16th October, National Stadium Warsaw, Poland - England

[Guy Crouchback]

Ever since 1973 Poland - England matches are considered classics in Poland,
and our teams have played quite often against each other since then (with
much better outcome for England generally): World Cup '86, qualifiers
to Italy '90, Sweden '92, USA '94, France '98, Euro 2000 and Germany 2006.

Now, we meet again during the worst crisis in Polish football in the last 25 years:

Inside Opinion: Waldemar Fornalik Choice Puts Poland in Third World

What would be your England's best 11 to play against Poland?

As for our team, I'd play:

GK Kuszczak (BHA)
-------------------------------
DL Wawrzyniak (Legia)
DC Glik (Torino)
DC Wasilewski (Anderlecht)
DR Piszczek (Dortmund)
-------------------------------
ML Mierzejewski (Trabzonspor)
DMC Krychowiak (Reims)
DMC Polanski (Mainz)
MC Obraniak (Bordeaux)
MR Błaszczykowski (Dortmund)
-------------------------------
SC Lewandowski (Dortmund)

My prediction: 1-1 (being a bit of an optimist here, I know).

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

With Polish Tommy in goal , I think England will struggle to score.

 

[Guy Crouchback]

With Polish Tommy in goal , I think England will struggle to score.

Tomek is a great keeper but not a miracle-worker and looking at our defence recently
I'm rather pessimistic about him keeping a clean sheet against England.

 

[Mellotron]

Now, we meet again during the worst crisis in Polish football in the last 25 years

Really? Thought you played some great stuff at the Euros.

 

[Guy Crouchback]

Really? Thought you played some great stuff at the Euros.

You must surely be joking, Mellotron.

 

[Paris]

Tomek is a great keeper but not a miracle-worker and looking at our defence recently
I'm rather pessimistic about him keeping a clean sheet against England.

If Hodgson selects and then plays Gary Hooper God help you!

 

[Paris]

....He scored 4 against Raith Rovers for crying out load! What more can he do? Turn water into wine

 

[Mellotron]

You must surely be joking, Mellotron.

No, I don't remember much I remember you being very exciting in the first game (I think it was). That goal from Blas was quality! A horribly dull and negative Greece team managed to nick a draw. You then managed a creditable draw against a very, very strong Russian side, narrowly going out by a single goal against the Czechs.

Also, 2012 and 2008 are the first times you've qualified for the Euros?! Surely that's a golden period?

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

shouldn't you be worrying about your next plumbing job

 

[hans kraay fan club]

shouldn't you be worrying about your next plumbing job

Shouldn't you be busy getting a firm of top boys together, for this fixture?

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Shouldn't you be busy getting a firm of top boys together, for this fixture?

all the local plumbing merchants have been informed , expecting a top notch turn out, all the right equipment for a quality outfit .

 

[hans kraay fan club]

all the local plumbing merchants have been informed , expecting a top notch turn out, all the right equipment for a quality outfit .

Hilarious I'm sure, but you've lost me now I'm afraid. I thought we were just playing a 'stereotypes' game.

 

[Guy Crouchback]

No, I don't remember much I remember you being very exciting in the first game (I think it was). That goal from Blas was quality! A horribly dull and negative Greece team managed to nick a draw. You then managed a creditable draw against a very, very strong Russian side, narrowly going out by a single goal against the Czechs.

Also, 2012 and 2008 are the first times you've qualified for the Euros?! Surely that's a golden period?

Golden period for Polish national team was the 1972-1982 decade. Then we won
two olympic medals (gold in 1972 and silver in 1976) and two World Cup medals
(1974 and 1982). The last great success was the silver olympic medal in Barcelona
in 1992. Since then Poland has won absolutely nothing. We were atrocious during
Euro 2008 and this year, playing at home, we couldn't even beat Greece and we
lost against the Czechs after a very weak performance. The only decent game
was the one against Russia, another team who failed to qualify from our group.

Golden period? More like a Period of Shame quickly turning into a Period of Mega-Shame
(read the linked article to learn why). Realistically, England should win that game in Warsaw
5-0.

 

[Guy Crouchback]

shouldn't you be worrying about your next plumbing job

My plumbing is in mint condition, and so is your mum's for that
matter. Say hello to her from me

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

My plumbing is in mint condition, and so is your mum's for that
matter. Say hello to her from me

original

 

[Guy Crouchback]

Not as original as your ilk's annual march, I'll grant you that...

http://brasil.indymedia.org/images/2007/06/385485.jpg

... are you going again this year?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

shouldn't you be worrying about your next plumbing job

original

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Not as original as your ilk's annual march, I'll grant you that...

http://brasil.indymedia.org/images/2007/06/385485.jpg

... are you going again this year?

nearly as good as the Russians marching through Warsaw in the summer don't you think?

 

[Guy Crouchback]

nearly as good as the Russians marching through Warsaw in the summer don't you think?

Yes, but with an extra twist to it.

By the way, I've noticed you don't have an avatar. May I suggest something
that would suit you just fine...

You don't have to thank me.

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

Remember watching the '73 game with the old man,we played in yellow (not long had a colour tv),alan ball sent off

my old man said to me "don't worry son we'll thrash them at wembley" well if it wasn't for Tomachekski we would of done

Funny though,England got slated for not qualifing,but as it turned out ,Poland were a very good team

only losing to West Germany on a waterlogged pitch in the semis,certainly remember Lato

must of been a very poignant game considering it was bearly only 30 years since the war

I moved to France around 5 years ago and my first job was apple picking

i'd say out of around 50 or 60 lads,90% were Poles

I found them really nice fellas and haven't got a bad word to say against them

Hope you go through in the play-offs