Poland coach urges calm before crucial Euro opener
June 8th, 2012 - 3:30 pm ICT by IANSWarsaw, June 8 (IANS) Poland coach Franciszek Smuda has said his team must keep calm ahead of the crucial Euro 2012 opener against Greece here Friday.
“Now, It is better to be calm than to talk too much,” Smuda told the pre-match press conference at the Warsaw National Stadium.
One of the co-hosts, Poland were drawn into the “weaker” Group A which also comprises Russia, Greece and the Czech Republic.
High expectation lies on Poland who boasts home advantage plus striker Robert Lewandowski, playmaker Jakub Blaszczkowski, and defender Lukasz Piszczek, the axis of Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, reported Xinhua.
“For sure, we will play all out to win the match. But looking back to Euro history, there were many draws in the opening games,” Smuda said. “But a draw means we are still in the tournament. We still have two matches to play and we still have a chance.”
The coach, who has managed Poland for two and a half years, expressed his hope that his team can be a dark horse.
Poland is competing in Euro finals for only the second time. In 2008, they failed to survive the group stage, earning one tie and two losses.
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Tags: axis, czech republic, dark horse, draws, euro 2012, euro finals, group stage, high expectation, home advantage, jakub, lukasz piszczek, match, playmaker, poland, robert lewandowski, second time, smuda, two and a half years, warsaw, xinhua