AT A GLANCE: Poland
by FOXSports.com
2002 Qualification: Won UEFA ?Group 5?
Appearing in 6th World Cup Finals: (1938, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986)
Best World Cup Performance: 3rd (1974, 1982)
Overall World Cup Record: 13-7-5
Major Honors: none
Manager: Jerzy Engel (POL)
Stars: Emanuel Olisadebe (F, Panathinaikos); Jerzy Dudek (G, Liverpool)
Group D Opponents: Portugal, South Korea, United States
Approx Odds to Win World Cup: 75-1
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
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G Jerzy Dudek, Liverpool (ENG)
D Tomasz Hajto, Schalke (GER)
D Tomasz Waldoch, Schalke (GER)
D Tomasz Klos, Kaiserslautern (GER)
D Michal Zewkalow, Moeskroen (BEL)
M Radoslav Kaluzny, Cottbus (GER)
M Piotr Swierczewski, Marseille (FRA)
M Bartosz Karwan, Legia Warsaw (POL)
M Marek Kozminski, Brescia (ITA)
F Pawel Kryszalowicz, Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
F Emanuel Olisedebe, Panathinaikos (GRE)
OPTIMISTIC POLES READY TO STEAL THE LIMELIGHT AGAIN
Throughout the late 1970?s and early 1980?s Poland had a squad of players that were some of the finest in Europe. When their days were over, they left a void that has not been filled until now, as Poland have qualified for their first major championships since Mexico ?86.
Fate was also a lot kinder to the Poles this time around. They were in a qualifying group with the Ukraine, Norway, Wales, Belarus and Armenia, none of the traditional European powers.
Even so, coach Jerzy Engel was getting skewered by the national media, and it seemed that he was only a bad result away from losing his job. His main problem was that his team was not scoring enough goals.
To help that situation, Zbigniew Boniek, Poland?s greatest ever player, recommended the granting of Polish citizenship to a certain Emmanuel Olisadebe, a young Nigerian striker who had impressed for Polonia Warsaw.
Citizenship was granted and the move proved to be a masterstroke. Olisadebe scored twice in the opening qualifying match in Kiev, giving the Poles a superb 3-1 victory over the Ukraine. It was a flying start and they never looked back.
?Oli? scored six more times in qualifying as the team grabbed crucial away victories in Norway and Wales, and then thrashed Norway 3-0 in Chorzow.
With two matches to spare Poland had secured automatic qualification to the World Cup. Engel?s fortunes had come full circle and he was now a national hero.
Having revived Polish fortunes with his eight qualifying goals, Olisadebe goes to the World Cup as the nation?s bright hope. He is currently on loan to Panathinaikos in the Greek league.
In goal for Poland, and often outstanding in qualification, is Jerzy Dudek. The Liverpool man had proven himself as one of the best in the English game, and will be among the best goalkeepers on display this summer.
Poland?s defence is a tight-knit unit, with experienced centre-halves Tomasz Hajto and Tomasz Waldoch, who both play for Schalke in Germany, and Tomasz Klos at right back playing for Kaiserslauten. Attack-minded left-back Michal Zewlakow played in all ten qualifying matches.
In midfield, Radoslaw Kaluzny, who also plays in Germany with Energie Cottbus, proved an unlikely source of offense in qualifying, netting five goals. Piotr Swierczewski of Marseille is looked to as the main playmaker, yet his record of just one goal in over sixty caps is a poor one.
Bartosz Karwan of Legia Warsaw is likely to play on the right, whilst Marek Kozminski, currently having an unhappy spell at Brescia, should play down the left.
Pawel Kryszalowicz of Eintracht Frankfurt will be the foil for Olisadebe in attack. In the event of injury or suspension to either the main back-up is Marcin Zewlakow, brother of left-back Michal, who like his twin plays at Mouscron in Belgium.
Despite the fact that Poland qualified with some amount of ease, this Polish team is a limited one. A unique team spirit, so obvious in qualifying, has been vital to the team?s progress, and will be needed again to make an impression at the finals.
As with their qualifying group, the draw for the finals has been reasonably kind to them. Poland have been drawn against Portugal, the USA and co-hosts South Korea.
Everyone fully expects Portugal to win this group comfortably, so it would seem Poland find themselves in a three-way fight for second place in the group, and advancement to the knockout stages.
Despite having only one genuine world class player in Jerzy Dudek, Poland must fancy their chances of progressing. They must like their chances against the USA, so that raises the stakes against co-hosts South Korea. Win that, and Poland will be in business.
Courtesy of our friends at World Cup Archive
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