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Poland
Squad Watch: Week 11. Sebastian Boenish Will Play For Poland For 99%…
Comments(35)…at least according to Franz Smuda. The new Polish national coach visited Bremen at the weekend to talk to Boenish’s parents and the player himself. Smuda was very positive after both meetings and remains optimistic about Werder’s defender involvement in the Bialo Czerwoni team. Boenish himself, however, remains a bit more distanced.
Goalkeepers:
Artur Boruc (Celtic Glasgow)- not in the squad against Falkirk, injury
Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal London)- not in the squad against Tottenham, injury
Tomasz Kuszczak (ManUtd)- on the bench against Chelsea
Sebastian Przyrowski (Polonia Warsaw)- 90 minutes against Cracovia, note 5
Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal London)- not in the squad against Wolverhampton
Lukasz Zaluska (Celtic Glasgow)- 90 minutes against Falkirk
Defenders:
Blazej Augustyn (Catania)- 49 minutes against Napoli
Piotr Brozek (Wisla Krakow)- 90 minutes against Legia, note 5
Dariusz Dudka (AJ Auxerre)- on the bench against Le Mans
Seweryn Gancarczyk (Lech Poznan)- not in the squad against Polonia B., yellow card ban
Kamil Glik (Pisat Gliwice)- 90 minutes against Slask, note 5
Arkadiusz Glowacki (Wisla Krakow)- not in the squad against Legia, injury
Pawel Golanski (Steaua Bucharest)- match today
Tomasz Jodlowiec (Polonia Warsaw)- not in the squad against Cracovia, injury
Adam Kokoszka (Empoli F.C.)- 90 minutes against Reggina
Marcin Kowalczyk (Dinamo Moscow)- 45 minutes against Spartak Nalcik
Jakub Rzezniczak (Legia Warsaw)- 90 minutes against Wisla, note 7
Maciej Sadlok (Ruch Chorzow)- 90 minutes against Jagiellonia, note 6
Michal Zewlakow (Olympiakos Pireus)- 90 minutes against Iraklis
Midfielders:
Tomasz Bandrowski (Lech Poznan)- 90 minutes against Polonia B., note 6
Rafal Boguski (Wisla Krakow)- not in the squad against Legia
Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund)- 88 minutes against Werder
Janusz Gancarczyk (Slask Wroclaw)- 90 minutes against Piast, note 5
Roger Guerreiro (AEK Athens)- match today
Maciej Iwanski (Legia Warsaw)- 90 minutes against Wisla, note 6
Kamil Kosowski (APOEL Nicosia)- match today, won’t play due to minor injury
Jacek Krzynowek (Hannover 96)- on the bench against HSV
Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk)- match postponed
Wojciech Lobodzinski (Wisla Krakow)- 62 minutes against Legia, note 5
Radoslaw Majewski (Nottingham Forest)- 57 minutes against Bristol City
Patryk Malecki (Wisla Krakow)- 79 minutes against Legia, note 5
Rafal Murawski (Rubin Kazan)- not in the squad against CSKA, injury
Ludovic Obraniak (Lille)- on the bench against Bordeaux
Sławomir Peszko (Lech Poznan)-not in the squad against Polonia B., yellow card ban
Lukasz Piszczek (Hertha Berlin)- 83 minutes against FC Koeln
Bartosz Salamon (Brescia)- not in the squad against Triestina
Jakub Wilk (Lech Poznan)- 82 minutes and an assist against Polonia B., note 7
Attackers:
Pawel Brozek (Wisla Krakow)- 90 minutes against Legia, note 5
Kamil Grosicki (Jagiellonia)- 90 minutes and two assists against Ruch, note 6
Dawid Janczyk (Lokeren)- 11 minutes against Kortrijk
Michal Janota (Excelsior Rotterdam)- 1 minute against Cambuur
Ireneusz Jelen (AJ Auxerre)- 90 minutes against Le Mans
Robert Lewandowski (Lech Poznan)- 90 minutes and a goal against Polonia B., note 7
Dawid Nowak (GKS Belchatow)- 34 minutes and a goal against Arka
Grzegorz Rasiak (Reading)- 61 minutes against Ipswich
Ebi Smolarek (no club)- season not yet started
Artur Wichniarek (Hertha Berlin)- 90 minutes against FC Koeln
Maciej Zurawski (Omonia Nicosia)- 14 minutes against Enosis
