Germany might only be across the border but Poland's journey to Euro 2024 was gruelling.
After parting ways with divisive manager Czeslaw Michniewicz following a controversy-laden World Cup campaign, the Polish FA appointed one of the most successful international coaches of the 21st century: Fernando Santos. Fresh out of the Portugal job, Santos promised to be a safe pair of hands to oversee a changing of the guard in what was a favourable qualifying group.
Fast forward to three minutes into his first game away to the Czech Republic and Santos was stood exasperated on the touchline watching Poland go 2-0 down. His dour body language was a fixture of his short-lived tenure.
He only lasted five more games, one of which was an historic 3-2 defeat in Moldova, the lowest-rank team to have ever beaten Poland. Still in with a decent chance of qualifying directly, under-21 boss Michal Probierz was handed the reins - and his job was much about restoring spirit off the pitch as producing results on it.
Nicknamed the 'Polish Pep Guardiola', Probierz immediately made big calls such as dropping veteran midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak and ever-present defender Jan Bednarek to send a firm message to a squad which had grown disillusioned under Santos. Although Poland didn't get the points required to finish first or second in their qualifying group, they had a play-off spot to fall back on following a successful 2022 Nations League campaign under Michniewicz.
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A 5-1 win at home to 10-man Estonia was little more than a confidence booster of a semi-final, but when Poland went to Cardiff five days later, Probierz's work to breathe new life into his team bared fruit. The Bialo-Czerwoni (White-Red) produced a throwback warrior-like display against a desperate Welsh side to eventually win on penalties after 120 goalless minutes.
Setting up in a 3-5-2 formation, Probierz has focussed on making Poland stronger defensively, although he demands that his players shoot on sight when given the chance and has been critical of them in possession. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was the hero against Wales and it's safe to presume he'll be kept busy again in Germany.
2016 finalists and many people's favourites, France, the resurgent Netherlands and in-form Austria join Poland in Group D - the group with the highest average FIFA world ranking - with the aforementioned trio all confident of reaching the knockouts. For the Poles, it's all about the approach.
Your turn! Will Poland reach the knockout stage? Let us know your prediction in the comments section
Michal Probierz rescued Poland midway through their below-par qualifying campaign (Alexander Scheuber - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)Probierz has promised that this tournament won't be like the World Cup in Qatar, where Poland were criticised for a lack of, well, anything exciting. "Getting out of the group stage is our goal but we want to play football, not sit back and park the bus like in past tournaments," Probierz, who recently became the only Poland manager to go unbeaten in their first eight games, told Meczyki.
"Polish fans deserve joy from the national team. Fear isn't on the menu - a strong group only fuels our fire."
Notice we haven't mentioned a certain Robert Lewandowski yet? That's because the past two years at international level have been without doubt his most difficult of the last decade.
Poland's captain and all-time top goalscorer netted just three times in qualifying and has frequently cut a frustrated figure with the eagle on his chest. But even at 35, Lewandowski now seems to be enthused again thanks to the project which Poland have stumbled upon under Probierz.
"I feel calm and have a very positive attitude. Not only for the tournament, but also for this training camp," the Barcelona striker remarked earlier this month. "We feel strong and are optimistic. Of course, we are aware of the group we are in, but we are going there to show Europe what we've got."
Robert Lewandowski didn't score in either of Poland's play-off matches (Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)Sadly for Lewandowski, his 150th cap - which came in a 2-1 win against Turkey on Monday - was marred by injury. The master marksman, who earlier had set up strike partner Karol Swiderski - another fitness concern ahead facing the Netherlands on Sunday - limped off 33 minutes into the friendly in Warsaw. It was yet another blow for Probierz, as striker Arkadiusz Milik was agonisingly ruled out of the tournament after suffering a knee injury just 90 seconds into Friday's 3-1 victory over Ukraine.
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Lewandowski could follow fellow legend Szczesny into international retirement once their Euros adventure comes to an end, making this a potentially bittersweet summer for the Poles. With the likes of Krychowiak and Kamil Glik out of the picture, there's now an increased focus on the next generation. Left-sided duo Nicola Zalewski (Roma) and Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal) are among Poland's brightest prospects, each making themselves nailed-on starters under Probierz.
Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski, who'll join Inter Milan on a free transfer next month, will feel that it's his time to step up for his country after turning 30 in May. Meanwhile, Bednarek - whose performances divide opinion in Poland - has earned his place back in the team and is riding high off the back of promotion to the Premier League with Southampton.
Nicola Zalewski (left) scored a 90th-minute winner against Turkey on Monday, his first international goal (Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)Watch out for the industrious displays of Jakub Piotrowski in midfield, who's also got an eye for goal. Kamil Grosicki, now 36, is still knocking around, having finished the season on 16 goals for Polish cup finalists Pogon Szczecin. There was no place in Probierz's squad for Aston Villa's Matty Cash, though, with debate over whether or not he'd have been fit for their pre-tournament training camp.
Poland's curtain-raiser in Hamburg against a free-scoring Netherlands side will no-doubt set the tone for their crucial clash with Ralf Rangnick's Austria at the Olympiastadion, likely a battle for third place. Then they'll face France in Dortmund, where Lewandowski will hope to roll back the years on his old stomping ground and send his nation through to the knockout stage against the odds.
Poland's Group D fixtures
- Netherlands - Sunday, June 16 (2pm) Hamburg
- Austria - Friday, June 21 (5pm) Berlin
- France - Tuesday, June 25 (5pm) Dortmund
Poland squad for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Marcin Bulka (Nice)
Defenders: Jan Bednarek (Southampton), Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal), Bartosz Salamon (Lech Poznan), Bartosz Bereszynski (Empoli), Pawel Dawidowicz (Hellas Verona), Tymoteusz Puchacz (Kaiserslautern), Sebastian Walukiewicz (Empoli)
Midfielders: Przemyslaw Frankowski (Lens), Jakub Moder (Brighton), Taras Romanczuk (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Damian Szymanski (AEK Athens), Michal Skoras (Club Brugge), Nicola Zalewski (Roma), Kamil Grosicki (Pogon Szczecin), Jakub Piotrowski (Ludogorets Razgrad), Bartosz Slisz (Atlanta United), Sebastian Szymanski (Fenerbahce), Kacper Urbanski (Bologna), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)
Forwards: Adam Buksa (Antalyaspor), Karol Swiderski (Hellas Verona), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Krzysztof Piatek (Istanbul Basaksehir)
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