EURO 2024 Team Guide - Group D - Poland
Can a Poland side that have been far from reassuring defy the odds and achieve a miracle qualification from a difficult group? Jakub Drożdż discusses...
Country:
Poland
FIFA World Ranking:
28
Qualification Record:
3rd Place Playoffs
W3, D2, L3 W1, D1, L0
Goals For – 10 Goals For: 5
Goals Against – 10 Goals Against: 1
Group:
Group D
Highest Ever Euros Finish:
Quarterfinals
Previous Euros Appearances:
4
Top International Goal Scorer (in Squad):
Robert Lewandowski (82)
Squad:
Preliminary Squad:
Goalkeepers: Marcin Bułka (Nice), Łukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus ), Oliwier Zych (Puszcza Niepołomice)
Defenders: Jan Bednarek (Southampton), Bartosz Bereszyński (Empoli), Paweł Bochniewicz (Heerenveen), Paweł Dawidowicz (Hellas Verona), Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal), Tymoteusz Puchacz (Kaiserslautern), Bartosz Salamon (Lech Poznań), Sebastian Walukiewicz (Empoli)
Midfielders: Przemysław Frankowski (Lens), Kamil Grosicki (Pogoń Szczecin), Jakub Moder (Brighton & Hove Albion FC), Jakub Piotrowski (Łudogorec Razgrad), Taras Romanczuk (Jagiellonia Białystok), Bartosz Slisz (Atlanta United), Damian Szymański (AEK), Sebastian Szymański (Fenerbahçea), Michał Skóraś (Club Brugge ), Kacper Urbański (Bologna), Nicola Zalewski (AS Roma), Piotr Zieliński (Napoli).
Forwards: Adam Buksa (Antalyaspor), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus), Krzysztof Piątek (İstanbul Başakşehir), Karol Świderski (Hellas Verona)
The Gaffer:
Michał Probierz (Appointed: September 2023)
Gaffer Bio:
Probierz started his professional career in the early 1990s making his debut for Ruch Chorzów in Ekstraklasa at that time.
After couple of seasons in the team he moved to Germany, where he played for Bayer Uerdingen and SG Wattenscheid. After that he returned to Poland to join Górnik Zabrze in 1997. Here he made a name for himself and become really decent league player.
In the meantime he represented Poland at U-19, U-21 and B levels.
At the end of his playing time he had a short spells at Pogoń Szczecin and Widzew Łódź, retiring in 2005.
During his time in Germany he started his coaching career being in charge of youth teams of SG Wattenscheid. The same role he took over in Górnik Zabrze, where he was finally promoted to the player-assistant coach between 2003 and 2004.
In 2005 he took over Polonia Bytom at only 33. His first job ended in successful play off win that guaranteed safe place in the second tier.
In 2006 he joined Widzew Łódź and it was his first job in Ekstraklasa (Poland's top flight).
Then he returned to Polonia Bytom for one season after which he joined Jagiellonia Białystok where he won his first silverware – Polish Cup and Polish Super Cup.
He then shortly worked for ŁKS Łódź and Aris in Greece. After quitting his job in Greece (due to club's financial problems) he managed Wisła Kraków, GKS Bełchatów and Lechia Gdańsk but without much success.
In 2017 he returned to Jagiellonia Białystok where he finished 3rd in 2014/2015 and 2nd in 2016/2017. He was also voted the Coach of the Season there.
He then took over at Cracovia Kraków winning his second Polish Cup and Polish Super Cup. After his contract was terminated (by mutual consent) he joined Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieczecza. He resigned after... 2 days, blaming club's disorganisation and lack of professionalism.
After 6-month sabbatical he was nominated Poland U21s coach. His record of 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats let him became Poland Senior team head coach. He was granted the job after turbulent period of Fernando Santos' reigns.
He made his debut on October 12th 2023 against Faroe Islands (2-0) and has never lost since then taking Poland team to the Euro in Germany after penalty shootout thriller in Cardiff.
Who Could Do with Him?
There was a lot of mess in Poland's top clubs that last season so Probierz could have definitely been utilised at Lech Poznań or Raków Częstochowa – who have been struggling most of the campaign. At both placed he could achieve as much as the clubs did with some degree of certainity that he would do much better.
Formation / Style of Play:
3-5-2 / 3-4-3
Since taking over in September Michał Probiesz prefers using 3-5-2 formation with solid back three including Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior and Paweł Dawidowicz most recently .
There is a big focus on the wings with Przemysław Frankowski and Nicola Zalewski playing crucial parts on both sides. Central zone generally consists of two more defensvie-minded midfielders and an offensive Piotr Zieliński.
Robert Lewandowski most often plays alongside Karol Świderski upfront with the latter playing important hard-worker role helping Lewandowski what he can do best – scoring goals.
Strengths:
Defense, despite a lot of criticism, is a solid block with most probably three defenders in it: Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior and Paweł Dawidowicz. Probierz's side conceded only three goals during his reign and there is much hope that a strong back three can help deny any strong opponent during the Euros.
There has been a big boost of confidence after successful play offs. With this huge kick of optimsm the morale has been lifted and immediately the atmoshere around the team improved considerably – making it in my opinion huge positive factor for the team.
Weaknesses:
Strikers that don’t score. Robert Lewandowski, the world class striker, is not the same person in the national team as he is at club level. He scored only three times this international season (two of the goals came in a victory over quite poor Faroe Islanders). Only two other strikers – Karol Świderski and Adam Buksa – scored, each once.
To add insult to injury, the overall form of the team during the qualifiers was a distater. Not only were the results catastrophic but the quality of play made many fans turned their back on the team. Even euphoric win against Wales in the play offs did not convince many – stlye-of-play-wise.
Player to Watch:
Robert Lewandowski -
Still, Robert is the one, all eyes will be on. His recent form in Barcelona and improved atmpshere inside the national team can do wonders, hopefully. If he receives proper service he will be the driving force of the national team again. At his fourth Euros (and 11 matches) he is looking forward to scoring his 6th and furher goals.
One for the Future:
Kacper Urbański –
The 19-year-old Bologna midfielder is something of a surprise choice in the preliminary squad, with his Euros call up marking his first ever call up to the senior side. But his decent form and regular appearances in Champions League-bound Bologna in Italian Serie A made a great impression on the head coach and the pundits.
Promising playmaker will have a chance to impress even more during the pre-Euro friendlies against Ukraine and Turkey.
Unlucky to Miss Out:
Matty Cash –
There is some controversy in the decision to skip the Aston Villa defender. Official statement says he is injured, the player himself admits he can play anytime. Regardless of the reason, Cash will be missed in the national team right-hand side. Although he did not seem Probierz's favourite he could add a great value to the squad.
He was great in the Premier League season, contributing to Aston Villa success and Champions League qualification.
Likely Line Up:
Szczęsny; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kwior; Frankowski, Slisz, S. Szymanski, Zalewski, Zieliński; Lewandowski, Świderski.
Fixtures:
Matchday 1 – Poland vs Netherlands – 16th June
Matchday 2 – Poland vs Austria – 21th June
Matchday 3 – France vs Poland – 25rd June
Verdict:
After shockingly traumatic qualifications and taking into consideration the fact that in Germany Poland ended up in the “group of death” including France, Netherlands and Austria there is no much hope for a significant success.
If Poland advances to the Round of 16 it will be percived as some kind of a miracle. A draw against the strong Dutch side and a narrow win versus decent Austrians are going to be welcomed with open arms. And then the last group match against the favourites will not really matter. Personally, I do not see it coming and most probably Poland will sit bottom of Group D.
Jakub Drożdż (@P_F_Almanac)