I see this forum is mostly dominated by Turkish league and National Team debate and not only. One thing got me wondering. There isn’t a lot of talk about Eastern, Central Europe countries, leagues and actually why there has never been a debate about Poland, their players, league, national team etc. Of course it’s not as good and not as interesting as Brazilian NT or English NT or EPL or even La Liga, for example but it’s definitely worth some attention.

Let’s start from the Polish National Team. In the newest FIFA rankings Polish NT is located on 22nd place in front of teams like Cameroon, Nigeria, Ukraine, Switzerland and Russia. Let’s say something about history first which is definitely worth mentioning. Polish Football Association(PZPN – Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej) was found in 1919 and is affiliated since 1923. The biggest success of Polish National Team was in Germany in 1974 when we reached the 3rd place of World Cup and striker Grzegorz Lato was crowned the top goalscorer of World Cup with 7 goals. That was definately the best period of Polish football, when we used to beat the likes of Brazil, Italy and Argentina. Poland always had great players such as Tomaszewski, Lato, Deyna, Boniek, Lubański.

The current stars of the team are Maciej Żurawski, Artur Boruc, Jerzy Dudek, Tomasz Frankowski and Ebi Smolarek. They are all doing really well for their clubs and are doing a great job in Polish NT team as well. Mostly because of these players Poland advanced to the World Cup in Germany which will take place this year. So far there hasn’t been a lot of success but the team is being rebuilt and renewed for the upcoming World Cup and European Championships. There are a lot of very young and promising players and also some very experienced players that have played in foreign countries. Lately Poland showed they can beat teams from everywhere including Ecuador, Wales, Austria and Serbia & Montenegro. There are some big hopes for this year’s World Cup so let’s hope the guys will give their best and show the world what we are able to do.

The Polish League is Orange Ekstraklasa. Recently the name was changed from Idea Ekstraklasa to Orange Ekstraklasa due to the change of the sponsor. The top teams are Wisła Kraków, Legia Warszawa, Korona Kielce and Lech Poznań. Unfortunately Polish teams haven’t been reaching the CL and UEFA cup level in the past years. Last time a Polish team was in one of those exclusive tournaments was in season 1996/97. Some bad and sad things have to be also said about the Polish league(s) which were dominated last year by corruption. Mostly the lower leagues, there have been a lot of corruption affairs and cases which haven’t been explained till today. The future is looking pretty good for Polish teams. Mostly Wisła Kraków is very near CL and UEFA cup but they are mostly unlucky. Hope it all improves in future and like national team the Polish teams will show Europe what are their real qualities.

Do boju Polsko !

what about olisadebe ?? .... I was thinking how is he Polish, His probably Half Nigerian and Half Polish

Olisadebe has got Polish nationality but he was born in Nigeria. He was one of sars for a short period of time. Then he had problems with injuries and wasn't called to the first time anymore.

Best polish players :

Dudek - Liverpool
Boruc - Celtic
Kuszczak - WBA
Kowalewski - Spartak

Zewlakow - Anderlecht
Zurawski - Celtic
Frankowski - Elche
Krzynówek - Bayer Leverkusen
Smolarek - Dortmund
Olisadebe - Portsmouth
Lewandowski - Shakhtar
Szymkowiak - Trabzonspor
Sobolewski - Wisła

Kuszczak ?

Just because he had a great game against Wigan doesn't make him one of the best Polish players.

In the season so far he has done nothing to make him one of the best in Poland.

Boruc has games like that every week. Well almost.

so in your thinkin Dudek isint a good player too just becouse "In the season so far he has done nothing"

but I disagree

you cant tell that someone is good only just afther 1 season

Never said that. Dudek is a great player and he has showed that in the past. Currently he isn't playing but that doesn't make him a bad player does it ? He did what he had to do in the last few seasons and that made him great. He's a legend in Poland.

Boruc is undoubtedly the best Polish goalkeeper ATM.

Kuszczak is at least the 3rd one in the list.

I agree what you sad about Boruc, but I woudl speculate that Dudek is second,
couse we have Kowalewski too, and he is the best player of Spartak, and one of the best goalies in the league

I don't know much abouy polish soccer and polish players, but isn't Dudek also getting fairly old. I mean hes had his good times with the poles, but will he actually be able to make an influence on a physically demanding and fatigueing tournament like the world cup. Also I'd like to know some more about polish soccer cause im quarter polish (3 quarters German). Is Poland very dependant on Dudek? I know Poland will be the main contender for Germany in Group A but, do you think they will be able to actually make an impact on the tournament? Do they have any secret weapons or great inspirational leaders or coaches?

hmmm

I think that now we are depending on players like Boruc, Szymkowiak, Zurawski and Frankowski ( he just moved from Elche to Wolverhampton for 2 mln ). IMHO we can get out the group but our chances is 50:50 for me, so the coach ( Paweł Janas ) have to do a good job and prepare boys for a lot of hard work during the game.

