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Poland-Slovenia Preview. Fresh Blood, First Blood.

September 5th, 2008 | By: tomasz | 26 Comments »

Forget the Polish team that you saw during Euros. Ten out of twenty three players from the Euro squad are not in the team currently due to injuries, bans and being generally poor. Instead, Leo Beenhakker decided to implement some fresh blood in the form of Pawel Brozek, Tomasz Bandrowski, Marcin Kowalczyk or Robert Lewandowski. Will these players bring us glory? First test on Saturday.

Poland is left without a lot of players that had a major part to play in our Euro qualifiers success. Jacek Bak retired from the national team, Maciej Zurawski is left out of the team by Leo, Grzegorz Bronowicki, Pawel Golanski and Lukasz Gargula are injured, Radoslaw Matusiak ended his career (and then his father rejected those rumours). We all know what happened to Artur Boruc and Dariusz Dudka.The fact is that, to some extend, we’ll see a new team against Slovenia. There are players that need to step up and become the new leaders. There are players that will give their best in order to remain in the team. Still, the result of those changes remains unknown. What are the biggest question marks in our team?

Tactics: It’s almost certain that we’ll return to our 4-2-3-1 formation. There won’t be any tactical experiments.

Goalkeepers: No doubts here, Lukasz Fabianski is nr 1, Kowalewski should sit on the bench and Zaluska will probably watch the game from the stands.

Defenders: Michal Zewlakow will start in the centre and Marcin Wasilewski is our starting right back. The fight for the second spot in the central defence is between Bartosz Bosacki and Mariusz Jop. I rate Bosy higher, but it seems Leo puts more trust in Jop. We’ll start with a complete rookie on the left flank. Marcin Kowalczyk is better built, whereas Seweryn Gancarczyk is faster and left footed. I’ve got no idea who’ll start and I don’t have my favourite here.

Midfielders: Mariusz Lewandowski will start, but who’ll partner him in the centre? It will almost certainly be Rafal Murawski, who’s a more attacking minded player than Tomasz Bandrowski. Muras plays great for Lech this season, but he really needs a superb game in the nt to further enhance his reputation. With Dudka banned, this is his chance to strengthen his status in the team. Jakub Blaszczykowski may as well be our biggest star at the moment. He’ll play on the right wing and be responsible for driving our attacks forward. Kuba should give our team a different dimension, provide some magic. Now he’s not only one of important players, he’s THE leader. Fans count on him the most. Ebi Smolarek should restore his place on the left wing. He always proved most useful for the team while playing on the wing and moving forward from the midfield. The qestion is who’ll be our central attacking midfielder? Jacek Krzynowek watches Wolfsburg games from the stands so his form can’t be great. Although Roger plays regularly for Legia he’s far from his last year’s level. Still, I’d go for Rogerski as we need more attacking minded players for this game and he’s always capable of playing a good, diagonal ball. There are no signs that Leo will play Boguski as a supporting striker.

Attackers: I wrote a note yesterday about our situation here. No much has changed since. Pawel Brozek’s involvement is still doubtful. I have a feeling that Saganowski is first to replace him, otherwise he wouldn’t have been called up at all. At the same time, I hope we’ll see Robert Lewandowski tomorrow, at least for half an hour.

Slovenia: Sorry, I’m unable to comment on them. I haven’t seen them play since 2002 World Cup. They’ve got players from Udinese (Handanovic), Marseille (Cesar), Betis (Ilic), West Brom (Koren) or FC Koln (Novakovic), but I can’t tell if they’re any good. They only lost 2-3 in their last game against Croatia so they’re certainly no pushovers.

Let’s be honest, this is a must win game. There’s a lot of pressure on Leo and the team. Will players, especially those new to the team, be able to cope with that? There are numerous journalists just waiting for the team to slip and then write those easy articles like “Leo earns too much” or “Where’s Jelen and Wichniarek” etc. Hell, they probably have them already prepared, it just writes itself. Let’s hope we don’t have to read them on Monday. Go Bialo Czerwoni!

