Czech Republic vs Poland
After two years of preparation for playing host to Europe's elite, Poland are faced with a win or bust situation as they take on the Czech Republic in Wroclaw on Saturday. With the entire nation behind them, the team will take to the pitch in the knowledge that a draw will not be enough to see them reach the quarter-finals.
After two years of preparation for playing host to Europe's elite, Poland are faced with a win or bust situation as they take on the Czech Republic in Wroclaw on Saturday. With the entire nation behind them, the team will take to the pitch in the knowledge that a draw will not be enough to see them reach the quarter-finals.
The group permutationsCoach
Franciszek Smuda has already confirmed that Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech
Szczesny will resume his duties between the posts, having missed the
side's encounter with Russia through suspension, whilst there remains a
selection dilemma over whether or not to include petulant playmaker
Ludovic Obraniak, with Adrian Mierzejewski waiting in the wings to
deputise.Other than those two possible changes, it is almost
certain that Poland will stick with the side that helped them to a 1-1
draw with Russia. Captain and goalscorer Jakub Blaszczykowski will lead
the side out, whilst Dortmund team-mate Robert Lewandowski the spearhead
in attack. In defence, Marcin Wasilewski and Damien Perquis are set to
renew their partnership, with the third member of the Dortmund trio,
Lucasz Piszczek, joining Sebastian Boenisch in the full back department.For
Czech Republic, Tomas Rosicky is a major injury doubt for the group
decider after aggravating an Achilles injury against Greece. Should the
Arsenal star miss out, Viktoria Plzen's Daniel Kolar will fill in at the
fulcrum of the midfield. The side's other injury doubt, goalkeeper Petr
Cech, should be fit to take on Poland after recovering well from a
shoulder problem.Elsewhere the Czech side looks set to be
unchanged, with under-pressure striker Milan Baros leading the attack,
supported by goalscoring forwards Vaclav Pilar and Petr Jiracek. Tomas
Hubschman and Jiroslav Plasil will pair up at the base of the midfield,
with full-backs Theodor Gebre Selassie and David Limbersky supplying
width from deep. Michal Kadlec will partner Tomas Sivok at centre-back. A
win will see Czech Republic progress to the next stage, while a draw
will see Michal Bilak's side nervously eyeing the result of the
Greece-Russia encounter in Warsaw.Czech Republic player to watch: David Limbersky.
Whilst right-back Theodor Gebre Selassie drew all the plaudits for his
buccaneering runs in Czech Republic's win over Greece, Limbersky showed
the side possess great quality on both sides of the defence. Quick and
strong in the tackle, the Viktoria Plzen full-back also has a wonderful
left-foot, capable of both delivering dangerous balls for those in the
area and testing the goalkeeper from range.Poland player to watch: Marcin Wasilewski.
Wasilewski was outstanding during the Poles' draw with Russia on
Tuesday and will be expected to lead a strong defensive effort once more
against the Czech Republic. Not blessed with pace, Wasilewski is an
intelligent defender and alongside Perquis had guided Poland to 512
minutes without conceding before Dimitris Salpingidis scored in the
tournament opener.Key battle: Tomas Hubschman v Ludovic Obraniak.
If Poland are to win the game and progress to the quarter-final, they
will need the talented, but temperamental Obraniak to ensure that
Lewandowski is fed the ammunition he needs to fire. Should Obraniak miss
out, following his antics when substituted against Russia, the same
will be true of Trabzonspor's Mierzejewski. The responsibility will thus
fall upon Czech Republic holding midfielder Hubschman to ensure that
they are not given that opportunity. On his day, Hubschman is excellent
at the role and could be crucial to Czech Republic's chances of
progression.Odds: Czech Republic (3.25), the draw (3.40) and Poland (2.20) are on offer with bet365, while Poland to win 2-0 is available at 10.00.Stat: The home side has won all five previous meetings between the two sides.Trivia:
As a player, Czech Republic coach Michal Bilak made his international
debut against Poland, scoring his side's only goal within two minutes of
coming on as a substitute, as Czechoslovakia fell to a 3-1 defeat in
Bratislava in 1987.Prediction: Poland will be roared on by
vociferous home support and following their impressive performance in
drawing with Russia they will be desperate to follow it up with a win.
Poland to win 1-0.
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