WORLD CUP 2006
Poland Tactics
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Poland use a 4-4-2 formation; experiments with 4-5-1 have not been a success.
Following the omission of Lioverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek, Artur Boruc, a first-teamer at Celtic, is expected to be Poland's keeper in Germany.
Mariusz Jop and veteran Jacek Bak are the preferred central defensive partnership, with Marcin Baszczynski and Michal Zewlakow, who both like to go forward, at full-back.
During the qualifiers, Poland’s two wide creative midfielders were Kamil Kosowski and Jacek Krzynowek, who regularly switched flanks. But now Kosowski (recently only a substitute at Southampton) is likely to be only the reserve for Krzynowek, on the left, with Euzebiusz Smolarek taking the starting place on the right.
Poland’s key man is playmaker Miroslaw Szymkowiak. Most moves come through him, and he is the main creator of chances thanks to his dribbling skills and quick, often crafty passes. The problem for coach Pawel Janas is that he has no real alternative for Szymkowiak, who gives so much during the course of a game that he is often flagging near the end. Defensive midfielder Radoslaw Sobolewski is a natural support for Szymkowiak, as is Sobolewski’s potential replacement, Arkadiusz Radomski.
Main striker Maciej Zurawski is not only a finisher but also very dangerous when running from deep. Tomasz Frankowski is likely to take the supporting forward role.
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