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Always keeping an eye on the ball: Robert Lewandowski
Photo:
MATEUSZ SLODKOWSKI / CYFRASPORT / imago images / Newspix
POLAND
Corner, goal: This is how the successful Polish EM qualification can be summed up. In ten games, five hits of this type were scored, the formula "standard strength plus defensive strength plus Lewandowski" seemed reserved for the Poles (at 6 p.m. against Slovakia; TV: ARD; stream: MagentaTV). But during the year and the Corona break, the association changed coaches, Paulo Sousa succeeded Jerzy Brzęczek - and suddenly the Poles are a little lucky bag.
Sousa has made it his business to use superstar and world footballer Lewandowski as best as possible. Only: How this will work is still unclear shortly before the start of the tournament. In the calendar year 2021 there were three draws, one defeat and only one win against football dwarf Andorra. Sousa tried three and four chain systems, gave various players a chance, but a root formation has to be found during the tournament.
Then the professionals from the second row are also the focus: Piotr Zielinski from SSC Napoli is an attacking midfielder of high international class, Kamil Glik and Grzegorz Krychowiak have experience, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny combines both.
Numerous young players are now crowding into the team around this axis - the 22-year-old Jakub Moder, for example, is considered a strong running talent in midfield, he could play an important role in the European Championship.
In terms of quality, the Poles should have a good chance of surviving the group stage.
Even reaching the quarter-finals would not be unrealistic.
But then not only Lewandowski has to work, but also the substructure.
SLOVAKIA
Five years ago Slovakia achieved a respectable success: a team led by Marek Hamsik, the hard-working midfield designer with the distinctive mohawk, actually survived the group phase at their first European Championship.
As one of the best thirds, it went into the round of 16, where it was over against the German team.
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Last played in Sweden: Marek Hamsik
Photo: VLASTIMIL VACEK / AFP
Hamsik, now 33 years old, is still there. But his level of performance is uncertain. In 2019, the long-time star of SSC Napoli first went to Dalian in China, followed by his return to Europe in March - to the international, at best, second-rate Swedish league, to IFK Göteborg. After the European Championships, Hamsik will move on to Trabzonspor in Turkey, the epitome of loyalty to the club at the age of twelve, Napoli in Vita, has become a wanderer.
Meanwhile, Hamsik has not been on the field for the national team since last autumn.
If Slovakia wants to repeat the coup of 2016, then it urgently needs its leader.
Central defender Milan Skriniar won the championship with Inter Milan, who embodies international class.
The rest of Hamsik's team-mates are not under contract with top clubs - or are looking for their form like sixth Stanislav Lobotka, who succeeded Hamsik in Naples but has not been able to assert himself there so far.
With this uncertain starting position, the Slovaks are the underdog.
After all: with four draws and one win in the last five games, the team can claim to be unbeaten in 2021.