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Poland-Bulgaria Preview. Shocking New Away Kits.
Comments(30)
Forget about the starting lineup and tactics, this is the talk of the day. Tomorrow, against Bulgaria, we’ll play in a brand new away kit (mind you, the game takes place in Warsaw). It is, as you can clearly see, navy blue. Yep, there isn’t a slight hint of blue on our national flag, nor is it a colour traditionally associated with Poland. A bold move from Nike then, no doubt.
I’ll leave it to the PZPN’s press representative: Nike has acquired a strategy of shocking. That’s the reason for our navy blue kits.
There you have it, we play our part in the company’s global strategy of choosing colours out of the blue for the national teams they provide for. It’s not necessarily a horrible kit, but I’d rather see it as a training option, not an official choice. I’m traditional about the Bialo Czerwoni shirts; I prefer us to play white and red or red altogether. I only hope it’s a temporary design and Nike will change their strategy into The Beauty Lies in Tradition for 2012.
Franz Smuda didn’t leave many questions unanswered at today’s press conference. We’re going to play the 4-3-3 formation and our starting lineup will look as follows:
Tomasz Kuszczak – Marcin Kowalczyk, Michal Zewlakow, Kamil Glik, Dariusz Dudka – Slawomir Peszko, Rafal Murawski, Radoslaw Majewski – Jakub Blaszczykowski, Robert Lewandowski, Ludovic Obraniak
Looks like a quite offensive lineup on paper as there is no space for even one typical defensive midfielder. Murawski will fit this role, but we can expect him to take part in offensive actions as well. The dreaded left back position will be taken by Dariusz Dudka; not much to complain about here as we don’t really have any outstanding options there at the moment. Marcin Kowalczyk is the right back that Franz trusts most, but he has to play much better than in last year’s games to convince the fans as well. Kamil Glik is the third young centre back in a row (after Kokoszka and Sadlok) to be tested alongside Michal Zewlakow in the centre of our defense. He’s a player that used the Thailand trip to the best effect. It will be interesting to see if Radoslaw Majewski really developed as much as we read about as the Nottingham Forest player gets his first proper international chance since god knows when. With Irek Jelen injured, the offensive trio Kuba-Lewy-Ludo is the best that we can afford for the Bulgaria encounter. I’m happy that Franz is aware of that and won’t test our patience with less talented players. The pitch at Polonia Warsaw’s stadium allowing, we may really see an interesting friendly tomorrow.
PS: Our Goalie coach Jacek Kazimierski visited Artur Boruc in Glasgow at the weekend. Franz Smuda announced that the gates to the national team are open for Artie, but at the same time admitted that Tomasz Kuszczak is his current starting goalie. Add Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski to the mix and we’re really in for an exciting competition for the nr 1 blouse.
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 30 comments.
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I am not a fan of the new Nike kits at all. I don’t even think it will be one of those things that you get used to. Why are the colours on the sleeves inverted, just like on the Euro2012 logo. I’m sure the shirts had to be approved by the PZPN. So this is their way of distracting the fans from the terrible product on the field? I smell another boycott, this time against Nike and the shirts…
This is not the US and A, this is Polska!!! Get rid of the blue its not on our flag or coat of arms, its not even a nice blue like the one we used against Croatia, i hope this kit is fazed out before the EURO tournament begins
Posted from 
United States
Yep, don’t like it. I’m over due for buying a Polska jersey but i’ll surely pass on this one. A touch of gold could have been good, but there is something wrong with that strip on the sleeve. With that shirt I wouldn’t stop thinking the flag is upside down. In English you almost never see Poland colors described as white and red; even in English history books it’s described ‘red and white’. Maybe that is a small thing but I don’t like the lack of consideration. Just like I don’t like K’s in Polish names changed to C’s in English. Atleast the Kopernick Observatory and Science Center in New York got it right.
Posted from United States
^ Kopernik **
Posted from United States
In 30 minutes Polska’s U21 is playing against Netherlands U21. Hopefully they come out with pride and not lose 4-0 this time.
