Russia v Poland [Euro 2012 Group A]

[DEAD_MAN_WALKING]

V


Venue - National Stadium, Warsaw

Live Streams - http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?...51&part=sports

First, the history: in Warsaw you could be forgiven for thinking that Poland's army is going into battle with near neighbours Russia. Local papers have gone to town with references to their victorious 1920 battle against the Bolshevik Army, fuelling simmering nationalist sentiments ahead of this 'eastern European derby'.

The highly-charged match also falls on Russia Day, a national holiday, and some Russian fans plan to march from the city centre to the stadium - potentially provocative.

But the football should prove entertainment enough. Co-hosts Poland brought the tournament quickly to life with a thrilling attacking display in the first-half of their dramatic opener against Greece, which finished 1-1.

Lukasz Piszczek - a former striker who only converted to full back two years ago - ran riot down the right, but his influence waned and star striker Robert Lewandowski, a team-mate at German champions Borussia Dortmund, was unable to make his dangerous presence felt as keenly as the match collapsed into attrition.

So the key question for Poland: can they reignite the heady waves of forward movement that threatened to overwhelm the Greeks at one points? And finish their chances.

They might need to if they want to stay alive in the tournament. Russia looked superb in their opener, getting stronger as the game went on and eventually pummelling the Czech Republic 4-1. Unbeaten in 15 matches, Dick Advocaat's side looked settled and strong: they also have a some stardust.

Arsenal fans will not have recognised Andrey Arshavin, orchestrator-in-chief, while young CSKA Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev lived up to the hype surrounding him with two goals. Roman Shirokov continued the form that helped make Zenit St Petersburg the Russian champions while Tottenham old boy Roman Pavyluchenko was cool and clinical when he replaced wasteful Aleksandr Kerzhakov.

Though the Russians have an array of attacking options, the proud Poles are certainly tough to break down - they kept five clean sheets prior to the draw with Greece. This could, no should, be tasty.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Poland & Russia have met in three friendlies since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, recording one win each.
• They have met twice in international tournaments: the 1972 Olympic Games (a 2-1 win for Poland, who went on to take the gold medal) and 10 years later at the 1982 World Cup (a 0-0draw that put Poland into the semi-finals and, at the same time, eliminated the Soviets).
• In total, Poland have met the Soviet Union/Russia 17 times. Russia have won nine tim, Poland four.
• Dick Advocaat and Franciszek Smuda played against each other in the North American Soccer League on 14 May 1978. Advocaat's Chicago Sting beat Smuda's Los Angeles Aztecs 2-1.

Poland

• Franciszek Smuda's side have lost just once in 13 games, a run lasting a year. Their only defeat in that time was a 2-0 loss to Italy in November 2011.
• They are ranked 62nd in the latest Fifa rankings, the lowest of any country at Euro 2012.
• Poland await their first win at the European Championships win. They have drawn two, lost two.
• They converted 2.6% of shots into goals at Euro 2008, the worst record at the tournament, and only scored one of 13 attempts at goal against Greece in their Euro 2012 opener.

Russia

• Russia are unbeaten in their last 15 matches, winning eight of them. This is their longest non-losing streak since going 17 matches unbeaten matches in a row between 1995 and 1996(winning 15).
• Aleksandr Kerzhakov had seven shots off target against Czech Republic, a record for any one player in a European Championship match.
• They had 58% possession in their 4-1 win against Czech Republic - and 17 shots on target.

[GWolf1]

Only the one goal in favour of Russia, but plenty of bookings, there's no love lost between either nation.

[GWolf1]

Poland: Tyton, Piszczek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Boenisch, Dudka, Polanski, Blaszczykowski, Murawski, Obraniak, Lewandowski. Subs: Sandomierski, Wojtkowiak, Kaminski, Matuszczyk, Rybus, Wawrzyniak, Sobiech, Mierzejewski, Wolski, Grosicki, Brozek.

Russia: Malafeev, Aniukov, Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov, Dzagoev, Kerzhakov, Arshavin. Subs: Akinfeev, Sharonov, Izmailov, Pavlyuchenko, Kombarov, Kokorin, Granat, Pogrebnyak, Nababkin, Glushakov, Semshov, Shunin.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

[Jasad]

The Russkies will take this one by at least two goals.

[idreemer]

Its always good for the atmosphere of the tournament to keep the hosts in as long as possible.
So come on Poland.
Maybe not Ukraine, unless they beat France and England win against Sweden. Then i'll cheer for Ukraine. But for now i'll just cheer for Poland.
Come on Poland.

[Admin]

Big game, enjoy it

[GWolf1]

Should be an electric and hostile atmosphere inside the stadium.

[DEAD_MAN_WALKING]

Good positive start by Poland so far...

[GWolf1]

Good positive start by Poland so far...

Definately, a couple of decent efforts so far, Russian goalie did well to save with his legs at close range with first real chance.

[idreemer]

That was some great football from Poland and would have been a lovely goal but, unfortunately, offside.

[GWolf1]

Good call from the linesman, definately offside for Polanski, good build up by Poland though.

[TscHeChan]

http://www.rt.com/news/poland-football-fans-clash-654/

bad news from pre-game

[RDuncan8]

[idreemer]

Meanwhile...

[GWolf1]

Great delivery of the free-kick from Arshavin, flicked header from youngster Dzagoev, 1-0 Russia, game needed it.

[Bunkertor]

Hö ?

[Maajid]

New here so apologies if this is not the right place to ask this, but whatever happened to the Dawgpwnd channel on Sopcast? It was 60 FPS and it didn't require that much bandwidth either.

[marknow]

Great strike, game on.

[idreemer]

Beautiful shot and goal from the edge of the box by Blaszczykowski - the Poland captain.
1-1.

[DEAD_MAN_WALKING]

All square 1-1 the Polish captain scores...

New here so apologies if this is not the right place to ask this, but whatever happened to the Dawgpwnd channel on Sopcast? It was 60 FPS and it didn't require that much bandwidth either.

It still shows up.