13 Jun 2012

EN / Early take on Poland's Euro campaign

I spoke to EuroTwentyTwelve blog ahead of Poland-Russia match last night to discuss the Greece match and what could have been expected in a Tuesday match against arch-rivals. I got it right with some points, eventually... ;) 

Smuda got it 'wrong' against Greece

Poland got off to a blistering start against Greece in the opening match of the tournament but reversed all their good work in the second-half. One Polish journalist believes the coach, Franciszek Smuda, got his tactics wrong and doesn’t believe Poland will be able to beat Russia when they meet them later today.

The host nation face Group A leaders, Russia in the National Stadium in Warsaw at 1945 (BST).

Poland looked impressive in the first-half against Greece, going into the lead early on with Robert Lewandowski, and having a man advantage after Sokratis was shown a straight red.

However, the game was one of two halves as Greece were able to peg a goal back and the Poles saw their keeper Szczesny shown the game’s second red.
Poland have “no plan B”

Poland had been largely dominant in the first-half and could have been even more in the lead had they finished off the chances they had created. But the Greek revival in the second-half proved to be too much for them and they were fortunate not to have lost the match altogether, with Greece’s captain, Kotsas Karagounis seeing his penalty saved, by stand-in keeper Tyton.

Speaking to EuroTwentyTwelve Polish journalist, Robert Blaszczak said the match was an “exciting one for neutrals but a frustrating one for Poles. Poland were all over Greece in the first half but lacked a plan in the final third and ability to finish off the game inside the first 30 minutes... Ironically, [Greece’s] unfair red card helped them as they had to play tighter at the back.

Blaszczak added “[the match] could have been a surprise for those watching Smuda’s Poland for the first time but those following all their matches have been anticipating that the side does not have a Plan B. There is absolutely none – quite shocking, considering [the] three years he had to build the squad.

Blaszczak argues that the reason for why Poland imploded in the second half was down to the manager not making any substitutions, apart from the forced goalkeeper change. “Smuda claims that he didn’t want to change a system that worked well... Quite baffling... [The] Poles were told to be happy with the result as it could have been worse. It’s like dropping a bottle on the desert, losing most of it and being happy that few drops of water are left.
“Great missed opportunity”​

According to Blaszczak, the match was a “great missed opportunity” because even though Poland were lucky to come away with a point in the end, it could affect their minimum expectations to at least qualify from the group stage. “I expect nothing positive from the Russia match and there is a glimpse of hope when Poland meet the Czech Republic. They will look back in the future and regret it greatly” he said.

The Polish coach, Franciszek Smuda, said to reporters after the match that the players “were paralysed by pressure” and that is why they allowed the Greeks back into the game. However, Blaszczak does not agree with this statement “at all… Smuda is not a great media person in the first place and his quotes should be taken with a great caution – he tends to open his mouth before thinking what he actually wants to say.

In the first half the players were all but paralysed. Boenich might have looked ‘paralysed by pressure’ but he just lacked [match] fitness. Other players were flying all over the pitch. The Dortmund trio were unplayable at times. [However] what the players needed in the second half was some freshness and new blood. There are some dynamic players on the bench that could have torn the Greek defence apart with pace and movements.

Polish goalscorer and Manchester United target Robert Lewandowski has received rave reviews for his performances in the Bundesliga, but Blaszczak is as yet unconvinced about him “I don’t rate him as highly as some foreign or Polish pundits might have. He is a quality player but there is plenty of room for improvement.
“I’m anticipating highest win of Euro 2012… for Russia”​

Blaszczak said that Poland won’t feel as intimidated by Russia’s superb performance against the Czechs, where they beat them 4-1. Instead he argues “Poland can be intimidated more by the history behind the two... strange as it may sound for a foreigner, there is a huge burden of the past that the players are aware to represent when they face Russia on Tuesday.
Smuda will be missing Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in goal after his red card against the Greeks. However, Blaszczak does not believe that his presence would have made much of a difference had he been available “Once the Russian strike charges through the defence, even the most heroic of goalkeeping performances will not stop them.
Blaszczak doesn’t think that there are many options to make any major tactical changes but believes that Dariusz Dudka should step in as a defensive midfielder and Boenish should be replaced by Jakub Wawrzyniak: “[he] is not as good as Boenish but at least he has some pace [so can] add some wind to the Polish attacks.
In terms of predictions for tonight’s match, Blaszczak is concerned about Poland’s “slow and high” defensive line and prefers to be a realist rather than an optimist stating “I would love to be wrong but given what I have seen in the first matches… I am anticipating the highest win of Euro 2012. If Poland concede early, the floodgates will be open.

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