Here’s the players called up for the U21 matchup:
Błażej Augustyn (Calcio Catania, Włochy)
Marcin Budziński i Mateusz Siebert (Arka Gdynia)
Adrian Basta (Polonia Bytom)
Ariel Borysiuk (Legia Warszawa)
Mateusz Cetnarski (GKS Bełchatów)
Mariusz Gancarczyk i Adam Marciniak (obaj Górnik Zabrze)
Piotr Grzelczak (Widzew Łódź)
Jacek Kiełb, Piotr Malarczyk (obaj Korona Kielce)
Adam Matuszczyk (1.FC Köln, Niemcy)
Bartosz Rymaniak (Zagłębie Lubin)
Grzegorz Sandomierski (Jagiellonia Białystok)
Tadeusz Socha (Śląsk Wrocław)
Wojciech Szczęsny (Brentford FC, Anglia)
Sebastian Tyrała (BV Borussia 1909 (Dortmund), Niemcy)
Kamil Wilczek (Piast Gliwice)
Marcin Wodecki (Odra Wodzisław)
No Cwyka, Grosicki or Janota.
I don’t care for a foreign corporation deciding which colors should represent our NT (granted, PZPN had to approve). And, at least Nike could’ve done its homework on the sleeve striping instead of going with an Indonesia or Monaco pattern.
Posted from United States
I don’t like it…looks like US colours or even Indonesian/Malta/Singapore due to the red being above white in the sleeve!
Not ugly but ridiculous color choice!
After the first half Polska’s up 1-0 on a Cetnarski goal.
We should be up 3-0 to be honest, Grosicki hit the crossbar from an amazing pass from Borysiuk from the half.
Grosicki with his pace has been causing Netherlands problems, Borysiuk has set up Grosicki with two amazing passes and Tyrala almost scored on a freekick.
On Defense, Augustyn made an important headed to save a goal and has impressed me.
Overall, Netherlands has had more of the ball but our counter attack is on and we look more dangerous. Update will come after the game hoping my stream doesn’t go down.
fuck nike and their shity shirts.
Posted from 
Canada
wtf??? Nike just lost a lot of my respect!
Posted from Canada
After a great first half for the U21 team, second half they came out slow and are losing 3-1 now. The story of Polska.
U21 team ended up losing 3-2 with a second goal from Jacek Kiełb on a great backheal pass from Grosicki.
Let’s hope the Bulgaria result will be a better one.
1-0 kuba,,,,,,halftime
nice uni’s
Posted from United States
Guys, this might be different and it might not suit our original colours, but its unique. I think this is the first time we’ve ever had a non red/white away kit.
My opinion? I like
Posted from 
United Kingdom
Robert Lewandowski’s strike was amazing!!
fantasticzne result against Bulgaria! two great goals I like the effort the team showed. at times it looked like the formation left us open to counterattacks but the players worked hard to recover. good showing.
good to hear that the U21s were competitive with Holland.
Posted from United States
I’ll take the jersies as long as we keep winning
The flag is inverted so that when we Poles raise our arms in victory it is right side up.
I just want to forget ASAP this s… shirt, and the Nice result of our NT Team help me to do it! Go Polska Go! Nice to see again Kuba, nice to see also Lewandowski
I comment every time jerseys are brought up, so here is what I have to say:
I sorta like it, I think it is interesting, but one thing I really like is that finally our other color, gold, is brought up! There’s a stripe on the pants and the Nike check and so on.
But what would you guys think that instead of the blue, there would be gold there instead?
Posted from United States
I was only able to watch the U21 game. They played much better than the last time they got their asses handed to them. Mateusz Cetnarski, wearing the captain’s armband, was one of the better players. He was one of the only one who looked to go at the Dutch defence. He was rewarded with his persistence. Borysiuk played well. Augustyn stood out from the defence that looked shaky and easily penetrable. Tyrała and Matuszczyk also deserve a mention. As for Grosicki, he had a few nice chances but looked like he didn’t feel much like playing or actually trying to win. There was no chemistry with him and Cetnarski. Even the setup to Centanski’s goal was sloppy. The rest of the guys looked like a bunch of amateurs compared to the Dutch. Overall, it was a lot better than the last time they played the Netherlands.
“The flag is inverted so that when we Poles raise our arms in victory it is right side up.” Bingo.
I’m reconsidering my first negative impression of the jersey. I like how the Polska eagle emblem pops-out on the dark back ground. It is just still a disappointment because they really missed an opportunity to get the arm band colors right — the arm band colors pop out too. But there is still a disappointment because they really missed a opportunity to have a truly awesome jersey. White shoulders bands and red biceps would have been so tough. That arrangement would be better for the graphic design. Sure the victory ‘arms raised’ idea is fair enough, but the Biało-czerwoni arm bands would be best to see during the battle.
Posted from United States
even the polish flag its other way round :/
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