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Matchreport: Matchday 1 - Friday, 08 June 2012 - 18:00 h

Poland	vs	Greece

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Match details

Match Date: Friday, 08 June 2012

Match Time: 18:00 h

Playground: Stadion Narodowy w Warszawie

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo

Attendances : 56.070

Extra info

Weather:	dry
Fieldcondition:	normal

Starting line up

Goalkeeper
1. Wojciech Szczęsny	1. Chalkias Kostas
Defender
20. Łukasz Piszczek 13. Marcin Wasilewski 15. Damien Perquis 2. Sebastian Boenisch	15. Vassilis Torossidis 19. Sokratis Papastathopoulos 8. Avraam Papadopoulos 20. José Holebas
Midfielder
16. Jakub Błaszczykowski 7. Eugen Polanski 11. Rafał Murawski 10. Ludovic Obraniak 8. Maciej Rybus	18. Sotiris Ninis 21. Kostas Katsouranis 2. Giannis Maniatis 10. Giorgos Karagounis 7. Giorgos Samaras
Forward
9. Robert Lewandowski	17. Fanis Gekas

Manager
Franciszek Smuda	Fernando Santos

Substitutes

70. Minute  Maciej Rybus (Midfielder)  Przemysław Tytoń (Goalkeeper)

37. Minute  Avraam Papadopoulos (Defender)  Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Defender) 46. Minute  Sotiris Ninis (Midfielder)  Dimitris Salpingidis (Midfielder) 68. Minute  Fanis Gekas (Forward)  Kostas Fortounis (Midfielder)

Events

17' Robert Lewandowski 51' Dimitris Salpingidis 71' Giorgos Karagounis 54' Giorgos Karagounis 45' José Holebas 35' Sokratis Papastathopoulos 44' Sokratis Papastathopoulos 69' Wojciech Szczęsny

Match statistics

Poland

Goalkeeper

Name G A 1. Wojciech Szczęsny 0 0 Przemysław Tytoń 0 0

Defender

Name G A 20. Łukasz Piszczek 0 0 13. Marcin Wasilewski 0 0 15. Damien Perquis 0 0 2. Sebastian Boenisch 0 0

Midfielder

Name G A 16. Jakub Błaszczykowski 0 1 7. Eugen Polanski 0 0 11. Rafał Murawski 0 0 10. Ludovic Obraniak 0 0 8. Maciej Rybus 0 0

Forward

Name G A 9. Robert Lewandowski 1 0

Greece

Goalkeeper

Name G A 1. Chalkias Kostas 0 0

Defender

Name G A 15. Vassilis Torossidis 0 0 19. Sokratis Papastathopoulos 0 0 8. Avraam Papadopoulos 0 0 20. José Holebas 0 0 Kyriakos Papadopoulos 0 0

Midfielder

Name G A 18. Sotiris Ninis 0 0 21. Kostas Katsouranis 0 0 2. Giannis Maniatis 0 0 10. Giorgos Karagounis 0 0 7. Giorgos Samaras 0 0 Dimitris Salpingidis 1 0 Kostas Fortounis 0 0

Forward

Name G A 17. Fanis Gekas 0 0

Summary

Poland opened Euro 2012 with a 1-1 draw against Greece in a match they probably felt they could have one but in the end were lucky not to lose.  Poland dominated Greece in the first half but only managed one goal, which came from a 17th minute Robert Lewandowski header. Towards the end of the first half Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off for a dubious second yellow card. The tactical changes Fernando Santos made at half time closed the gaps in defense and made them look much more dangerous going forward, even with only 10 men on the field.  Poland could not adapt and Dimitris Salpingidis tied the game in the 51st minute. Things went from bad to worse for Poland as in the 69th minute Salpingidis was brought down by Wojciech Szczęsny in the box.  It was a straight red for the Polish keeper and a penalty for Greece.  Thankfully Szczęsny's replacement Przemysław Tytoń saved the spot kick from Giorgos Karagounis. Although Poland avoided defeat in the opening match it is rather worrying that what looked like a very potent attack in the first half was so easily shut down even with a man advantage.  The meeting on Tuesday against powerful Russia is looking rather ominous. For more tactical analysis on the match check out Zonal Marking.