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Call Ups For The Wales Friendly. Same Old Stuff Plus Adam Kokoszka.

January 26th, 2009 | By: tomasz | 35 Comments »

“No more experiments” seems to be Leo Beenhakker’s message when we have a look at his recent call ups for the next friendly against Wales. Same old names, same old players, nobody new seems worthy of Leo’s attention. Apparently our coach is happy with what he has at his disposal and refuses to take notice of any other players; Adam Kokoszka is the only one who returns to the team after some time. But are there any left out players who deserve a call up?

Poland’s squad for the game against Wales:

Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic), Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal)

Defenders: Michal Zewlakow (Olympiakos), Adam Kokoszka (Empoli), Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia), Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (Lech)

Midfielders: Roger Guerreiro (Legia), Rafal Boguski and Wojciech Lobodzinski (both Wisla), Lukasz Gargula (Belchatow), Lukasz Tralka (Lechia), Dariusz Dudka (Auxerre), Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar), Jacek Krzynowek (Wolfsburg), Euzebiusz Smolarek (Bolton), Rafal Murawski (Lech), Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund).

Strikers: Pawel Brozek (Wisla), Robert Lewandowski (Lech)

Analysis: Not much to comment on really. Fabianski played in the last friendly against Ireland so it seems sensible to give a chance to Boruc this time, especially that Fabian has still failed to win a place in Arsenal’s starting lineup. Boruc’s form is still sinusoidal, but making him our nr 1 for this game would certainly be a proof of coaches’ belief in Artie. Jakub Wawrzyniak is the only left back in the squad so I imagine he’s going to play for the full 90 minutes. Grzegorz Wojtkowiak and Marcin Wasilewski should get a half each at the right back spot; since Franz Smuda was so reluctant to release his players I can’t imagine Leo benching any Lech guys for the whole game. We should be able to check if Adam Kokoszka made any progress during his spell in Italy, there are only two other centre backs picked (Michal Zewlakow and Dariusz Dudka). Kokoszka is the only one playing regulalry so it would be strange from Leo not to give him any minutes. Lukasz Tralka is the only “fresh” midfielder, but I don’t believe he’ll enter the field against Wales. The biggest question is who will fill in the attacking midfielder/linkup striker spot; there are three candidates: Roger Guerreiro, Lukasz Gargula and Rafal Boguski. The latter one started against Ireland, but it was Roger who scored against Giovanni Trapattoni’s team. Lukasz Gargula, on the other hand, was the most consistent Polish playmaker in the second part of 2008. He’s also the best Polish free kick taker. The left wing remains our Achilles’ heel with both Ebi Smolarek and Jacek Krzynowek failing to play regularly at their clubs. Pawel Brozek and Robert Lewandowski fight for a starting striker position. So, are there any absences? Not really, I think it’s clear that Artur Wichniarek, Ireneusz Jelen, Seweryn Gancarczyk or Maciej Zurawski won’t get a call up in the nearest future. I don’t know what’s the case with Dawid Janczyk, but I reckon that Leo is waiting to see if he starts playing regularly for Lokeren. There was no point in calling up Janczyk just to bench him for the whole game.

It seems that Leo has already picked a group of players that he’s going to use in the remaining World Cup qualifying games. It will now be very hard for any new players to advance higher in Leo’s ranks. Whether the stability road chosen by our coach is the right one we will be able to check in the games against Northern Ireland and San Marino. The Wales encounter, however, should give us some clue at what to expect.

The Polish “B” team will play against Lithuania before the friendly against Wales. Here are the call ups for this game. Michal Pazdan replaced Piotr Kuklis due to the injury of the latter.

Tags: Beenhakker, Boguski, Brozek, Gargula, Group A, Kokoszka, Krzynowek, Poland, Robert Lewandowski, Roger, Smolarek, Wales, Wasilewski, Wawrzyniak, Wojtkowiak

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 35 comments.

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By MarcinO | January 28th, 2009 at 10:06 am

I’m all for giving young players a chance for a friendly game as opposed to out of form guys like Lobodzinski. However, Salamon needs more time. You don’t want to expose the kid to a little too much too fast.

As for Jelen, isn’t he just back from injury? So I’m guessing he is out of form.

“Panathinaikos are set to make Poland international Jakub Wawrzyniak their second signing of the January transfer window…The Legia Warsaw man will arrive in Athens today to complete his move.” – Goal.com

By goose | January 28th, 2009 at 10:12 am

^Good move from Wawrzyniak.