Summary: First of all, a big thumbs up for Smuda for at least trying to convince Boenish to play for us. That’s what the national team manager should do, travel around Europe and watch all the possible candidates, that is any players that can strengthen the team before Euro 2012. Smuda visited Bremen to watch Boenish and Kuba Blaszczykowski even though he had a league game in Poland on Thursday, attended the Wisla-Legia match on Friday and had to prepare for the training camp that starts today. It’s easily observable from the first day that Smuda is full of energy and enthusiasm for his new job; something that even people usually critical of him always admit. That is what Leo Beenhakker lacked in his dying months as the Polish manager, he hasn’t even once visited Ludovic Obraniak, not to mention Boenish or Robert Acquafresca. As the latter goes, there is still a small possibility that he’ll decide to play for his mother’s homeland. I read reports that Marek Kozminski (our only established Serie A player in the last ten years) is going to try to persuade the young Italian to choose the pierogis over pasta (who wouldn’t?). At last something is going on, I hope that Damien Perquis and Laurent Koscielny are next on Smuda’s list.
Even though Smuda remains extremely positive (the meeting with Boenish’s parents was very successful due to both sides’ Silesian background), I’m not surprised that the player is more reluctant. After all, he was a member of a number of German youth teams and has already rejected our advances some time ago. As far as I remember there’s even a video online where he claims that die National Manshaft is the only possible choice for him. There is no doubt that he feels more German than Polish. Times are changing though, till this day Boenish has failed to make an official appearance for Germany. Playing for Poland may be his big chance to establish himself on the international stage. On the other hand, the left back position is problematic for a lot of national teams and I’m sure that sooner or later Sebastian would be given his first cap by Joachim Loew. The question is, does he prefer to be a Polish regular or a German backup player. This is the problem that the player will have to solve himself, he promised to do that before the end of the year.
One last controversy surrounding Boenish is how he’ll be welcomed by the Polish fans. I’m sure that his previous statements about playing for Germany will quickly make the tabloid headlines if the player chooses us. He would have to state clearly that from now on there is only place for the Polish national team in his heart. The longer he’ll wait with his decision, play cat and mouse with Smuda, the colder welcome he’ll receive from the fans. Personally, I too have mixed feelings about Boenish’s inclusion. First of all, he’s not exactly the world class player of Klose or Podolski status (if he was we probably wouldn’t have any chances of obtaining him). I saw him playing a few times and he definitely wasn’t the most impressive player on the field. His earlier comments about playing for Germany also make it hard for me to like the guy. On the other hand, we haven’t exactly got a large amount of quality players to choose from as far as the left back position is concerned. I think it’s fair to say that a Bundesliga regular may easily guarantee a higher level of performance than Seweryn Gancarczyk or Piotr Brozek. The other thing is that Boenish will surely develop as a player and he may be a lot better in three years time. I think he’d just have to convince me with his performance on the pitch.
I wanted to write a more in depth analysis of the Wisla-Legia game, but honestly it was a very boring game and there isn’t much to talk about. Most commentators claim that this game was the embodiment of the low level of the Ekstraklasa as our two best teams failed to excite even the most faithful of fans. Thrills were rare, no player grabbed the headlines, the national team remains the only place where the Ekstraklasa players can learn how to play under pressure or make quick decisions. I quickly forgot the Polish classic after watching Barcelona-Mallorca, Atalanta-Juventus and the Madrid derby on Saturday.
