Euro 2012 preview: Czech Republic v Poland

Jakub Blaszczykowski

Poland have already provided two of the stand-out moments at Euro 2012, but their adventure is in jeopardy of coming to a premature end.

Robert Lewandowski’s opening goal of the 2012 European Championship against Greece sent the Polish supporters into delirium. It was the moment they had dreamed about for five long years and the deafening celebrations inside the National Stadium in Warsaw will live long in the memory of the 56,000 spectators in the stands, as well as the millions watching elsewhere.

Likewise the moment on Tuesday when captain Jakub Blaszczykowski rifled in a stunning second-half equaliser against Group A favourites Russia, which salvaged a hard-earned point, at the same stadium in the Polish capital.

For their third and final group match they travel to Wroclaw, where Czech Republic will be waiting, hoping to secure the win they need to continue their Euro 2012 adventure into the knockout stages.

Various permutations ensure that all four Group A teams can still qualify for the quarter-finals, but the rules of Poland’s next challenge are straight-forward: secure all three points or exit the competition.

Only one host nation has ever failed to win a group match at the Euros – Austria in 2008 – and the Poles will be desperate to avoid adding their name to that list.

But, rather like Poland, the Czechs are a rather unpredictable outfit, capable of going from the sublime to the ridiculous well within the period of a 90-minute match.

Their previous fixture against Greece was testament to that. It took Michal Bílek’s side just six minutes to record the fastest 2-0 lead in European Championship history at the Municipal Stadium – the venue for this Saturday’s clash against the co-hosts – but a horrendous goalkeeping error by the usually ultra-reliable Petr Čech in the second-half set up a nervy finale, as they stumbled rather than sprinted over the finish line.

A similar mistake against the Poles is likely to be punished even more ruthlessly. Despite their failure to secure a victory so far in the competition, Franciszek Smuda’s side are a force to be reckoned with when they hit top gear, and will gladly accept any generous gifts from their opponents.

However, if they fail to beat the Czechs, then they will pinpoint the 69th-minute of the opening match as the moment which cost them dearest.

Had it not been for goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s sending off in the game against Greece, then Poland might have already qualified for the quarter-finals. Fortunately for the Arsenal No. 1, back-up ‘keeper Przemysław Tytoń saved the day for the Poles, leaving Smuda with a dilemma over who to start against Czech Republic.

There is little doubt that Szczesny is the more talented goalkeeper, but his calamitous display against Greece left a lot to be desired, while Tytoń performed admirably as a substitute against the Greeks and then Russia in his team-mate’s absence.

If Smuda reverts to type then Szczesny will at least have the opportunity to atone for his errors in the opener; although by the same token, Tytoń will have every reason to feel somewhat hard done by.

Smuda has little time to worry about personal emotions, though, including his own. Many coaches would have been tempted to leave out a player who had caused such a scene after being substituted, but dropping Ludovic Obraniak for his tantrum against Russia would be detrimental to Poland’s hopes of qualification.

Fortunately, the 28-year-old forward soon saw the error of his ways and apologised for his childish outburst, with all 23 players now singing off the same hymn sheet again.

Without wanting to wish injury on any player, Smuda will also be hoping that Czech Republic captain Tomáš Rosický fails to recover from an Achilles problem in time for this all-or-nothing clash. The Arsenal schemer continues to pull the strings for the Czechs at the age of 31, but should he fail to win his fitness battle then Poland will fancy their chances of winning the midfield battle.

With little to separate the two teams, this match promises to be won by the side who wants it most - and few teams in the tournament want it more than co-hosts Poland and their passionate supporters.

Prediction: Czech Republic 1 Poland 2

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