Let’s Get This Party Started. That Is Training Camp.

The Bialo Czerwoni preparatory training camp before Euro 2008 started yesterday in Donaueschingen, Germany. 26 players will take part in it and three will be sent home after the camp to reduce our squad to 23. What will the camp bring? Who’ll have to fight for the place in the squad?

19 players flew yesterday from Warsaw to Germany: Jacek Bak, Michal Zewlakow, Dariusz Dudka, Grzegorz Bronowicki, Lukasz Fabianski, Mariusz Jop, Wojciech Lobodzinski, Rafal Murawski, Tomasz Zahorski, Maciej Zurawski, Radoslaw Matusiak, Marek Saganowski, Paweł Golanski, Jakub Warwrzyniak, Adam Kokoszka, Michal Pazdan, Lukasz Gargula, Radoslaw Majewski and Roger Guerreiro. Marcin Wasilewski joined them the same day as he travelled straight from Belgium. We are still waiting for 6 players who will join the team in the course of the week: Artur Boruc, Tomasz Kuszczak, Mariusz Lewandowski, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Jacek Krzynowek and Euzebiusz Smolarek. During the camp Poland will play friendlies against FC Schaffhausen (23rd of May), Macedonia (26th of May) and Albania (27th of May).

Leo Beenhakker said that the real competition for the place in the team starts on wednesday. The performance in training and in friendly matches will determine some players’ presence in our final Euro squad. Here are the lads for whom, in my opinion, the camp is a decisive test:
Grzegorz Bronowicki (DL, Red Star Belgrade): has to prove that he has fully recovered from injury and is able to return to good form. Otherwise his place in the squad is under threat.
Jakub Wawrzyniak (DL/DMC/DC, Legia Warsaw): criticised by Leo for his performance in the Polish cup final. His inclusion in the squad may depend on Bronowicki’s fitness as they play on the same position.
Adam Kokoszka (DC/DR, Wisla Krakow): one of the youngest players in the squad. He is still not even a regular player at Wisla. Has never played against top European teams. It remains a mystery if he can pull it off on the international level.
Michal Pazdan (DMC/DC, Gornik Zabrze): biggest surprise in the squad and the least experienced player. Only a year ago he played in the Polish 3rd division. Has to prove that he got what it takes to be a full blooded national team player.
Lukasz Gargula (AMC, GKS Belchatow): it seems clear that he has to rival Radoslaw Majewski for an attacking midfielder spot in the squad. Had a decent season, but not an impressive one. Needs good performances in friendlies.
Radoslaw Majewski (AMC, Groclin Grodzisk): heralded as the most talented youngster in the Polish league. Made huge progress in the last season. If he keeps up his current form and does well in the friendlies Gargula may watch the Euros in TV.
Roger Guerreiro (AMC/ML, Legia Warsaw): skills-wise he is good enough to be a starter for Poland. The question remains if the born Brazilian fits the team character-wise. The first reports are positive, he is treated just like any other rookie in the team.
Radoslaw Matusiak (ST, Wisla Krakow/SC Heerenveen): after an awful season he is present on the camp only because of good performances in the qualifiers and the last nt friendlies. Has 11 days to recover under Leo.
Marek Saganowski (ST, FC Southampton): one of the biggest surprises in the squad after a rather poor season in England. His form seems to be on the rise and one can never question his dedication. Has 11 days to prove that he can be more useful than Matusiak.
Tomasz Zahorski (ST/ML, Gornik Zabrze): one of the biggest surprises of the season in Poland; a tall, but at the same time rather pacy striker with good heading skills. His main advantage over Radomatu and Sagan is that he can play on the left wing as well. Was in poor form in the last couple of games of the season.

The rest of the players can be confident about their inclusion in the ultimate Euro squad. Their goal is to fight for the starting places. Unfortunately, we (that is Polish journalists) won’t be able to judge the performances in training as they are press-and-fans-proof from now on. We’ll have to wait with our first conclusions until the three friendlies that are to be played.

Other news: Great weekend for Poles in club football. Marcin Wasilewski won the Belgian Cup with Anferlecht, Michal Zewlakow won the Greek Cup with Olympiakos scoring one of the goals in the process. Dawid Janczyk netted the decisive penalty for CSKA Moscow in a thrilling Russian Cup final. Finally, Mariusz Lewandowski won the Ukrainian league title with Shachtar and celebrated with tons of caviar.

Wojciech Szczesny, youth Arsenal keeper, takes part in the training camp as Leo waits for our to remaining keepers: Artur Boruc and Tomasz Kuszczak.

Przeglad Sportowy sees Pawel Golanski as a perfect replacement for Bosingwa in FC Porto. I only don’t know if Porto officials are aware of it.