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FRI 5pm - Poland v Greece - Preview / Match Thread

AFKABartram
AFKABartram Posts: 57,919
edited June 2012 in Other Football and Sports
Poland v Greece - Friday 8th June, 5pm KO

FIFA Rankings: Poland 62, Greece 15

And so it begins !

The opening game to the Summer footballfest features two of the lesser nations, but both teams can post some excellent recent form. Greece have lost just one of their last 21 games, while Poland have lost just once in their last dozen outings. Despite this, they remain the lowest-ranked team in the competition.

Tactics


Fernando Santos is likely to set Greece out in their traditional 4-3-3 formation. ‘Workmanlike and effective’ would probably be best way to describe a side that wouldn’t be too dissimilar to many of the opposition Charlton will encounter in the Championship next season. Largely held together in the centre of midfield by the experienced Panathinaikos pairing of Katsouranis and Karagounis, Greece on paper appear to lack legs and width, so don’t be surprised to see a side who try to make themselves hard to beat and who focus heavily on free kicks and corners delivered by Karagounis.

Poland equally appear a similar side built on the emphasis of team ethic. With Arsenal’s Szczesny in goal, defensively they appear sound and have conceded very few goals in recent times. Adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation, much of their set-up also revolves around being difficult to beat. Down the right, Poland possess good quality with the Borussia Dortmund pair of Piszczek and Blaszczkoyski. Up front, everything is centred around the third Dortmund player, Lewandowski, and if Poland are to progress, they need this man in form and scoring goals.

Ones to watch: Lewandowski (Poland) Ninis (Greece)

Odds: Poland Evs, Draw 11/5 Greece 16/5 (PP)

Prediction:

There are risks that this opener could be an incredibly dull affair. Much will depend on how well the old guard of Greece perform, and whether Poland get a noticeable leg-up from being hosts. Greece lack flair and creativity, and if Poland go insular with fear of losing, this could well be a low-scoring snooze fest. If Poland start off with an opening win and appear comfortable playing in front of their home fans, they could be a surprise package in their group.

Poland to edge it 1-0

How do you see this one going, and who should we all be watching out for ?
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Comments

  • JT
    JT Posts: 12,348
    I know rankings are a joke but Poland 62 and Greece 15 ?!

    Fancy 1-0 too.
  • redcarter
    redcarter Posts: 1,014
    0-0
  • AFKABartram
    AFKABartram Posts: 57,919
    I know rankings are a joke but Poland 62 and Greece 15 ?!
    In fairness, Poland's rankings have fallen because as qualifiers, they haven't played any competitive matches for quite a while, so its a bit skewed.

  • oldbloke
    oldbloke Posts: 931
    This game really needs an early goal else i'm watching the england U20 world cup rugby match instead.
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 21,394
    2-0 Poland, Blaszczkoyski and Lewandowski to score, Dortmund won the league after all
  • peteshep1905
    peteshep1905 Posts: 491
    1-0 poland (lewandowski) could be more if they score early
  • Can't see beyond the Poles dancing after this one.

    Think the Lewandowski lad is going to have a big tournament.
  • CAFCBourne
    CAFCBourne Posts: 3,799
    If the poles win it will boost the offy turnover in the uk massively 2-1 the poles
  • Mortimerician
    Mortimerician Posts: 5,222
    Polski to walk it with Lewa winning tournament top scorer as he smashes his way out of the most host-friendly group in European Championship history.

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  • colthe3rd
    colthe3rd Posts: 8,486
    Love the way everyone has become a fan of Lewandowski, I didn't know there were so many Poland/Bundesliga fans about
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 21,394
    Love the way everyone has become a fan of Lewandowski, I didn't know there were so many Poland/Bundesliga fans about
    Always try and watch the Bundy on ESPN, but I am a Bayern fan personally.

    Apparently the Poland coach let slip he is on his way to Man Yoo, Kagawa has already agreed to switch from Dortmund to Manchester, could they complete a treble and sign Hummels too?

    Lewandowski will have a big tournament imo, the home advantage will help a lot
  • EastStand
    EastStand Posts: 4,110
    Can see a Poland win, though I'd rather Greece. Poland has not endeared itself to me...
  • Woodsywood
    Woodsywood Posts: 991
    What channel this on?
  • EastStand
    EastStand Posts: 4,110
    What channel this on?
    BBC1 from 16:15.
  • Woodsywood
    Woodsywood Posts: 991
    What channel this on?
    BBC1 from 16:15.
    Thank you
  • Polski to walk it with Lewa winning tournament top scorer as he smashes his way out of the most host-friendly group in European Championship history.
    This.
  • Mortimerician
    Mortimerician Posts: 5,222
    Oh bloody hell the polish contingent are out in force :-)
  • 2-0 Poland, Lewandowski double I reckon.

    I fancy Poland to come second in that group (easiest group by far) so Lewandowski would be a worth a bet to be top scorer.
  • Addickted4life
    Addickted4life Posts: 7,467
    edited June 2012
    3-0 Poland. They are home after all and will want to get their fans behind them. Blaszczkoyski gets 2 and Lewandowski gets the other (thank god copy and paste exists with names like that).

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  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,828
    edited June 2012
    Poland V Greece 1-0 scoreline ( 11-2 Betfair )

    Halftime Draw/ Fulltime Poland ( 22-5 Betdaq)

    1st Goalscorer Lewandowski ( 5-1 Stan James)
  • Siv_in_Norfolk
    Siv_in_Norfolk Posts: 4,063
    stream link?
  • Siv_in_Norfolk
    Siv_in_Norfolk Posts: 4,063
    nice

    anyone got an englis one?
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 38,034
    itll be on bbc website...or does that not work outside of the UK?
  • Siv_in_Norfolk
    Siv_in_Norfolk Posts: 4,063
    exactly

  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,828
    That link i gave above has English feeds, Click on no 10
  • AFKABartram
    AFKABartram Posts: 57,919
    Anything happened so far ?
  • cafcdan18
    cafcdan18 Posts: 3,664
    Anything happened so far ?
    Poland should be 1 up, keeper made a decent save and then a few mins later they fluffed a good opening.

    Been surprisingly open so far.
  • Fckin commentary is awful, is it Mark Bright????

    He is shoite