 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Poland squad penpix for Euro 2008:
Artur Boruc (Celtic). Goalkeeper. Born 20.2.80. Caps 33. Goals 0.
The team's first-choice keeper has had an outstanding Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Acquired the "Holy Goalie" nickname for doing the cross sign before every match.
Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United). Goalkeeper. Born 20.3.82. Caps 6. Goals 0.
A reliable goalkeeper and probably one of the best substitutes for club and country. He made the headlines for all the wrong reasons though when he conceded a goal directly from a long punt by Colombia's opposite number in a World Cup 2006 warm-up game.
Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal). Goalkeeper. Born 18.4.85. Caps 8. Goals 0.
Won the Polish league title with Legia Warsaw in 2006 before his move to Arsenal. Likely to be the third-choice keeper at Euro 2008.
Jacek Bak (Austria Vienna). Defender. Born 24.3.73. Caps 93. Goals 3.
The 35-year-old centre back has a wealth of experience under his belt, having spent 10 seasons in the French Ligue 1 with Olympique Lyon and RC Lens before moving to Austria after a two-year stint with Qatar's Al Rayyan.
Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht). Defender. Born 9.6.80. Caps 26. Goals 1.
First choice right back, one of the team's key players for his all-round abilities. Wasilewski is a tough defender and a real threat with darting runs into the opposition half, scored five goals for his club this season.
Pawel Golanski (Steaua Bucharest). Defender. Born 12.10.82. Caps 9. Goals 1.
Highly-rated player at his club and has been in good form for the Romanian champions after his $1.5 million transfer from Korona Kielce.
Michal Zewlakow (Olympiakos Piraeus). Defender. Born 22.4.76. Caps 76. Goals 2.
The stalwart has impressed over the years for club and country. He won two Belgian league titles with Anderlecht before moving to Olympiakos on a free transfer, helping them to this season's Greek league and cup double.
Mariusz Jop (FK Moscow). Defender. Born 3.8.78. Caps 23. Goals 0.
A reliable central defender who scored four goals in 60 appearances for his present club after joining them in 2004. He won three league titles in four seasons with former club Wisla Krakow.
Adam Kokoszka (Wisla Krakow). Defender. Born 6.10.86. Caps 7. Goals 2.
The talented 21-year-old central defender made an immediate impact after breaking into Wisla's first team in August 2006. He made his international debut in December 2006 and scored in his next appearance for Poland in a friendly against Estonia.
Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia Warsaw). Defender. Born 7.7.83. Caps 10. Goals 0.
The tall defender has only played seven times this season for his club but since his international debut in 2006 against UAE he has impressed enough to possibly earn a place at Euro 2008.
Dariusz Dudka (Wisla Krakow). Midfielder. Born 9.12.83. Caps 25. Goals 2.
A hard-working defensive midfielder. Won the 2008 Polish league title with his club and is virtually assured of a place in the national team's Euro 2008 squad.
Lukasz Gargula (GKS Belchatow). Midfielder. Born 25.2.81. Caps 11. Goals 1.
A versatile central midfielder with good passing skills, a key player for his club where he has scored 23 goals in 138 league appearances.
Jakub Blaszczykowksi (Borussia Dortmund). Midfielder. Born 14.12.85. Caps 13. Goals 1.
Plays either as a right wing or wing-back, scored three goals in 20 league appearances for his club after joining them from Wisla Krakow in Feb. 2007. Has excellent close control and pace.
Roger Guerreiro (Legia Warsaw). Midfielder. Born 25.5.82. Caps 1. Goals 0.
The Brazilian-born left wing was granted Polish citizenship in April and coach Leo Beenhakker welcomed him with open arms. The decision, however, stirred up discontent among some fans and a former Solidarity union member returned his medal for outstanding achievements in protest at Guerreiro's call-up..
Jacek Krzynowek (VfL Wolfsburg). Midfielder. Born 15.5.76. Caps 78. Goals 14.
Playmaker has a powerful right foot and good vision, twice named Polish player of the year and known for scoring spectacular long-range goals. He has just finished his ninth season in the Bundesliga.
Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk). Midfielder. Born 18.5.79. Caps 46. Goals 3.
An excellent defensive midfielder who has won a haul of domestic honours with his club since 2001 and a key player in Poland's qualifying campaign. A lynchpin holding the team together.
Wojciech Lobodzinski (Wisla Krakow). Midfielder. Born 20.10 82. Caps 15. Goals 2.
A talented right winger who won the European under-18 Championship with his country in 2001, his pace and scoring ability are valuable assets.
Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan). Midfielder. Born 9.10.81. Caps 9. Goals 1.
Scored in the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Serbia after a sound debut against Belgium earlier in the campaign. He can play in several positions and makes very effective runs into the box behind the strikers.
Michal Pazdan (Gornik Zabrze). Midfielder. Born 21.9.87. Caps 5. Goals 0.
The defensive midfielder may struggle to make the 23-man squad as there are more experienced players in his position, may be one for the future.
Marek Saganowski (Southampton). Forward. Born 31.10.78. Caps 22. Goals 3.
Outstanding during his 2002-2005 spell with Legia Warsaw, where he scored 41 goals in 67 matches and made a brilliant start at his present club, bagging 10 goals in his first 13 appearances. "Saga," as he has been nicknamed by Southampton fans, is a handful for any defence on his day.
Euzebiusz Smolarek (Racing Santander). Forward. Born 9.1.81. Caps 30. Goals 13.
A clinical finisher with plenty of pace and skill. Grew up in the Netherlands where his father, himself a former Poland striker, played and coached. Was suspended by UEFA in 2002 while with Feyenoord for testing positive for a cannabis-related substance.
Tomasz Zahorski (Gornik Zabrze). Forward. Born 22.11.84. Caps 8. Goals 1.
Plays in a deeper position behind the lone striker or wide, his height (1.88m) also makes him a threat at dead ball situations.
Maciej Zurawski (Larissa). Forward. Born 12.9.76. Caps 70. Goals 17.
The team's captain and most experienced striker, he played for Celtic before moving to the Greek first division earlier this year, making an immediate impact.
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade, editing by Trevor Huggins)
