Before the game: Czech Republic - Poland

Expecations, expectations, expecations...

I don't know if Poland wins today. I think that there is chance, but it's up to the players if they are going to use it.

But no matter what the result is going to be, I'm happy that I finally saw the team, where players back up each other, who play together and try to do their best. And the last game in the group is not a game without a stake.

*

Meanwhile, because it's a blog dedicated to goalkeepers, it's worth to notice that the whole country was discusssing wheter the coach Franiszek Smuda should choose Wojciech Szczęsny or Przemysław Tytoń to play in the game against Czech Republic. Szczęsny was unquestionable number 1 in the goal, but was ruled out by red card. Tytoń was only a deputy, but saved a penalty in a crucial moment in the game against Greek. He has played also a good game against Russia.

Eventaully it was decided that Tytoń is going to play. Good choice? Bad? Must say I was a bit more after Tytoń, as I have a soft spot for the goalkeepers who save penalties. I think that both goalkeepers are on the similar level when it comes to skills, but Tytoń just deserved the place in the squad for his solid performance on the tournament. Hope he is going to do fine today.

Poland - Greece 1:1, 8 June 2012, Przemysław Tytoń saved a penalty

One goalkeeper's bad luck is another goalkeeper's chance. Wojciech Szczęsny was send off with a red card. Przemysław Tytoń took the place between the posts and saved the penalty in a crucial moment.

Watch the video: link.

Portugal is going to play friendly game against Poland

On 29th of February Portugal is going to play a friendly game against Poland on the National Stadium in Warsaw.

Definietely going to watch this game, no matter what.

A video interview with Wojciech Szczęsny

Wojciech Szczęsny, the goalkeeper of Arsenal and Polish national team, gave a short interview before upcoming friendly games against Argentina and France in Warsaw.

Szczęsny: Francuzi mi mówili, że woleliby nie grać z Polską

Wojtek, if one looks on the sheet of paper: Argentina, France, it seems that they are the opponents one can dream of.

Well, I think so. I think that only playing in such games we can prepare to Euro well. Even if they are not playing with they strongest squads. The Legia's stadium is going to be full of people, the atmosphere is going to be fun. It will give us the adrenaline we need to play on the hiher level than lately.

Did you talk with Samir Nasri before setting out on those matches?

I've talked with the colleagues. They are three [from Arsenal] who are called up and generally it's obvious that they would prefer to not play this game because they have the most important one on Friday and they would like to go on vacations after it. But now they have to come here to play a friendly. So I think that we are going to be more motivated.

I would rather prefer to play in Gdańsk. The first game is in Warsaw, it would be better if we played the second one on the opening of the new stadium. But I'm sure that there is going to be a great atmosphere in Warsaw as well and that it's going to be a good game.

Can you show your finger? Is it well?

It hurst sometimes. But I'm able to catch a ball so there is no problem.

Do you wear special gloves with finger protection?

Yes, I used to wear them but now I'm playing in normal ones on my own responsibility. I hope that nothing like that injury is going to happen again.

Are you going to have any special rehabilitation during the vacations?

No, the finger has to heal on its own and I hope that sooner or later everything is going to be well.

Łukasz Fabiański ruled out for the rest of the season, Wojciech Szczęsny - a new No. 1

Łukasz Fabiański is going to miss the last four month of the season due to an injury of the shoulder. He had already undergo a surgery. Now he is slowly coming back to health and it's going to take time before he can start rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Wojciech Szczęsny, replaced his compration both as No. 1 in Arsenal and in the national team.

Liked his performance in Poland's game against Norway. Polish team needs a self-confident goalkeeper, on whom one can rely on. Luckily, the goalkeeper position is the one, where the coach has a wide choice. Even with Fabiański and Boruc out, there is plenty others, who can replace them. Szczęsny is the first choice now.

He is also expected to play in the Championship League against Barcelona. Who would predict such a turn in a career of the young goalkeeper? It can be his big chance.

Who saw that coming?

Poland won with Ivory Coast 3-1! Robert Lewandowski scored two times, and Obraniak shot an amazing goal from a free kick. Łukasz Fabiański had a lot of work, as the defense was as leaky as usual.

Watching friendly Portugal - Spain right now. Portugal is leading the game 1-0! Martins scored a goal in 45'. A lot is happening on the pitch. Both Casillas and Eduardo are not left without an occupation.

The second half has just started. Rui Patricio changed Eduardo.

Edit: 2:0! Postiga scores in 49'.

Edit 2: 3:0! Beautiful action under Casillas's goal and Postiga scores again. Why the match at the World Cup 2010 couldn't look like that?!

Edit 3: Hugo Almeida scores in 90'+4. A perfect ending!

Friendly games tomorrow

Two important friendly games tomorrow. Firstly, Portugal is going to face Spain. Does Selecção has a chance to win? They have a new coach, they improved they effectiveness in scoring, but the defense didn't seem to be as tight as it used to be during the World Cup.

In the last game Eduardo didn't seem to be as sharp as during the tournament, when he allowed only 1 goal and made 19 saves in four games. Will keep my fingers crossed for him tomorrow. He will need all his skills to try to stop Spain!

The second game I'm going to watch, at least partially, is Poland - Ivory Coast. Well, Poland need to win after eight months without a single victory, but I don't think it's going to happen tomorrow. Even without Drogba, Ivory Coast is a very good team.

Łukasz Fabiański is back to the team. His last performances in Arsenal's games were good. Watched Everton - Arsenal game last Sunday. He helped the team to keep the advantageous result. Everton tried to catch up with Arsenal's 0-2 lead, but eventually they manage to score only one goal, and it came too late. Hope tomorrow Fabiański also will do well, this time playing for the national team.

