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South Africa-Poland Preview. Friendly Intermission.

June 6th, 2009 | By: tomasz | 16 Comments »

I just hate the years without any big international tournament. Instead of preparing for memorable matches against the world’s top teams we have to compete in games that few of us will remember after two or three weeks. Is it possible to learn anything about the team when we play without Boruc, Wasilewski, Blaszczykowski, Boguski, Mariusz Lewandowski, Smolarek, Jelen and Brozek (more than a half of our starting eleven)? I don’t think so. We can only learn about how individual players cope with the challenge of playing on an international level.

There isn’t that much coverage of our African trip in the press (it’s probably too expensive to send a reporter there), so I’ll have to rely on my own judgement when previewing the game. What does our “injury raided” squad has to offer?

Goalkeepers: Lukasz Fabianski is the clear nr 1. I think that we’ll play our strongest team against South Africa and give rookies a chance against Iraq. Hence it’s rather obvious that Fabian will start against the hosts. He had some injury problems, but they aren’t serious enough to prevent him from playing. I also want to finally see Lukasz Zaluska earning his first cap, be it against South Africa or Iraq.

Defenders: Leo is a strong believer in Kuba Wawrzyniak’s innocence and will probably include the Panathinaikos? left back in the starting lineup, if only to prove his point. We’ve got three experienced players on the centre back positions (Dudka, Zewlakow and Bosacki), two of them will surely start against the locals. Kuba Rzezniczak is the only natural right back called up by Leo, it would be interesting to see him tested by a tough opponent. He ended the Ekstraklasa season on a good note and hopefully will be able to fill Wasyl’s boots. Polczak and Komorowski will rather wait for the Iraq game to get a chance. Update: Wawrzyniak got sent home because of the doping ban ordered by the Greek FA.

Midfielders: Murawski, Krzynowek and Roger seem irreplaceable in the current situation. They are candidates to play in the final qualifying games in autumn and should get lots of playing time in the friendlies. Muras is in a good form recently, whereas Krzynowek flourished after moving from Wolfsburg to Hannover and will finally play for the Bialo Czerwoni as a club regular. I also hope that Roger will once again prove the law stating that he plays much better for the national team than for his club. Considering the expectations towards Guerreiroski, his performances for Legia this season were of a poor quality. He doesn’t want to sign a new contract with Wojskowi and the international games are one of his last chances to attract a foreign club and win a better contract elsewhere. Either Bandrowski or Tralka will start alongside Muras in the middle of the field. Bander is my bet since he cooperates with Murawski at Lech on everyday basis. I don’t think Leo decides to use Dudka in the midfield, he stated quite clearly that he sees the Auxerre player as a defender. I also have a suspicion that our beloved Wojciech Lobodzinski will start the game on the right wing. I’d much prefer to see Peszko there, but Leo’s blind love for Lobo seems to have no reservations. Update: Lobo got injured and had to return to Poland.

Strikers: Robert Lewandowski should start since he’s the player closest to the actual starting lineup. Lewy can also operate behind the lone striker (in this case Saganowski) provided Roger plays a bit deeper (as against San Marino). One way or another, I’m sure we’ll see Sagan on the field, he just deserves it for his latest performances for the Bialo Czerwoni. Janczyk may be rested for the game against Iraq, which he, in my opinion, should start.

Poland’s probable squad (according to PWCB): Fabianski- Rzezniczak, Zewlakow, Dudka, Komorowski- Bandrowski, Murawski- Peszko, Roger, Krzynowek- R.Lewandowski
Go Polska! Go Bialo Czerwoni! No, just joking; I can’t somehow apply much importance to this game. Nevertheless, as every die hard fan, I’ll devote two hours of my live to it. See you in the post match review.

Other news: Ludovic Obraniak’s Polish citizenship was confirmed yesterday. He should be available for the friendly against Greece in August. Great news, though I don’t know if Leo has a leading role prescribed for him in the current qualifiers. Nevertheless, he should strengthen the team significantly for Euro 2012.

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Comments

By zaraza | June 6th, 2009 at 4:26 am

I think Beenhakker will throw Obraniak into our starting eleven at LW without hesitation. Obraniak is far and away a better player than Krzynowek and Smolarek (not to take anything away from them, they have served us well in the past).

Posted from Canada

By zaraza | June 6th, 2009 at 4:33 am

Lobodzinski and Wawrzyniak have been sent home
http://www.90minut.pl/news/93/news939822-Lobodzinski-opusci-zgrupowanie-kadry.html

Posted from Canada

By a | June 6th, 2009 at 11:23 am

Let the excuses begin…

By zaraza | June 6th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

I missed the game but it sounds like we were pretty bad… Not that I’m trying to excuse our players but keep in mind that they’re unaccustomed to playing at high altitude, that could have hampered their performance.

Posted from Canada

By zaraza | June 6th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

Also keep in mind that no one expected the new players who we tested out today to play a major role for the NT. Who seriously had high hopes for Wilk, Komorowski, and Rzezniczak?!

Now, if Obraniak, Piszczek, Malecki, Grosicki and Glik disappoint against Greece, then yes, we might have some reason to panic. But at this point no, we didn’t have our players, we didn’t have our best youth, and we were playing in difficult circumstances (high altitude) so let’s not blow this loss out of proportion.

Posted from Canada

By msudzi | June 6th, 2009 at 3:37 pm

Saganowski should not start or play more than 15 minutes at this level. He is good when we have the lead and he holds the ball well. He should not be playing with guys like Jelen and the otherforwards are much better. This guy did not see the field for a team that got regulated from the Premer league. You seen what he did in Austria nothing did he.

