World Cup qualifiers

The Polish team played surprisingly well. Aside from the two games against England, the Poles could exclusively post wins. But the Polish team was already qualified for the World Cup 2006 prior to the final group game in England. Thanks to the eight matches it won, the team got its ticket to Germany directly as one of the best second-placed sides.

Stars

Stars? Negative. Only goalie Jerzy Dudek from last season's Champions League winner FC Liverpool would belong to this category. From the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund's striker Ebi Smolarek and midfielder Jacek Krzynowek from Bayer Leverkusen, among others, are in the extended World Cup contingent.

Trainer

Pawel Janas trains the Polish international team. The coach has put together an effective troop. Already during the qualifiers, the team impressively showed that Poland should by no means be underestimated.

World Cup history

Poland is participating in the World Cup for the seventh time.

1938: Round of 16, 1974: Third place, 1978: Second round, 1982: Third place, 1986: Round of 16, 2002: Preliminary round

Match schedule: preliminary round

June 9, 2006: Poland -- Ecuador in Gelsenkirchen

June 14, 2006: Germany -- Poland in Dortmund

June 20, 2006: Costa Rica -- Poland in Hanover

World Cup base

Poland is setting up in Lower Saxony. The team is training at the college of physical education in Barsinghausen and living at the Hotel Fuchsbachtal.

Outlook

Is it a good omen for Poland that Germany is hosting the tournament? At the World Cup in 1974, which also took place in Germany, the Polish team posted its to date greatest victory. The Poles had caused a furor with their offensive playing and ended the tournament in third place. Poland's goal in Germany this time is initially not to get left behind already in the preliminary round. This was the case in 2002 at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.