Other news: Artur Wichniarek is the second player, after Ireneusz Jelen, to resign from playing under Leo. The atmosphere is getting more and more dense.

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 26 comments.

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By tomasz | September 5th, 2008 at 8:37 am

The game will live you up Nick, don’t worry

Posted from Poland

By MarcinO | September 5th, 2008 at 9:59 am

I hate how Jelen and Wichniarek feel like they deserve first choice. They did not do anything in the past to deserve it. This has been a problem in the past with other managers.

We cannot have players be stubborn jackasses in a position with not a lot of depth. You don’t hear Portugal or Spain have those problems.

Forget Wichniarek, he’s 31? He is too old anyway. There is no proof that his recent form will last a whole season. I would not be surprised if he finished with less than 10 goals.

I say we should look to Robert Lewandowski.

By zaraza | September 5th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

I think Sagan was called up as insurance. With one injury already Leo probably doesn’t want to run the risk of us running out of strikers. Polish players do seem to pick up injuries more often than players from other countries…

If Brozek is not ready, Lewy should be in the starting eleven. If he struggles (like Blaszczykowski struggled in his first matches for the NT) then Sagan can replace him. But Lewy should definitely be given a chance ahead of Sagan who hasn’t scored in ages, not even for his club…

Posted from Canada

By zaraza | September 5th, 2008 at 2:25 pm

I’m glad that Leo has brought in some fresh blood but I can’t believe the Polish press is praising him for weeding out the weak links, lol.. He has not had the guts to drop even one player. Not even JOP! Krzynowek, Smolarek, M. Lewandowski and Wasilewski, who were also massive disappointments are widely expected to start for us on Saturday… Bak retired, that was not Leo’s decision. As for Zurawski, Leo says that he still has a future with the NT. So no consequences at all for any of them for their horrible performances at Euros…

Posted from Canada

By Alek | September 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

I finally found the highlights for the feyenoord game here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_1TBjn_v5k to watch Janota start around 8:35

By Witold | September 5th, 2008 at 10:59 pm

Maybe Wichniarek has 31, but we won’t need him for 4 years, just for a few matches, time to find another real solution. Don’t shoot every players that we have!!!Do we have really too lot talent to kick out, Kuszczak, Jelen, and now Wichniarek, Are you really serious if you think that Saganowski is a better solution than this 3 ones??? I’m not sure about Leo’s tactic,a good coach is the one who can bring the best of every players, specialy from this kind of players, do you think that Ronaldo, Zidane, Henry are easy to manage? I don’t like that… I hope that we will have a great match from Fabianski, Kuba, Smolarek and Brozek, because if not, who will be the next player who we will be shooted?

Posted from Canada

By Witold | September 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Alek: Great play by Janota, thanks!

Posted from Canada

By Mateusz | September 6th, 2008 at 12:17 am

I have a feeling that this is going to be a rather challenging match for the Polish National Team. I wish them the best, and I hope some young players prove themselves

By DoTheDudek | September 6th, 2008 at 4:06 am

Kill the pole wannabe! Polish NT only for Polish players. Let’s do not be the next Germany or France.

By wejher | September 6th, 2008 at 7:34 am

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Marcin Wasilewski! For fuck sake!He’s the worst player ever to put on a poland shirt, you watch him! he’ll try to push up as if he’s Roberto Carlos, give away the ball, get caught out of position and then be too much of a slug to catch anybody back up or get back in position. Or maybe he will do what he did against croatia and go out of his way to try and out muscle an attacker rather than go for the ball which is 3 fuckin yards away resulting in an an neccessary goal. Aaaaargh!!!! I’m not even sure he’s human, the guy’s just a strategically shaved chimp. I’d sooner play with 10 men, at least that way you dont depend on someone who cant even do the most basic that is required of a footballer. I’m gonna blow my brains out.