In other news, there are strong speculations that Tomasz Jodlowiec will join Lech Poznan in the winter transfer window. The player has got an awful second part of the year; Polonia Warsaw are one of the poorest teams in the league and he himself got injured lately. That’s why Lech may not pay as much money now as they would have had last summer. Jodlowiec doesn’t want to leave the Ekstraklasa (he’s scared of being homesick) and will do anything to join Kolejorz in winter. Other two players that may move in the upcoming transfer window are Dawid Janczyk and Ludovic Obraniak. The former is about to return to CSKA Moscow after his loan spell at Lokeren comes to a end. The former Russian champions have got a new coach and he wants to have all the contracted players at his disposal. Janczyk himself claims that he’s sure about his return to Moscow and that he’ll fight hard for the place in CSKA’s lineup. I think that explains why he’s not playing much at Lokeren lately, they just know that they won’t be able to count on him in the reminder of the season. As for Obraniak, it’s become a habit for him to spend the Ligue 1 games on the bench lately (he plays in the Euro Cup though). The player still rejects to sign a new contract with Lille which brought all the problems on his shoulders. I think it’s clear that the best solution for both sides is to part company in winter.
Pawel Brozek won’t be available for the games against Romania and Canada due to a minor injury. Kamil Kosowski’s presence on the training camp was also threatened as APOEL’s coach didn’t want to let Kosiarka fly to Poland. I read today, however, that Kosowski is travelling to Poland as previously planned.
Highlights: Robert Lewandowski’s goal is the only highlight
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 35 comments.
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I think it’s about equal actually when it comes to cuisine. Poland has much better breakfasts (kielbasa!) but Italy has the godly pizza…. Though choice.
Posted from 
Netherlands
All this talk about food has made me hungry..
If the “pizza” itself is basically Polish and we
just sprinkle a little “pepperoni” like roger and
a little extra “cheese” like a Boenisch..its still
a “Polish Pizza” 
Smacznego!
Posted from 
Canada
Stupidest rumor evah: Jelen to Juventus
Posted from Netherlands
You guys are delusional. You all are ripping on the German national team when most of their guys have legit German links. Most of the team (except one) would have German citizenship had it not been for soccer. Can you say the same about our team?
I was born in Poland and was raised in the USA. I have dual citizenship. I could easily choose to play for either country and it would be completely kosher in each case. However if I decided to play for Ukraine (my grandfather is Ukrainian) that would be ludicrous as I have a)never been there b)know next to nothing about true Ukrainian culture. That is what Obraniak did.
Good for you, Peter.
Posted from Netherlands
Peter, don’t act as if we all agree with naturalizing players that probably never heard of Poland or would have trouble locating Poland on a map. Don’t generalize. However, as far a Roger goes, look around, everybody gets one (Brazilian). As for the other guys like Obraniak, its no big deal if these guys see a future with a country they have connections with. So before you start comparing what the German national team consists of, I think you’re losing sight off the fact that its about winning. The German team started letting foreign players represent them because they choose to focus on the positives. If you’re gonna tell me that what Poland is doing is wrong then you’re a hypocrite. You were born in America? Well look at any sport that America represents on the global stage. All of them are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants.
What are legit German links? How was Obraniak’s case not legit? Is it maybe because once you move to Germany you are pretty much forced to adapt to their language and culture. At the same time, even thinking of your home nation is frowned upon.
@ Peter
You said only one player is now “German” because of football. The whole reason why Podolski and Klose grew up in Germany was for football. Maybe not to represent the German NT, but to develop as good players. Personally, I’m not sure where I stand on the issue of Perquis and Koscielny, among others, but there is no argument against Obraniak, he has spoken of his grandfather and the love he had for his homeland. Obraniak said he was proud to reestablish the Polish roots that he certainly does have. And yah, we can rip the German NT, they have been naturalizing players for years before us, don’t even compare what we’re doing now. I’m not saying it’s a good or bad thing, but if anyone is a joke in international soccer for naturalizing players it is not us. The only point you could make is how we are doing it out of some desperation now and we are actively pursuing players, but hey if the guy has Polish in him and would like to play and can assimilate good for him.