Poland will beat Germany once and for all at the world cup and leave Podolski and rest of the traitor scum bags in tears. No Podolski no Klose = NO sucess for Germany. Tip for Germany get ur own talent and stop improting it from other countries.

any supporters of GKS Katowice here? They're our mates in Poland hehe

You'll find out today.

Your comments are idiotic. The players choose where they want to play and the requirements to play for a national team are the same for everyone.

I liked that young central defender against Germany? Is he really any good?

He scored twice today lol, Bartosz Bosacki

I have just 1 thing to say: nothing will change in polish futbol if
Listkiewicz stays in PZPN.
Thank God Janas is gone now its
time for 'Listek'. H.Kasperczak is a very good coach but of course
he wont be coaching us becouse that ass dosnt like him. He better hire
sombody good or ill go back to PL and kick his ass!


LISTEK MUSI ODEJSC !!!

NEWS FROM POLAND

As You know, our Association PZPN have signed 18 months contract with Leo Beenhakker
On friendly match with Danmark (16 August) he call up:

Goalkeepers: Jerzy Dudek (Liverpool FC) - If he change club, he will be playing well for 2-3 years
Wojciech Kowalewski (Spartak Moscow) - In my opinion good goalie in Russia
Defenders: Michał Żewłakow (Olympiakos Pireus) - Big mistery for me, in Anderlecht he plays quite well, but new strong club, new Country, maybe he will be having problems with a acclimatization
Mariusz Jop (FK Moscow) - Good player in Russia, in Wisla Krakow he can't convinced to his playing
Jacek Bąk (Al-Ryyan) - he earn big big money in Saudi Arabia, 33 years old, sportive retirement
Seweryn Gancarczyk (Metalist Charkow) - good talented player
Bartosz Bosacki (Lech Poznan) - good but old (31 years) defender on World Champ he scored 2 goals
Paweł Golański (Korona Kielce) - young and maybe talented player, he starts well in Orange Ekstraklasa
Midfielders: Radosław Sobolewski (Wisła Krakow) - good old defensive midfieler
Mariusz Lewandowski (Szachtar Donieck) - in Poland there are many jokes about him, but in Szachtar he plays quite well as defender or defensive midfieler
Mirosław Szymkowiak (Trabzonspor) - if he will be fit and healthy he will be star in our team, very creative player, very good short and long passes to atackers
Arkadiusz Radomski (FK Austria Wien) - good defensive midfieler
Sebastian Mila (FK Austria Wien) - in Poland there are many jokes about him, he must change club if he want to play
Damian Gorawski (FK Moscow) - he starts playing in Ruch Chorzow as a Striker, he was born in Ruda Slaska in my city quite good atacking winger now
Euzebiusz Smolarek (Borussia Dortmund) - very talented atacking winger, he starts playing in good soccer school in Feyenoord Rotterdam
Jacek Krzynówek (VfL Wolfsburg) - Inter Milan? AS Rome? Espanyol Barcelona? No. Only VfL Wolfsburg. Very powerful winger with good shots on free kicks
Strikers: Tomasz Frankowski (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC) - in "Wolfs" he can't score a gol , very bad half season in England, maybe he returns to Wisla?
Maciej Żurawski (Celtic Glasgow) - when "Magic" is fit and healthy he is one of the best strikers in Scotland or even the best
Marek Saganowski (ES Troyes Aube Champagne) - FC Porto?, Benfica Lisboa?. No. Only ES Troyes. Good season in Vitoria Guimares but I don't like him.
Ireneusz Jeleń (AJ Auxerre) - good talented striker, in Auxerre he should be one of the best player

Tomasz Kuszczak have signed 1 year loan contract or 4 years definitive contract with Manchester United (various media, various information). Good step for him. Edvin Van der Sar will be good teacher and maybe one day he will replace old Dutch

That's all News from Poland


I've got question for You.
Are You interested in Orange Ekstraklasa? Becouse I could write about each round, but You must have interested in If You like my idea please write.

Our football is very bad and corrupted. I live near in Łęczna, where local Górnik Łęczna play for our First Division. I read in press, that club, which I support is corrupted. Łęczna is connected to scandal with buying matches in my country football. It's terrible, beacuse our league results can't be authentic. Polish League Champion, Legia Varsovia play with Shakhtar Donetsk in third round of elimination to Champions League and club lose in first match on Ukraine 0 - 1. I'm pessimist. In next years, it will not be better and polish clubs will not play in this tournament. On saturday, Legia play against Belchatow and they lose (1 - 2) :/ . Now, GKS Belchatow are leader of our league.

Yesterday, in Odense on Fionia Park stadium we played friendly match with Danmark. They win 2-0 after Niclas Bendtner (32 min) and Dennis Rommedahl (63 min) goals. Danmark was better team, they've got much more shoots on target, much more corner kicks. Generally, we didn't have 100% action to score a gol. I hope to better playing with Finland on Euro 2008 qualify, becouse it wasn't good begining Leo Beenhaker's as a Polish team coach.