And I think Leo shouldn’t use Smolarek or Krzynowek in these friendlies, since we all know what to expect from them. Also I think he should stop picking Lobodzinski, since, well, he’s crap.

Instead of them, youngsters like Janota or Janczyk should be called up. They don’t even have to play, but just experiencing how it is to be a part of the national team should make them more confident.

Posted from Netherlands

By tomasz | January 28th, 2009 at 5:30 pm

I was to write a note on Wawrzyniak’s move, but I’m short of time lately because of my MA paper;)
From what I read on Polish websites, Wawrzyniak s expected to play in the starting eleven there. Currenty, a Greek international occupies this position, but he’s about to be moved to the right back spot. I never really held Wawrzyniak in high regard, but I spotted the progress he made in the last half a year. The Greek league is a good one to start your foreign career with, I think it would be hard for him to establish a strong position in Spain, Italy or England. Panathinaikos is a big club, so it’s surely a move forward for Wawrzyniak.

At last a transfer of a Polish player abroad.

By Tomek | January 29th, 2009 at 5:40 am

^Also Wawrzyniak will have a chance to play Champions League football with Panathanaikos. And I think he’s quite a decent defender, except he lacks experience.

Posted from Netherlands

By drewsky | January 29th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

Tomasz Adameck undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world,he set the tone.Go Poland.

Posted from United States

By Tomek | January 30th, 2009 at 5:17 pm

^Would love it if Adamek would try to fight Klitschko, though that’ll never happen.

Damn, this transfer season’s boring. Only Wawrzyniak made a good transfer.
Like always, the Boruc thing was absolute bullshit, and Blaszczykowski didn’t go anywhere either (Though that could be a good thing, since he only played really well for half a year. After a season or two, much more clubs tham just Liverpool will want him, if Kuba keeps it up.)

Posted from Netherlands

By drewsky | January 30th, 2009 at 10:09 pm

Looks like Adamek 36-1 24 ko’s is fighting Johnathon Banks 20-0 14 ko’s on Feb 27 which is another quality opponent.Adamek is a humble warrior who takes on all comers.Oneill Bell,USS Cunningham,Chad Dawson,Paul Briggs twice and Thomas Ulrich are outstanding competition whos collective records were 146-7-1 with 104 ko’s before fighting Adamek who went 5-1 with 2 ko’s against this top notch competition(all of them hitting the canvas vs Adamek).Adamek has exceeded any Polish boxer in history as far as I can see.If all goes well vs Johnathon Banks it looks like Bernard Hopkins or Roy Jones Jr (2 more extremely quality opponents) in summertime and if that goes good a rematch with USS Cunningham in the fall.As far as fighting Klitschko that will never happen as you say,he is comfortable at this weight,his only blemish was vs Chad Dawson at 25pds lower weight (wonder what kind of starvation diet they put him on)and he still managed to knockdown Dawson late in the fight.Adamek should be a role model to all Polish atheletes he handles himself with class.If Leo can get the team to have an identical mindset only good things will happen.Mariusz Pudzianowski (5x Worlds Strongest Man) is another role model for work ethic and class for the youngsters in Poland.Go Poland

P.S.Nice penalty shot by Boruc

Posted from United States

By drewsky | January 30th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

It is time for Boruc to move on to a bigger club (believe me no disrespect to Celtic at all) he has accomplished just about all he can in the SPL,for a more realistic chance at a Champions League trophy I was hoping the AC Milan or Beyern Munich early rumours held true.Maybe 1 more year at Borrussia Dortmund for Kuba isnt sobad the Bundesliga is still a quality league but Liverpool would be an offer that couldnt be refused.Hey we still have Fabianski at Arsenal and Kuszcack at Manchestar United so you have to start somewhere.Keep up the good work.Go Poland

Posted from United States

By drewsky | January 30th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

Poland moved up 3 spots in FIFA poll

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/news/newsid=1002280.html#poles+find+strength+adversity

Go Poland

Posted from United States

By drewsky | January 30th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

With players like Kuba,M.Lewandowski,Roger,Ebi,Boruc,R.Lewndowski,Fabianski,Kuszcack,Gargula,Dudka,Janczyk among others the cupboard is surely not bare.With a better awareness from the scouting and development parts of the organization and added infrastucture Polish football is something to be excited about for the future.As far as current need the holes to be filled as the way my eye views it is defense and depth.Hiring Leo showed an openminded mentality which is the way to think,you have to be able to adapt to changes or you will only be left behind.It might be a little while before it happens but a Polish team in the Champions league in the future can be closer than imagined before if we continue with good moves like hiring Leo.Go Poland

Posted from United States

By zaraza | January 31st, 2009 at 7:20 pm

I think our situation will slowly start improving over the next couple of years but at the moment we still have way too many players warming the bench…

Saganowski scored twice today.. He seems to be in pretty good goalscoring form right now, 4 goals in the last 4 matches. Let’s see if he can keep it up.

