Image via @LaczyNasPilka on Twitter
Something I’ve particularly been struck by listening to various pundits and journalists from the world of European football these past few days is how little this international break matters. Of course, this is largely because everyone has forgotten that there are still three places at Euro 2024 up for grabs, save for the countries vying for said places. To those outside looking in, whoever earns those places will simply be making up the numbers.
What I’ve been even more struck by in the build-up to Poland’s game against Estonia, taking place this evening, is that the usual air of cautious optimism has returned in earnest. Pretty much ever since I’ve been following Polish football, the dominant mood surrounding the national team has been exactly that: cautious optimism. Sometimes it is well-placed, other times far less so. For once, however, I feel that the tone is exactly right.
I felt prior to the other games in which Michał Probierz has taken charge of Poland, both in October and November last year, there was a really noticeable tension about not qualifying automatically for this summer’s tournament in Germany and that certainly translated at times on the pitch. Oftentimes early in games there was a real nervousness about the way Poland were playing and conducting themselves, and particularly in those games which were draws like against Moldova and Czechia, that once those games were level there was a lack of belief.
To ease these fears, the typical media platitudes have been in place and the good fun that the Lączy Nas Piłka vlogs provide has been evident once again. In said latest video of the team meeting up and going through the usual rigmarole, there does seem to be a really positive and relaxed atmosphere that you hope will translate onto the pitch. Of course, this is merely projection and they’re hardly going to release videos of players looking downbeat to the public, but nonetheless there does seem to be a more jovial air than was present last time around.
It’s also worth remembering that last time the pressure was really on to go a tournament, Poland played very well against a strong opponent and got the job done, two years ago at this time exactly. This has been raised by pundits and players and it’s hard to ignore given that there are a lot of the same players present in this squad as there were in that one. For Jakub Moder, this is actually his first call-up since then thanks to the terrible and prolonged knee injury he suffered.
Speaking to the press yesterday, Kamil Grosicki made a few interesting comments which I felt it prudent to pick up on. Firstly, he pulled no punches in ascertaining how poor the qualifying campaign had been, which was apparent to all of us with eyes but it’s another thing coming from a senior player and to be saying it in such a frank way. Secondly, Grosicki said it was apparent that under Probierz they are getting better with every match. Again, this is noticeable in my opinion, as the games against Czechia and Latvia were demonstrably better than those against the Faroe Islands and Moldova. It’s a relatively small sample size but there is a clearer plan in place than a lot of what we saw of Poland in the first nine months of 2023.
Taras Romanczuk’s inclusion in the squad leads me to believe he’ll start tonight, and maybe again in the second match of the international break, be it play-off or friendly. You don’t select a 32 year old player with the intention of him just keeping the bench warm, or at least in a situation like this when you consider how long it has been since Romanczuk was in a Poland squad. I’ve no real qualms with him starting as he’s playing well and is a decent enough holding midfielder, although if he struggles at any point I can see Jakub Moder being called for.
Announced last night were the four exclusions from tonight's squad, namely Damian Szymański, Bartosz Bereszyński, Dominik Marczuk and Sebastian Walukiewicz. Marczuk and Walukiewicz aren't too surprising given a lack of national team experience, and neither is Bereszyński when you consider his club form of late. Damian Szymański strikes me as an odd omission though, but I'm not Selekcjoner and we don't know the sort of midfield roles that will be required tonight, even if we have a pretty good idea.
Looping back round to the start of this article, the air of cautious optimism is not a new one for Poland, but one that does feel completely appropriate for the situation at hand.
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