow convince Wichniarek to play… But, Leo has never liked him, too bad for us… We will have to play with the great friends of Leo like Matusiak, Saganowski, Rasiak, Sosin, who’s next?

By 42d2 | September 30th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Too bad that Leo’s friends are one of the less reputable names of Polish football.

Posted from Canada

By Tomek | October 1st, 2008 at 5:40 am

What do you guys have against Sosin? He regularly scores goals, so he’s in form. I rather have someone from a lower league who’s fit and frequently scores, than have a player from a big league who just sits on the bench.

Posted from Netherlands

By Witold | October 1st, 2008 at 6:54 am

@Tomek: Jelen and Wichniarek regularly scores in big league and are not good enough to play for us… So I don’t understand why Sosin, 31 yo, could be our “new” solution, Leo has to tries youngster before…

Posted from United States

By tomasz | October 1st, 2008 at 8:10 am

I read that Wichniarek was to be called up this time if it wasn’t for his nt “retirement”, but it’s only rumours. I think there’s nothing to lose regarding Sosin since Pawel Brozek will ,in all probability, be our starting striker. Sosin may just come off the bench in one or both games. Surely, he’s not a player that will decide about our failure or success. We should worry about players like Boruc/Fabianski, Zewlak, Dudka, M.Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski, Ebi/Krzyniu and Brozek. The pressure is on them to perform.

Posted from Poland

By MarcinO | October 1st, 2008 at 8:45 am

@zaraza
I totally agree with you. Someone must come to their senses and stop the corruption. This has been the problem since the seventies. Listkiewicz has the backing of his buddy Platini. The Polish government should start at the top and get rid of these warts.

I personally am tired of reading and listening to media reports that say “Poland is in danger of losing the rights to host the Euros.” I’m tired of our nation being embarrassed by a bunch of corrupt jackasses who are only looking protect their best interests.

When we officially lose the rights to host, the current members of the PZPN should be looking for new citizenships. I can promise that such an embarrassment and betrayal will not go over lightly.

This is the worst time this could have happened. However, I did not have faith in the current regime to get the job done. I just hope that they continue working on the cities and improve the quality of living for everyone.

FIFA is known for its corruption and gambling issues. I just read a book by Declan Hill called “The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime,” it addresses how FIFA and UEFA allow corruption and gambling to control the sport.

By Alek | October 1st, 2008 at 10:06 am

I hate how everyone says that Euro 2012 is going to move to their country. Germany, Spain, Italy, France Ive heard all of those especially France for some reason. Whats the point? We are still hosting it so quit trying to get it to move.

By Witold | October 1st, 2008 at 7:55 pm

If you are worry about Boruc form, please read that text: Boruc heroics frustrate Llorente : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=756197.html
So why we aren’t sure that he will begin the next match for Poland NT?

By M. Zurawski | October 1st, 2008 at 9:40 pm

@ Alek; Scotland. I always hear Scotland, and, what i find a bit insulting is their federation repeatedly volunteering for it. Maybe i’m just super sensitive, but it seems tactless to me. Fifa and Uefa are organizations that deal primarily in money, so if they find it more profitable, and our government doesn’t pacify them then i believe the tournament could possibly be moved. But i think it would be too much a PR cluster-f*ck for them to do it lightly. Nonetheless, though Ukraine problems on a larger scale then we do, our gov. certainly should get on making true to the promises it made.

By Alek | October 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 am

Well I know that Scotland is bidding for the 2016 games, so I guess it makes sense they want it next. But that’s still a huge dick move to try and take it from somewhere else even though we haven’t lost it and it doesn’t look like we will after the progress we finally started to make.

By MarcinO | October 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm

Does anyone know anything about Kevin Okanga? He is of Kenyan descent but was born in Poland to a Polish mother. He is currently playing in England.

By Brian | October 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm

i mentioned earlier that Murawski should get the nod in the midfield regardless, i think Lewandowski should get the axe since he hasn’t been in the best of form while starting for us, as well as he hasn’t been in the best of form for Shaktar. Murawski stepped up yet again, but this time to shut all his critics it was in Europe, not league play. play players that are playing, and play players that are hot. the rest of the cards will play out regardless. why play the same shit if it doesn’t work?