Salamon played 85 minutes in a 3-2 loss. Still, it’s very impressive for a 17 year old to make the starting lineup four games in a row.

Will be interesting to see if Janczyk finally plays tomorrow.

Posted from Canada

By Michal Z | January 31st, 2009 at 7:48 pm

What i gather from the hilariously translated French articles about Janczyk is that he is not quite ready to start. But a substitute appearance maybe?

By Michal Z | January 31st, 2009 at 7:57 pm

WHAT? Smolarek played? for HALF AN HOUR? Surely it is a sign of the Apocalypse!

By chester | January 31st, 2009 at 10:19 pm

even had a shot on target

By Michal Z | January 31st, 2009 at 10:41 pm

What next? Grosicki will speak in tongues? (french!) But seriously, good for him. He really was/has been/will be? a driving force in the team, and it would be so good to have in form. The more the pressure of expectation is evenly spread amidst the players, (as opposed to exclusively Blaszczykowski) they better they will play. I hope.

By chester | February 1st, 2009 at 1:10 pm

smolarek is important for the next 2 or 3 years untill janota begins to develop more or rybus and one of them will be able to replace him on the left wing

By chester | February 1st, 2009 at 1:22 pm

anyone know anything new about the Ludovic Obraniak case he scored today again i think its his 7th or 8th goal of the season being a midfielder thats really good

By zaraza | February 1st, 2009 at 7:46 pm

chester, it’s gone quiet on the Obraniak front. Last I heard, the PZPN still hadn’t gotten a response from FIFA. Lato probably needs to personally fly to Zurich and push this through, otherwise we’ll never get an answer.

Janczyk was not on the bench today. How long does he need to return to full fitness? Or are they simply not impressed with him?
http://www.sporting.be/content/verslag/0809/tgenk.asp

Apart from Boruc and Kokoszka, none of the foreign-based players called up for Wales played the full 90 minutes this weekend… Our captain, Zewlakow, came off the bench in the dying minutes…
http://www.reprezentacja.com.pl/index.php?plik=wstawki/news_caly&numer=69639&kat=2&nazwa=Tak+grali+Polacy+w+Europie

Posted from Canada

By Tomek | February 2nd, 2009 at 4:57 am

Thanks for the info zaraza. Why did Blaszczykowski not play? Thought he was one of Dortmund’s best players. Is he injured?

And yes, Lato should go to Zurich himself to get Obraniak. I mean at this point he could get a call-up for France, and that would be terrible.

Zewlakow’s supposedly going to some German club (Hannover I think).

By Tomek | February 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 am

Also it seems this blog’s becoming more popular with each new article, if you look at the number of comments. Awesome!

Posted from Netherlands

By Tomek | February 2nd, 2009 at 5:05 am

Also sorry for the triple post, but Krzynowek will leave Wolfsburg this season. Article: http://sport.onet.pl/74318,1248685,1908442,,legionisci_jada_po_krzynowka,wiadomosc.html

Possible destinations are FC Koln, Hertha Berlin, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Legia Warszawa. What do you think?

Posted from Netherlands

By Tomek | February 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 am

And another low in the Polish League: Piotr Reiss, one of Lech Poznan’s most cherished footballers, has been arrested for corruption.

Link: http://sport.onet.pl/74318,1248685,1908515,,pilkarz_lecha_piotr_r_zatrzymany,wiadomosc.html

Posted from Netherlands

By Tomek | February 2nd, 2009 at 7:05 am

Damn I’m a spammer today, oh well. Krzynowek’s new club will be Hannover 96.
Link: http://sport.onet.pl/74318,1248685,1908700,,nowy_klub_jacka_krzynowka,wiadomosc.html

Posted from Netherlands

By drewsky | February 2nd, 2009 at 8:14 am

They have to clean the corruption,I was naive to how rampant it really is.
Go Poland

Posted from United States

By Tomek | February 2nd, 2009 at 8:38 am

^Realize that this arrest is for matches from years ago, when Reiss was one of the old Lech’s key players, and corruption was everywhere. The new Lech (Merged with Amica) has nothing to do with it, so they’ll not be relegated.
Still doesn’t justify the corruption of course, and I’m happy that they’re still arresting offenders.

Posted from Netherlands

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