PREVIEW: Euro 2008 Group B, Germany v Poland

Germany

vs

Poland

Sunday, June 8th, 1830 CET
Klagenfurt (Austria) – Travel to Klagenfurt

THE BIG PICTURE

For many this is the first chance to see pre-tournament favorites Germany and their massive attack, but this will also be a rematch of the World Cup game which saw Germany defeat their eastern neighbors 1-0 on a 91st minute goal by Oliver Neuville. So Poland wants revenge, and Germany wants to steamroll everyone to fulfill expectations. Plus Germany = goals (35 in qualifying, no one else had 30), so this one’s fun for the neutrals as well.

GERMANY

Three Key Players:
Michael Ballack – After an off year under Mourinho, the superduperstar has returned to his stellar form and looks ready to lead Germany to the promised land.
Miroslav Klose – The consistent goalscorer lives for these international tournaments, particularly the ones in or around Germany.
Jens Lehmann – Germany has a very good defense along with that attack, but how will a year on the bench in North London translate into form this summer?

Germany squad
Germany Team Profile

Team News: None, really, just that Bastian Schweinsteiger’s hair is looking extra blonde and Arne Freidrich is the new king of the ping pong table.

Triviatastic: Germany has won a European championship every decade since the first time they participated in 1972 (also their first title). It’s the last Euro tournament of this decade and they’re the favorites, for gamblers in the room…

Visit Jan and Angela at the Germany Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy a Germany jersey from USA or UK

POLAND

Three Key Players:
Artur Boruc – There are three larger than life keepers at this tourney (Buffon, Cech and Casillas), but Boruc isn’t all that far behind.
Ebi Smolarek – His dad was a striker for country, and Ebi did him proud with 9 goals in qualifying. Poland will need more of the same.
Roger Guerreiro – One of the most intriguing stories at the Euros. Brazilian born, he didn’t receive citizenship until literally weeks before the tournament. Now Poland will hope for an injection of that patented Brazilian attacking flair with Jakub Blaszczykowski out of the tournament.

* – And Roger will now be known as Roger Guerreiroski.

Poland
Poland Team Profile

Team News: Jakub Błaszczykowski and Tomasz Kuszczak were injured and had to be sent home, the former a key member of the team making it a huge blow, but keeper is a spot where Poland has more than adequate cover, despite having an unheralded squad. Lukasz Piszczek was called in to replace Jakub and Wojciech Kowalewski is now third choice in net.

Triviatastic: This is the first Euro tournament Poland has qualified for despite some quality performances (two 3rd place finishes) in the World Cup.

Visit Tomasz at the Poland Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy a Poland jersey from USA or UK

BIG BATTLES

Polish Defense vs Polish Attack Poland actually conceded more goals in qualifying than anyone else in this tournament. So Boruc & Friends will have their work cut out against the combined 64 international goals of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. [Insert rimshot here.]

Jacek Krzynówek vs Jens Lehmann One could say the new, somewhat unpredictable ball combined with Jacek’s cannon of a left foot is enough of a matchup in itself, but neither of these players have been featuring regularly at club level this year, despite being integral members of the national team. Will either show a little bit of rust?

Poland vs History Poland has never ever beaten German. With the black, yellow and red the big bad wolf in Swissaustria, can’t imagine they’d enjoy anything more than a win.

Bet on Euro 2008 here.

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