WORLD CUP 2006
Poland Interview Player - Jerzy Dudek*
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What did you learn from the disappointments of the last World Cup?
Poland were playing at the finals for the first time since 1986. Everything was new to us and we made lots of mistakes, but we realised how big a deal the World Cup really is. Now, with that experience, we should have fewer problems this time round. For example, we cannot stress enough how important it is to be fresh physically. We had big fatigue and fitness problems in Korea.
You did not want to face Germany. Why?
They are among the tournament favourites and have home advantage, just as Korea did when we faced them in 2002.
What are Poland’s chances?
The Poles are a proud people and can’t imagine us not qualifying for the next round. But that won’t be easy. In the first game we meet Ecuador, who we beat 3-0 in November. But it was played on a sodden pitch, and our opponents couldn’t use their quick-passing style. Everybody knows how good the Germans are. And Costa Rica, the third team in our group, are an unknown quantity to me.
Aren’t the squad too old?
I’d rather say we’re very experienced – and that should be to our advantage. Experienced players do not fear big pressure.
Will the main tactic be to defend then counter-attack?
Well, good teams such as Chelsea and Liverpool are based on solid defence, and there’s nothing wrong with us trying to do our best defensively and then, if possible, create scoring opportunities. But we are not simply a counter-attacking side; we are much more attack-minded than we used to be.
You are one of several squad members who are not regular starters at club level. Will this be a problem?
Professional players can prepare well for the World Cup even if they do not play regularly. They have to be mentally strong and do their best in each training session. Pawel Janas’ response to this issue has been very important. The coach has backed the players and said unequivocally that they are good enough to be involved in the World Cup, despite their club problems. Thanks to that, the players have more confidence. And, ironically, it can be good for Poland if a few players are not regulars, since they will be much fresher and eager to prove themselves.
Is reaching the second round the best you can really expect?
We must not show fear because then the pressure will overwhelm us. Of course, we want to win. But the World Cup is a fantastic tournament and each of us should feel happy to be part of it. If that’s the case, I believe we can show we are not as easy a team to beat as many think.
*Dudek was omitted from the final Poland squad.
Poland Squad
1 GK BORUC Artur - (Celtic, SCO)
2 DF JOP Mariusz - (FC Moscow, RUS)
3 DF GANCARCZYK Seweryn - (Metalist Kharkiv, UKR)
4 DF BASZCZYNSKI Marcin - (Wisla Krakow, POL)
5 MF KOSOWSKI Kamil - (Southampton, ENG)
6 DF BAK Jacek - (Al Rayyan, QAT)
7 MF SOBOLEWSKI Radoslaw - (Wisla Krakow, POL)
8 MF KRZYNOWEK Jacek - (Bayer Leverkusen, GER)
9 FW ZURAWSKI Maciej - (Celtic, SCO)
10 MF SZYMKOWIAK Miroslav - (Trabzonspor, TUR)
11 FW RASIAK Grzegorz - (Southampton, ENG)
12 GK KUSZCZAK Tomasz - (Slask Wroclaw, POL)
13 MF MILA Sebastian - (Austria Vienna, AUT)
14 DF ZEWLAKOW Michal - (Anderlecht, BEL)
15 MF SMOLAREK Ebi - (Borussia Dortmund, GER)
16 MF RADOMSKI Arkadiusz - (Austria Vienna, AUT)
17 DF DUDKA Dariusz - (Wisla Krakow, POL)
18 DF LEWANDOWSKI Mariusz - (Shakhtar Donetsk, UKR)
19 DF BOSACKI Bartosz - (Lech Poznan, POL)
20 MF GIZA Piotr - (Cracovia, POL)
21 FW JELEN Ireneusz - (Wisla Plock, POL)
22 GK FABIANSKI Lukasz - (Legia Warsaw, POL)
23 FW BROZEK Pawel - (Wisla Krakow, POL)
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