Posted from United States

By Brian | October 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm

@MarcinO

Okanga is way too young, in due time… he is a project like Janota, he just isn’t as far along as Janota is

Posted from United States

By zaraza | October 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm

The latest youth call-ups indicate Kevin has returned to Poland but I forget which club he’s playing for. I don’t think his mother is Polish. I remember reading an article on him a year ago and all it said was that he was born and raised in Poland, surely they would have mentioned it if he had a Polish mother. I agree with Brian, he needs more time. I think he’s a year or two younger than Janota.

Posted from Canada

By Alek | October 2nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm

Okanga plays for MSP Szamotuły, which I think is a good career choice for him because he use to play for Burnley which sure is in England but good lower league players have problems getting into the premier league just look at Jutkiewicz for one. plus MSP Szamotuły works allot with Southampton, Bolton and Wolfsburg. Plus Fabianski use to play there.

By MarcinO | October 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 am

All we can do is hope he turns into something decent. If he makes the national team in the future no one will be able to say that we give citizenships to players to play for us. I don’t have a problem with it but in like 50 years every country will have a Brazilian playing for them.

By Alek | October 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Ya just look at Portugal like half of their decent players are Brazilian. And the Swiss team has allot of Turks.

By Karol | October 3rd, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Hieronim the problem is explained here http://socasoul.wordpress.com/

By Pawel (drugi Cristiano Ronaldo i Franz Beckenbauer) i Polski Goral | October 6th, 2008 at 10:20 pm

If Sosin can socre against Cyprus teams them will he find trouble scoring against the Czechs. The Czechs have a better league than Cyprus.

Posted from United States

By Brian | October 7th, 2008 at 10:31 pm

@Pawel

erm… the Czech defense doesn’t even play in the “Czech” league, they are far better all playing in top leagues in Europe for top sides. to consider them “Czech” league defenders is almost an insult

–Cech–English Premier League–Chelsea
–Jankulovski–Serie A–AC Milan
–Ujfalusi–La Liga–Atletico Madrid
–Rozehnal–Serie A–Lazio
–Grygera–Serie A–Juventus

Posted from United States

By Pawel (drugi Cristiano Ronaldo i Franz Beckenbauer) i Polski Goral | October 8th, 2008 at 11:35 pm

They came from Czech Republic clubs.
Petr Cech – Bisany and Sparta Prague
Marek Jankulovski – Banik Ostrava
Tomas Ujfalusi – Sigma Olomouc
David Rozehnal – Sigma Olmouc
Zdenek Grygera – FC Zlin, Petra Drnovice, Sparta Prague

The Czech defense does not play in the Czech league currently the starting 11, but recieved their skills and training to move on to bigger and better clubs.

Place more influence on the youngsters in football because the older ones have less use in football but more use in coaching. Let’s put Zbigniew Lato in or Zbigniew Boniek event though they are old. This applies to Sosin too. Has he been put under pressure under Tomas Ujfalusi or Zdenek Grygera. The Czech league defenders are a complement because they recieved good training to go to better clubs, unlike the POLAND SQUAD.
Can Sosin perform under pressure? Can he score goals in an international game. The Cypriot league is a “joke”. Let’s put Emmanuel Olisadebe because he was praised by the Chinese media!! The Chinese League is a “joke” same with the I-League in India and the V-League in Vietnam. Lukasz Sosin has passed his time and maybe he will be a good coach someday. Lets bring in Maciej Zurawski even though he does not play anymore because he scores goals!!!

Bring in new blood but not the same blood from a different generation. Lukasz Sosin is not going to do as well and that’s why he’s a substitute for the national team. If Leo wants a Jan Koller then he gambles with Sosin, if he wants to win then the Polish “Koller” is used only in extreme scenarios.

Posted from United States

By Brian | October 9th, 2008 at 7:43 am

you just compared the Cyprus league to the Czech league though, and now you are going to tangent off with where they started? make some sense of yourself before hand then, well if you are going to use that bullshit tangent then you should have started off with Sosin and the defense of the Polish league versus the Czech league! haha, since Sosin started his development at Hutnik