Posted from 
United States
peter- do you know man utd player-owen hargraves? born of british parents,most his life spend in canada but plays for england,moved to uk after man utd deal.How about f.kanute?. People are different and not all of us perceive our roots in the same way.Very important is family and how you were broad up.For some of us more important what heart will say not head.Lets be honest…they get money and fame in clubs. If one of that boys will bring victories…well im happy with that.Obraniak,podolski,klose,Koscielny at least thay have got polish ties.
Nie wazne gdzie jestes,wazne kim jestes!
Posted from 
United Kingdom
You tell him Pawel!
Listen. If Podolski or Klose played on Poland it would be no big deal, I think they have legit ties to both countries same as Hargraves. The problem is when people like Obraniak and Roger start picking essentially random countries to represent. That NT then become a joke.
Some of you have the blinders on and thats fine but the Polish NT is slowly becoming a joke.
Peter, I have been doing Capoeira for about 6 years now, I started when I lived in England before I moved to Poland (I did what you said Obraniak would’nt have done by the way). When I was there we had a demonstration and instructors from all over europe came, the majority of the Brazilians taught and lived in Poland, when I mentioned to one of them that I was Polish he told me that his body is Brazilian but his soul was Polish, he obtained a polish passport because he loved Poland like many others like him, see people feel a love towards Poland because of what it represents and not what it can give them like these people in who settle in Germany sponging off of welfare. Shit my parents lived in Germany for 3 years and they said that the people Germans hate more than anyone else are Turks, but about half your league is made up of Turks and even manyon the NT, the rest as is Pointed out by just about everyone else here are poached from other countries, face it. Just look at the surnames and then argue with us, Everyone in our team has a Polish name other than Roger. If we do get Boesnich then him and aquafrasia then him too…. which makes how many??? I’ll wait whilst you get a calculator, Ok the answer is 3, cant wait too long for you to add them up. Ok so 1 player possibly 3 players in our NT with foreign surnames, how many in the German team have Foreign surnames???? at least 50% Shit the biggest star in Germany football, the glory boy is a Polak. Cant believe I just wasted 10 mins of my life tryin to educate pond life
Posted from 
Greece
^I wouldn’t even bother with him, Peter seems to be a troll. He only says stuff to wind up the users here. Though your story was interesting to read 
Posted from Netherlands
why you saying that poland its a random country for obraniak? for roger yes…i think it was a mistake,we have got few youngsters in the middle who can play well- majewski(nothingam forrest) Obraniak was born and raised in france but he must have some warm feeling about country of his grandad.
Poland is not as multicultural as western europe,so foreign players in NT are still something strange but look around,the best example-france ,how many french,french,FRENCH players plays there?
Important-if england or germany had a opportunity to get kaka or ronaldo in their squad they would and nobody would even ask,how much of englishman is ronaldo.They look at the results and 10-20 years later no one will remember that obraniak was born in france but they will remember poland winning euro cup 2012
Posted from United Kingdom
Why do you bother putting Zurawski on this list? He isn’t coming back nor does anyone want him to.
Peter – My point in showing you the list of the “German” players was to show you that Germans were not a pure Arian race you made out their NT to be. For you to call what Poland did with Roger a joke, the Germans did the same thing with Claudemir Barretto (how come you never mention him).
If Poland was a rich country like Germany Klose, Podolski, Trochowski would be playing for the Polish NT. It is all about providing for your family.
Poland is a country that has a history of emigration to foreign lands for “bread”. There are at least 10 million Polish people outside of Poland and most of them have a close connection to their motherland and teach that to their children & grandchildren. If one of them in the future wants to represent their father’s or grandfather’s country I am all for it.
No one begged Obraniak to play fro Poland, the idea first came from him & he had to come up with the paperwork to prove his grandfathers origins, the Polish scout in France (if you could call him that) helped him a little but it was after Obraniak made the first step.
Pawel – nice line -Nie wazne gdzie jestes,wazne kim jestes!
Posted from United States
sad news guys I know it’s kinda unrelated but Jacek Krzynowek’s teammate and goalkeeper at Hannover 96, Robert Enke, apparently killed himself today in Germany. Reports are that he threw himself under a train. He was a main contender for their number one shirt, he had been going through some tough times lately he lost his 2 year old daughter in 2006 and had been fighting a bacterial infection this year. Pray for him and his family.