Posted from United States

By Alek | June 6th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

Actually Saganowski had an assist in Austria, and he had what was probably our best shot on goal against Germany. But ya, I agree he is almost totally useless.

By robski | June 6th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

I only watched the last 20 mins of the game and I was stunned, we were doing nothing. There are no excuses, it might have been our reserve squad and what not but a country of 40 mill should not have problems like these..
Its all about our Polish league, this is why our National team is not that good. The Polish league needs some time to get to a decent stage that could have players develope quickly and better. Thats all i can say.
Cant wait for Obraniak, I want to see what he can chip in for the team ;]

By robski | June 6th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

and I forgot. This is also due to the fact that our league has been corrupt for so long that players dont actually even play anymore, they know what the score is supposed to be and just do what they are told to do. All PZPN’s fault.

By zaraza | June 6th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

Against Greece we’ll have Blaszczkowski, Jelen, Boruc, M.Lewandowski, Brozek, Boguski, and Gargula. If all goes well and he doesn’t change his mind, Obraniak will take over on the LW. Jodlowiec will probably be tested at CB and Piszczek should be tested at RB, he played the last 6 games for Hertha in that position and did a reasonable job.

Leo will probably also give a chance to Malecki, Grosicki and Glik. I doubt Leo will continue to call up Wilk, Tralka, Komorowski and Rzezniczak. We have better prospects.

So all in all, I think the comments on other places are overly dramatic. Our line-up against Greece will probably be very different than in South Africa.

Posted from Canada

By a | June 6th, 2009 at 7:27 pm

They can make all the excuses they want but I guess it all comes down to the carrot in the stick. I know it sounds a little crazy, you would think that a footballer would not have a problem with heart or desire to win when playing for their country. But its human nature to be motivated by money, it is that added incentive for them to work harder in practice or in games. Footballers talk about heart or pride only when they win. If any of the players that played against RoI or South Afrika said they had heart or the desire to win at all cost they would be blowing smoke up yer ass.

There is something seriously wrong behind the scenes with our team. I tried watching the game today and had enough like 20 minutes in. The lack of creativity, the lack of hustle to get back and defend, and safe passes to the closes teammate only shows that this team has no one to take charge and be a leader. Are they all expecting Roger to do everything? The world cup qualifiers have been very similar to the Euros. What is the problem? Stage fright? Lack of confidence? Or are they giving too much credit to the opposition. Maybe its that they are overlooking teams and face a harsh slap in the face once the game starts. Anyways, its is very hard to stay optimistic about this group of players.

By adas | June 6th, 2009 at 9:48 pm

Didn’t get to see the game. Sounds like a team was thrown together at the last second with all the regulars out. The focus should be on World Cup Qualifiers, as these matches are more about Confederation Cup warm ups for Iraq and South Africa. Slovakia now have a five point edge on Poland, and Northern Ireland are only three up with seven games played. Poland needs to build something in their next Qualifier to put the pressure on Northern Ireland. Slovakia may be out of reach, depending on what happens. Fortunately, Northern Ireland and Slovakia will play eachother before Poland has that important rematch with Slovakia. But if they continue to drop points, World Cup 2010 is going to be a somber one for me.

By Witold | June 6th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

@Zarasa … “Obraniak is far and away a better player than Krzynowek and Smolarek” … How could you compare Obraniak with Smolarek, did you see Obraniak playing? (I saw him in a couple matchs, and he is good but not dominant)Do you compare Spanish and English league with the French League? Do you know that actually Smolarek is among the top scorers in the Worldcup qualifications? I’m also very happy to have Obraniak in our team,but I don’t think that is actually as good as you think (or I don’t think that Smolarek is as bad as you think, don’t put him too much pressure.

By Nick | June 6th, 2009 at 10:08 pm

@zaraza – I think Tralka actually played some pretty reasonable football. He was good with his first touch, made fine, accurate passes, and other than one or two times he kept running around poking for opportunities.

That being said… maybe it’s time to stop starting Roger. I mean, is there a more two-faced player on the entire squad? You never know which Roger will show up: the creative Brazilian, or the lazy, lackluster player who hasn’t had a good season in Legia. If players don’t perform, maybe Leo should still keep calling them up, but instead give another guy the chance to start the game. And let’s wait before we hail Obraniak as our savior. He started the Ligue 1 season on fire, but cooled off in the second half.

Posted from United States

By chester | June 6th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

I agree with you wiltold. Smolarek is by far one of our best footballers. Just had a rough two years, but every player has some rough times. But he was our leading scorer in qualifiers for 2008. He is also the current leading scorer for 2010. Kid has talent infront of the goal and he can take out play weaker opponents with his technical skills which are 2nd to Kuba’s. Now with Orbaniak coming in idk where Smolarek will fit into the line up. Maybe as an 2nd striker/attacking midfielder or maybe Orbaniak can take over the attacking midfield position so Ebi can play on the wing. Because right now im not confident in Rogers ability from what i saw i was disgusted i think he might have had more inaccurate passes than accurate ones. Seemed like every time he had the ball he lost. So what he can make one or two good passes a game still isnt good enough for me. And today Tralka, Komorowski, and Wilk all proved that they arent good enough once and for all. At least Zaluska proved that he is a quality goal keeper and Rzezniciak proved that he has a future as our RB.

By Peter | June 6th, 2009 at 11:35 pm

A rough two years for a footballer is a life time.

Smolarek is top three, I think, among scorers in European qualification but that isnt saying much considering most of his goals came against San marino.

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