Posted from United Kingdom

By wejher | September 6th, 2008 at 7:57 am

I’m sorry but Janczyk should alway be an option, Like i’ve already mentioned in a previous post Podolski was’nt a regular at Bayern last season but he was a starting player in the national, and look what he did. Backwards thinking National Team – thats our biggest problem. “yeah lets play someone with international experience who is shit rather than play someone with natural talent” I’m sorry but some of the club teams who jancyyk has played against are probabl better than some of the national teams we have in our qualifying group, so what has international experience have to do with anything? are the rules different? are the goal nets bigger? no, football is football, simple as. Which of our strikers in recent memory has been a better prospect and attracted more attention than Janczyk?

Posted from United Kingdom

By MarcinO | September 6th, 2008 at 8:56 am

“Kill the pole wannabe!” – DoTheDudek

This is the kind of stupid attitude that is holding the Polish leagues back. This results in a weaker national team because of less competition in our leagues.

Its not about race or skin colour. If they want to play for Poland, let them play. We have enough of our own players that don’t respect the NT. (Artur Wichniarek and Ireneusz Jelen)

The last time I checked Germany and France were in the top 10 in the FIFA rankings.

By peter | September 6th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

We are so freaking bad.

During the first half of the first half we played real well on the right wing between Kuba, Roger, Piszczek and Wasilewski, but we got away from that, if we stuck with it we couldve had another 3 or 4 opportunities. Piszczek is not a lone striker and should not have started out as one.

Krzynowek didnt even get fouled. All in all we got lucky we got 1 point out of this game, but it is a HUGE dissapointment.

By Witold | September 6th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

What a shame, 1-1 against a team that is 79th in the FIFA ranking !!! No defense, no striker, only Kuba, only Krzynowek, have saved the show…. Sorry guys, I really don’t understand what Beenhaker is doing with our team, My heart will be allways with Poland NT, but I really don’t like what I see, what we will do against serious team like we met in EURO…Disaster…

Posted from Canada

By Mark | September 6th, 2008 at 2:16 pm

I think that there was lack anybody in the middle, who can speed up action near enemy’s goal. For example Zurawski.

Posted from Poland

By marcin | September 6th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

leo’s fault all of the substitutions were shitty

Posted from Canada

By MarcinO | September 6th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

Im starting to question Beenhakker’s squad selections.

Watching Mariusz Lewandowski play boils my blood.

By gregorio | September 6th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

it looks bad. we should’ve had a victory to forget, an early goal, controlling the game, maybe adding one more, to seal the win. we couldn’t keep the pace and rhythm for more than 20-30 mins. if we can’t win a game like this, which one can we? and slovenia is an average team in our group, it doesn’t get any easier.

so far, each time we were in a situation like this, after a disappointing tournament, there was an injection of energy with a new coach coming. this time leo was not fired – which is good – but we’re in deep deep shit in terms of morale. a the fresh blood wasn’t there last night. only kuba kept us running. murawski, kowalczyk, piszczek, bandrowski brought nothing new to the team. and i don’t think there’s anyone left out who would’ve. maybe except for majewski.

beenhakker had a week with our guys and didn’t get much ambition out of them, i doubt he will in the 3 days that’s left. the only positive premise i can think of is that we need to be on the edge to do our very best, in that case, with every all-or-nothing game we stand a chance, starting on wednsday. but i’m prepared for a big time failure this qualifiers.