Hi there, I have a few questions to you Polish guys

1. The young Polish players, centre back Lukasz Kanik (under 18 NT) and central midfielder Tomasz Bandrowski (under 21 NT), both playing for Energie Cottbus. How are they rated in Poland and does Bandrowski have realistic chances to get a call up for the NT in case that he plays regularly for Cottbus in the Bundesliga or is the central midfield of the Polish NT too good for him?

2. Where is Patryk Rachwal playing now and how is he doing?
He was at Energie Cottbus some years ago, praised as a big talent but he never made his breakthrough here.

Look at Kuszczak now mate.

1. Lukasz Kanik and Tomasz Bandrowski are tallented players (it's my opinion becouse I see them several times), but they don't have really chances to be called up to National Team, becouse people in our Association always have got big problem to go and see potential good player for NT, they always said "We don't have time to go another country to see players, becouse we've got much more important things to do"

2. Patryk Rachwal is playing in Wisla Plock. He starts very well this season in Orange Ekstraklasa, very though midfieler, not worried to play foul, nowadays Patryk is a playmaker, he passes good ball to team mates, sometimes he try to shoot from far distance.

Cheers for the info mate .

Which clubs have the best fan support in Poland?
I suppose teams from Warschau and Krakow have quiet a good support, not sure about it anyway.

Lech Poznan have a good away support in my eyes, just saw the club in my town playing a match on friday and their away fans (around 100 or so) sang out loud and stopped the ground being quiet.
I was positively surprised even it was just a friendly game.

Good on them .

Whats a fixture ! That Polish league? I supose than is a La liga

Look for results :

Górnik Zabrze - GKS Bełchatów 1:0 (1:0)

Korona Kielce - Zagłębie Lubin 1:2 (1:2) (leader was lose)

Wisła Kraków - Odra Wodzisław 6:0 (2:0) !!

Górnik Łęczna - Widzew Łódź 1:5 (0:2) !!

Arka Gdynia - Groclin Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski 2:4 (1:3) !!

Wisła Płock - Cracovia 0:2 (0:1)

Lech Poznań - ŁKS Łódź 4:0 (2:0) !!

Poland fans has a extasy now

As for energy41's Question the most supported Clubs are Lech Poznan, Legia Warsaw, Wisla Krakow, Korona Kielce, Widzew Lodz, LKS Lodz. and Cracovia

Cheers for the info mate .

When I was in Krakow I heard Wisla and Cracovia fans hate each other a lot but I wasn't really familar whether one of those two fan groups is much bigger or not.

I think Krakow is 50-50 and It is the greatest and bloodiest derby in Poland.
We call it the holy war in Poland. On derby day people are out of the streets and everything comes to a complete halt. At the stadium it is very dangerous and the entire Police force in the reigon is mobilized. Last year a wisla fan was stabed to death by holligans posing as Cracovia fans. I think it is worth to go because it is always a great game.

Szczakowianka Jaworzno are in the 3rd league.

anybody here watch Wisla Plock? I hear theyve had some good teams in the league..

Jagiellonia Białystok! Dariusz Łatka is awesome!

Polish national team are good playing on qualfications of Euro 08 and unexpectedly we lead the group.
We beat Portugal (2-1) Belgium (1-0) Kazakhstan (1-0) Azerbeijan (5-0) and we maybe the first time qualficed to euro

Polish League
Table:
1. GKS Bełchatów 42
2. Zagłębie Lubin 39
3. Korona Kielce 37
4. ŁKS Łódź 32
5. Wisła Kraków 32
6. Legia Warszawa 20
7. Cracovia Kraków 20
8. Lech Poznań 26
9. Groclin Grodzisk Wlkp. 20
10. Arka Gdynia 22
11. Widzew Łódź 20
12. Górnik Zabrze 19
13. Górnik Łęczna 17
14. Odra Wodzisław 17
15. Pogoń Szczecin 15
16. Wisła Płock (P) 14

Fixtures:
Wisła Kraków 0:0 Lech Poznań
Korona Kielce 2:1 (2:1) Pogoń Szczecin
Wisła Płock -:- (-:-) Górnik Łęczna
Arka Gdynia -:- (-:-) Widzew Łodź
Górnik Zabrze 1:0 (0:0) Legia Warszawa
ŁKS Łódź 1:1 (0:0) Odra Wodzisław
GKS Bełchatów 3:1 (2:0) Zagłębie Lubin
Groclin Grodzisk 0:0 Cracovia Kraków

Arka Gdynia and Gornik Leczna are suspended by PZPN at corruption
Arka was degradation to III league Górnik to IV League.

Hey, just wondering what you all thought of Lukasz Fabianski since he's moving to Arsenal. Do you think he'll do well in the premiership? And also, what do you think his weaknesses are?

Lukasz in last match with Lech Poznan several errors has committed. It was put on line evil. Rivals have used it and goals have shot. But i think that Lukasz will advise in Arsenal. It's great talent

Thanks

is Miroslav Radovic good?
cause i see that he signed with Dinamo.

now i see that it was canceled.