Posted from United States
No one is claiming that the German team is aryan. Im just saying most of their team grew up in Germany and would have been German citizens regardless of whether or not they played football (save Cacau). Their players all have first hand personal links to German culture. True or not?
Ethnicity should only be considered as a secondary classification tool on account of how diversified the world is. I don’t care if someone was born in Brazil or France, if they are truly immersed in Polish culture then that is fine. But you can’t tell me that Obraniak is. He didn’t know Pope John Paul II was polish. You guys are essentially buying something that is obviously complete bull. Obraniak couldn’t get capped with the French team (or thought he would only get capped to tie him up) that is the only reason he is playing for Poland not some sort of rediscovered pride he has suddenly felt in his Polishness. Obviously he can’t come out and say this but it is the case.
Man, that is terrible. Things like this make you realize that we are arguing about a game. Life is more important that football. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
Peter, why do you see what Poland is trying to do a problem? The squad could use all the help they can get at the moment. It takes a certain kind of commitment from a person to put of a shirt and represent a country. Footballers know what it is all about. Don’t be under the impression that one day Obraniak got up and decided he wanted to play for Poland. Roger, and other Brazilians like him, chose to represent other nations than their own because Brazil has a wealth of footballing talent and these guys adjust well to their surroundings. The time Roger spent in Poland he was a Polish citizen, and still is. So for guys like Obraniak, it gives them a chance to reconnect with their heritage. Who knows had the French national team called Obraniak up then this would not be an issue. With the current state of our national team we are more than happy to welcome guys that are not needed from strong footballing nations.
If you’re going to have a problem with what Poland is doing then how come you don’t have a problem with France, Holland, Spain? Or pretty much any country that had colonies, mostly in Africa.
I don’t have any problems with what the German national team does. They, like America, are fortunate to have a strong economies. They reap the benefits of immigrants that go there. What is wrong with that?
You guys won’t have to worry because Smuda came out and said that he is against naturalizing players. He even questioned calling up Roger. I guess he meant guys like Marcelo or Arboleda. I don’t know what that could mean for Koscielny, Perquis, Timothee Kolodziejczak, or even Filipe Luis Kasmirski. Then again, wait a few more years and we will see more kids that were born is Poland that went through the German youth system. We will keep seeing this until the PZPN seriously invest in our youth system and some proper coaching coaching.
So Peter, if Roger and Obraniak went on to score like a hundred goals for Poland, qualifying us for the World Cup, and led us to a World Championship in South Africa, would you still be upset about this? Would you be happy or still upset because there are foreign born players that appear to have no Polish connection culturally? I’m just confused if you think the team is a joke because we’re bringing in foreign players who aren’t hepling or if you’re just ticked off that there are foreign players in general. Because, if that’s the case then you have to just accept it. Until FIFA changes the rules this is going to become part of the game.
Peter wtf?, The German team is a fair representation of its immigration. Look at the french team, it reflects its own population. The only controversial thing about foreign players for national sides is when they are 1st or even 2nd generation e.g. Podolski. It then goes down to how you have been brought up, which culture. Tension occurs when a player who both his parents are Polish, was born in Poland chooses to play for Germany! That surely means he chose the success with Germany over his heritage. His Grandma was rightfully dissappointed!
Roger spent a hell of a lot of his life in Poland and Obraniak has Polish roots. And through my own experience having Polish roots is a powerful thing. I’m half Polish and born in England but culturally I feel so close to Poland. Azerbaijan at one point had 5 Brazilian players!!! didn’t seem to help them that much!
Posted from United Kingdom
Stop feeding the troll.
Posted from Netherlands
Smuda said no to players like roger or olisadebe but sai YES to players with polish background,that why he went to germany to talk with boenish.
Posted from United Kingdom
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“but pasta trumps most other polish cuisine imo”
IMO its the other way around.
Posted from
Canada