Internation friendly: USA vs Poland 2-2 9 Oct 2010, video highlights and photos

That was a really good game to watch. I must admit I didn't believe Poland was going to show something interesting here. So good that my predictions never come true.

USA was fast and dangerous as always, and was leading the game for the most time, but Poland managed to equalize two times. Both teams committed mistakes in the defence and the ending was really dramatic, especially for Poland, which was inches from losing a goal in the injury time.

It was nice to see ambition and involevment on both sides, as if it was not a friendly but a game for points.

Jozy Altidore made a good job, scoring one goal and coming close to score another.

In Polish team Jakub Błaszczykowski showed an excellent shape, and his actions on the right wing were very dangerous. Ludovic Obraniak also did good job, and had assists in both goals.

Ok, get to the point, what is the performance of the goalkeepers. Artur Boruc, as always, saved situation in crucial moments. Had to make the first save at the very beginning of the match. The most dramatic was of course the one in the injury time, when he made a save from just a few meters distance. He made 3 saves in total.

Tim Howard had a lot of work to do. He saved a situation one on one (however, Robert Lewandowski could do better than kicking the ball straight on the goalkeeper) and Obraniak's shot from the distance. Very fine performance of him. Liked his self-confidence and that he never lost focus. Strange feeling, to fell happy that the goalkeeper made a save, and sad at the same time, that Polish team wasted an opportunity ;) Howard made 5 saves in total.

Watch the video highlights

Polish national team during training session

Polish national team druing training session. Poland is going to play a friendly game against US at 9 Oct in Chicago.

Before the game: three basic things you need to know about the Polish team [comics strips]

All those three pictures were published in weekly magazine "Angora" some time ago. They show quite adequately what the coaches had to endure when it comes to coaching the Polish team ;)

The former coach...



"I'm not going to repeat it again. Our goal is here and you are suppose to score over there!"

The new coach...



"Let's start from the beginning. This is a ball."

Author: Tomasz Wilczkiewicz

How the previous friendly game with USA looked like



"Take it easy, Leo. We are going to get equal with Americans during the European Championships..."

Author: Paweł Wakuła

Poland and USA squads for the friendly at October 9

Poland

Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (AC Fiorentina), Grzegorz Sandomierski (Jagiellonia Białystok), Przemysław Tytoń (Roda JC Kerkrade).

Midfielders: Rafał Murawski (Rubin Kazań), Bartosz Salamon (US Foggia), Jakub Błaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund), Adam Matuszczyk (1 FC Koeln), Ludovic Obraniak (Lille OSC), Radosław Majewski (Nottingham Forest), Grzegorz Bonin (Górnik Zabrze), Adrian Mierzejewski (Polonia Warszawa)

Defenders: Łukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund), Kamil Glik (Palermo), Michał Żewłakow (Ankaragücü), Łukasz Mierzejewski (Cracovia Kraków), Dariusz Pietrasiak (Polonia Warszawa), Hubert Wołąkiewicz (Lechia Gdańsk),

Forwards: Andrzej Niedzielan (Korona Kielce), Kamil Grosicki (Jagiellonia Białystok), Euzebiusz Smolarek (Polonia Warszawa), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Ireneusz Jeleń (AJ Auxerre)

USA

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Étienne), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (rebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

My predictions: 3:0 for USA.

Artur Boruc in Poland - Ukraine 1-1 friendly match, 4 Sep 2010

It was a little better than in previous, disastrous games (0-3 with Kameroon, 0-6 with Spain). Finally, after so many matches without a single goal, Ireneusz Jeleń did score for Poland. But then, in 92' one costly mistake and the game eventually finished with a draw... However, it was not the goalkeeper's fault.



Artur Boruc was back in the national team's goal after a long break. It was nice, to see him in good shape. He did fine. Hope it's not a return just for one match.

Poland is going to play next friendly game with USA

Read just a moments ago that Poland is going to play its next friendly game with USA team in Chicago, 9th October. Pity it's not going to be in Poland. Would definietely go to see Tim Howard live!

Ok, Łukasz Fabiański or whoever-is-going-in-the-Polish-goal too.

My predictions? 3:0 for USA.

Przemysław Tytoń in Poland - Cameroon friendly 0-3 11 Aug 2010

Polish goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń in Poland - Cameroon friendly.

Poland - Cameroon friendly 0-3 11 Aug 2010

I don't even want to write too much about this match. Instead of being happy of Euro 2012 I'm starting to be really afraid that all of this is going to be one big shame of Polish team.

I'm really not sure if a need of watching Polish goalkeepers is enough to stand 90 minutes of a poor performance both in defense and in offence. And the worst is that it doesn't seem there is going to be better. New coach, new players, new strategy, and guess what! Poland is losing 0-3 with Cameroon, a next to the last World Cup team.

They are a few players, who try to do something. I can name Ludovic Obraniak, Jakub Błaszczykowski, Robert Lewandowski and perhaps one or two others. But there is no team. No unity.

The goalkeeper postion is the only one the coach has no need to worry. Poland has a lot of talented keepers. But a goalkeeper cannot win a match alone...

As for the goalkeepers, Łukasz Fabiański could do nothing when Eto'o scored the first goal. Made one very lucky save when he rushed to clear the ball, and pass was almost snathed by Cameroon player (blame a defender for that). The ball landed in Fabiański's hands eventually.

Przemysław Tytoń was playing in the second half. Again, the mistakes which cost Poland two goals, were rather on the defense side. And when Poland lost the goal he seemed to be the only player, who still tried to motivate the team.

A few photos of Fabiański, and no a single one of Tytoń, because I couldn't find any.



Polish team



Cameroon team