Meet The Future Euro Champs: Goalkeepers.

Yeah, you read it correctly. Future Euro Champs, that’s how it stands. As nobody takes our national team seriously we should respond by showing our full support and belief in the players. After all, what’s the point of supporting if you don’t believe you can win.

First, I’d like to introduce the goalkeepers. This is the strongest position in our squad. Polish media are even suggesting that something like Polish Goalkeeping School exists. It is because, when compared to outfield players, the goalies are really respected in Europe and play in the top European teams. The reason for it may be that goalkeeping is, to some extend, a discipline different than football itself. It is more an individual sport. The fact is that we have a lot of excellent goalkeeping coaches, but we lack talented outfield coaches. As a result, we haven’t had problems with goalies for the last 10 years or so (Dudek from Liverpool, Wozniak from Porto or Matysek from Leverkusen). Today our first choice keeper is Artur Boruc, a world class player. He’s the most charismatic and recognizable player in our team. The backups are Lukasz Fabianski and Tomasz Kuszczak, who play the same roles at Arsenal and ManUtd respectively. Both are very talented and have a huge chance to become nr 1 keepers for their clubs in the future (especially Fabianski). Here is a short characteristic of each of the keepers:

Artur Boruc:
Date of Birth: 20.02.1980
Position: GK
Club: Celtic Glasgow
Number of caps: 34
Shirt nr: 1
Nickname: Holy Goalie, Artie, King Artur, Lala (a doll in Polish, called that for his early haircut)
Role in the team: he’ll surely be our first choice keeper. He’s a key player in the team, capable of great performances against superior opponents. He almost single handedly drew games against England (2005) and Germany (2006) for us. A very strong character, able to handle enormous pressure.
My opinion: one of the most interesting, character wise, players in the team. Always speaks what’s on his mind. At the same time, he’s a great keeper who’s slowly becoming too big for Celtic. A move to Premiership is the next step.
Interesting fact: he’s a die hard Legia Warsaw fan. In his first year in Scotland he admitted that Celtic fans are nowhere near the Legia faithuls in terms of support. Travels for Legia away matches when has time.
Best known for: A cross sign

a penalty save against ManUtd

and harassing Lee Naylor

Lukasz Fabianski
Date of Birth: 18.05.1985
Position: GK
Club: Arsenal London
Number of caps: 8
Shirt nr: 22
Nickname: Fabian, Bambi (his favourite film)
Role in the team: a backup keeper, possibly nr 2. He’s there to put pressure on Boruc, but at the same time gain experience at an international level. Arsene Wenger considers him a huge talent, he’ll surely be Poland’s nr 1 in the future.
My opinion: the most talented Polish goalkeeper. Until now, his career has developed perfectly. Next season he’ll be at least nr 2 at Arsenal and sooner or later will win the rivalry with Almunia. Untypically for a Polish keeper, he plays great outside the box and is able to anticipate what will happen next, something like Jose Reina or Victor Valdes.
Interesting fact: he was raised in MSP Szamotuly, a private football school that develops young talent. Only later was he tranfered to Lech Poznan and Legia Warsaw.
Best known for: a great Legia championship season (2005/06)

Tomasz Kuszczak:
Date of Birth: 20.03.1982
Position: GK
Number of caps: 6
Shirt nr: 12
Nickname: Kuszczak Wpuszczak, at least among the fans (in short, it means that he lets in goals)
Role in the team: a solid backup keeper. He fights for nr 2 shirt with Fabianski, but Leo Beenhakker seems to value the Arsenal keeper more.
My opinion: a very confident and regular keeper. Not prone to mistakes, never failed to properly replace van der Sar in ManUtd games. It still remains a mystery if Fergie considers him a future nr 1. In terms of the national team, it’ll be hard for him to win a competition with Boruc or Fabianski. The most confident Polish player that I’ve ever known.
Interesting fact: never played in the Polish league on a senior level. Was transfered to Hertha as a young lad but wasn’t given a chance there. His career started properly in England, West Brom to be more specific.
Best known for: unfortunately, most of the fans relate him to this horrible error against Columbia

and two Premier League saves of the season

To sum it all up, an easy poll question. Give me your opinion.