Posted from Poland

By Pawel (drugi Cristiano Ronaldo i Franz Beckenbauer) i Polski Goral | September 6th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

What is going on to Poland! If they want me I am ready with my stepovers! The Polish players do not play with heart but with paychecks in mind and the money they will get to pay off their Mecedes Benz S55 AMG. Who loses to Slovenia? Croatia does not lose to Slovenia! Poland does. Waj to sie stalo? Polacy to musieli strzelac gole do groma. The Poland team makes me angry when I hear about a 1-1 draw with a post-Yugoslavian country. It would be like Germany losing to Austria. Does that happen? Not when Deutschland plays! But in Poland’s case it did. This is why Sir Alex of Manchester or any big clubs do not buy Polish players. They don’t focus or concentrate and don’t score goals if they are a striker. All you hear about is Polish soccer players that are representing the country, drinking to their heart’s content. When will the Special One or Jose Mourinho come to coach the Poland national football team?

Posted from United States

By marcin | September 6th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

pawel i agree

Posted from Canada

By zaraza | September 7th, 2008 at 12:31 am

Alek, thanks for the link.

About the game, I’m not going to criticize too much because as soon as I saw the line-up I decided to take care of some errands… Unbelievable that someone of Beenhakker’s experience had no plan B in case of injury…

Piszczek – never plays as a striker for his club. Usually on one of the wings, Beenhakker mentions that he’s played a couple games recently as right-back…

Saganowski – striker but hasn’t scored a goal in eons…

rLewandowski – striker, manages to scores goals consistently for Lech but has never played a minute for the NT, Beenhakker doesn’t think he’s ready

Smolarek – not a natural striker, hasn’t played for his club in a while…

If I had to choose I would have thrown rLewy in the deep end. No doubt, it would have been a major gamble, but at the end of the day we had no better options.

But it appears Beenhakker doesn’t think he’s ready. In that case, he should have called up Wichniarek or Jelen as backup in case Brozek got injured. Every team needs a plan B, the fact that Leo had none is unacceptable.

Posted from Canada

By Witold | September 7th, 2008 at 12:38 am

Sorry Pawel, Sir Alex has bought Kuszczak, the same guy who won’t play for Leo!

Just about Leo…

If all Players of our country are in the wrong way and only the coach is in the good way, maybe something is wrong, am I wrong? Anyways, it is maybe easier to find a coach than an entire team…

Too many heroes become zeroes in recent times…

Posted from Canada

By Alek | September 7th, 2008 at 1:38 am

Leo cant call up Jelen or Wichniarek because they wont play for the team if hes the coach. Why didnt he ever call up Jelen before?!?!?! He raped for Auxerre but Leo always had some bs excuse for not calling him up, he gives him one chance with Ukraine which the whole team other then Fabianski blew but somehow most everyone else got called up. I’d much prefer Zahorski to play instead as Piszczek (should replace Krzynowek on the LW) or Saganowski. I somewhat understand about Wichniarek not being called up because hes old, but its a god damn national team!! Leo already calls up all the gramps of our team so he wont feel as old, but again its a god damn national team, you don’t have restrictions like transfers and shit you just call em up if they play good, and don’t if they blow. He should have played Lewandowski up front because what Ive seen he uses any chance he gets, so just please just play him against San Marino at least, it wont hurt they incredibly blow so it wont be a challenge what soever. I’m willing to give Smolarek another chance but why does he keep playing Krzynowek if he doesn’t ever even play for him club. If he needs a left mid use Smolarek, Piszczek or hell why not use Janota our left was never strong before so at least it will give him some experience. We really need some young blood in our team because our players are all just so damn old except for Fabianski and Blaszczykowski.

By zaraza | September 7th, 2008 at 1:51 am

But didn’t they only make that decision after they got word he wouldn’t call them up for these matches? So I think he did have a chance of getting one of them as backup but he preferred to put all his eggs in one basket.

Zahorski has never impressed me. He’s had like 10 chances already for the NT and he’s only scored once (I’m not counting that match against Maccabi because he was playing against a youth side…). Kokoszka has scored more often than Zahorski lol… And he hasn’t exactly been setting the league on fire either.

I agree 100% with the rest of your post.

Posted from Canada

By hermelinda | September 13th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

Good 235rter2rwer23r

Posted from Saudi Arabia