Tag Archives: Poles

Home advantage to see Poles through

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Group A has possibly been the most exciting pool at Euro 2012 and Saturday is likely to see yet more twists and turns as the Czech Republic take on the inspired co-hosts Poland (Czech Republic 12/5, draw 12/5, Poland 6/5).

With Russia facing Greece in the other game, both teams go into the match in Wroclaw knowing a victory will see them through to the quarter-finals and keep alive their dreams of European Championship glory.

After a disappointing start to the tournament, the Czechs (4/5 to qualify) now appear to have found their form and produced a superb first half of free-flowing football as they defeated Greece in their second game of the tournament.

However, there were certainly times when they looked shaky, most notably at the back where Michal Bilek has been forced to rearrange his rearguard due to both injuries and poor form.

The unfamiliarity will surely mean that Chelsea shot-stopper Petr Cech will be regularly called upon on Saturday and he’ll be desperate to make amends, after his mix-up with Tomas Sivok allowed the Greeks back into the game on Tuesday.

The Poles (6/4 to qualify) came into the competition as the lowest-ranked side but have punched above their weight and now stand on the brink of qualifying for their first ever European Championship quarter-final.

Franciszek Smuda’s men disappointingly drew their opening game against Greece, despite getting off to the perfect start by taking the lead early on, but they showed their resilience on Tuesday, coming back from a goal behind to seal a famous draw against Russia to set up the showdown with the Czechs.

The hero that night was undoubtedly captain Jakub Blaszczykowski (9/2 to score at anytime) whose wonderful equaliser in Warsaw gave his side renewed hope after all looked lost.

The captain is one third of a trio of Borussia Dortmund players, alongside Robert Lewandowski and Lukas Piszczek, who have continued their Bundesliga form into the tournament and carried their country towards the knockout stages.

Their performances will be vital to any chance the Poles have of succeeding and look for Blaszczykowski to try and drag his side over the line.

This looks almost too tight to call and will certainly be a cagey affair. With the game being played less than an hour from the Czech border, it’s also going to be a vibrant atmosphere and both teams will certainly not be able to complain about a lack of support from their fans.

However, home advantage often counts for so much at these tournaments and the inspired Poles may just sneak through to the quarter-finals, but only by a single goal (Poland 13/2 to win 1-0).

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Poles to avoid Greek tragedy

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Co-hosts Poland will be aiming to get Euro 2012 off to a winning start when they face Group A rivals Greece in the tournament curtain-raiser in Warsaw’s impressive Stadion Narodowy on Friday evening.

Coach Franciszek Smuda’s side will carry the hopes of the nation on their shoulders and will no doubt feel an opening game against the Greeks, who stunned Europe to win Euro 2004, will be the perfect opportunity to get off to a flying start.

The Poles are in good form ahead of the match having won five and drawn one of their last six friendly matches – their last defeat was a 2-0 reverse at the hands of Italy in November 2011.

Smuda looks set to field Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks, while he faces a dilemma as to whether Lukasz Piszczek or Grzegorz Wojtkowiak will start in the back four for the match.

Poland have operated with a five-man midfield in the pre-tournament friendly matches and Smuda is likely to stick with that 4-5-1 formation, while Borussia Dortmund’s lethal striker Robert Lewandowski (7/4 – Anytime Goalscorer) will get the nod as a lone frontman.

Greece were the opening game opponents for Portugal in 2004 and they won that match 2-1 before going on to defeat the hosts 1-0 in the final so no doubt coach Fernando Santos will be hoping it is an omen for them in 2012.

The Greeks qualified impressively as they topped their respective group by remaining unbeaten in 10 matches with seven wins and three draws to their name.

However, things have gone off the boil in pre-tournament friendly encounters as they have secured just one victory from their five games played – a 1-0 win on neutral ground against Armenia.

Santos will call on the veteran duo of Giorgios Karagounis and Kostas Katsouranis – who were in the Euro 2004 winning team – to operate in midfield for the game, while Celtic’s Georgios Samaras (10/1 – First or Last Goalscorer) will be looking for a starting role in attack ahead of the likes of Dimitris Salpigidis or Theofanis Gekas depending on what formation the coach decides on.

Looking at the previous encounters and everything goes in Poland’s favour as they have won five of their seven meetings, including four on home soil, while Greece’s only win was in their own backyard back in 1987.

When pondering the outcome of this game the fact the Poles have home advantage, and the vast majority of a sell-out partisan crowd will be giving their players some vociferous support, should stand them in good stead.

Greece have struggled in Poland in the past and will no doubt look to put their strong defensive attributes – only five goals conceded in 10 qualifying matches – to the test (5/2 – To Keep A Clean Sheet) to try and quieten the natives for as long as possible before searching for an opening at the opposite end of the field.

However, as group openers are usually cagey affairs with neither side wanting to lose, expect Poland to nick a narrow, low-scoring narrow.

Prediction: Poland To Win – 90 Minutes @ evens
Value Bet: Lewandowski 1st goal and Poland To Win 1-0 Scorecast @ 16/1

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