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The final round of group matches kick off today with co hosts Poland and Czech Republic going head to head at the Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw. The Czechs staged a great comeback in their last match against Greece and can fancy progressing to the next round if they manage to hold on against the Polish side. Poland, meanwhile, have to win today if they are to make it past the group stages after managing a draw against the Russians earlier this week. The stakes are high and it promises to be a cracking encounter between these two teams who go into this in virtual play off with everything to play for.
Poland have been a decent side so far and they are aware of the fact that nothing is lost yet. Their fate is still in their own hands and a win today will ensure their passage to the quarters at the cost of their opponents today, the Czechs. Franciszek Smuda is blessed with some fine players. The Dortmund trio of Lewandowski, Piszczek and Blaszczykowski have been the primary enforcers of this Polish side who were written off prior to the Euro kick off. The pressure of playing in front of the home crowd seemed to have got the better of them as they crumbled against a 10 men Greece to draw their first match. But today, the Poles can hardly afford to let nerves fail as they have the quality it takes to be in the top eight teams in Europe.
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Czechs have bounced back well after being decimated by the Russians and earned themselves vital three points against the Greek side who have looked completely out of ideas in the tournament so far. Tomas Rosicky and Wolfsburg man Petr Jiracek were the partners in crime as they destroyed the Euro 2004 champions on Tuesday. The struggling form of Milan Baros is a concern for Michal Bilek as the top scorer of the last edition of the Euro championships has failed to replicate the same form this time around. Petr Cech has not looked the safe hands that he is while at Chelsea but Bilek would know that a draw is good enough for them to go through.
In the past five encounters between these two sides, Poland have emerged victorious on three occasions while the Czechs have won just once. They met twice during the qualification stages of the 2010 World Cup and won a game each. So if history would have it, this is going to be a real close game.
There are injury concerns for both teams but it is believed that most of them would be able to shake them off and take part in today’s vital clash. For the host nation, Eugen Polanski has a bruised knee and a final take on his fitness would be taken later in the day. Defender Damien Perquis and midfielder Dariusz Dudka are also doubts but they are expected to start. Tomas Rosicky picked up an injury in the last game and could miss out on the action, dealing a huge blow to the Czech side who bank heavily on the Arsenal playmaker. The Czech captain was brought off midway through the game against Greece with an Achilles injury but has a slim chance of leading his side out today.
Poland
Szczesny; Piszczek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Boenisch; Dudka, Blaszcsykowski, Polanski, Murawski; Obraniak, Lewandowski
Czech
Cech; Gebre Selassie, Sivok, Kadlec, Kimbersly; Hubschmann, Plasil; Jiracek, Kolar, Pilar; Baros
Michal Bilek will be sweating over his captain’s fitness as Daniel Kolar who would be the natural choice to fill in, fared poorly against the Greeks in the second half and had to be withdrawn. Smuda had earlier expressed how his side were overwhelmed by the pressure of the home crowd against Greece in their opening encounter, it was like a ‘tornado’. It would be down to the nerves today as all it takes is a small mistake to lose encounters as important as these. Poland have shown that they are a good footballing side and created chances aplenty against Russia as well, but failed to take them. Smuda will hope for some better luck in front of goal as a one goal lead is often very dangerous to play with.
History is on Poland’s side as they have won the last three times these two teams met on Polish shores. Czechs bank heavily on their captain and playmaker Tomas Rosicky and his absence could be music to the ears of the men in the Polish camp. Although the Czechs find themselves in second position with three points, Poland have been a better side so far this Euro. Very disciplined at the back and have adopted the counter attacking style to near about perfection. It would be a difficult guess, but Poland in my opinion are the favorites for this match.
