Poland squad named for Germany and Moldova tests | OneFootball

(Photo by WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Poland coach Fernando Santos named his latest squad on Tuesday, ahead of June’s friendly test against Germany and the following Euro 2024 Qualifier in Moldova.

As has been the case often, the biggest talking points have been over who hasn’t made it into the 25-man selection, rather than who has. Kamil Glik isn’t included, despite having returned from his injury to play five of Benevento’s last six Serie B games. Matty Cash also misses out, with Santos explaining that it was felt as though he still wasn’t at 100 per cent fitness following his own calf injury, despite having played 90 minutes in each of Aston Villa’s final two league games.

In their places, Santos has opted to call the likes of Arkadiusz Reca, Mateusz Wieteska and Tomasz Kędziora back into the squad, whilst there is also a spot for former Górnik Zabrze Defender Przemysław Wiśniewski, who has impressed during his half-season at Serie A side Spezia.

Having spent time watching the domestic league, Santos has also felt comfortable including four Ekstraklasa players amongst his 25. Michał Skóraś will be the most likely to take the field, before his big money move from Lech Poznań to Belgium in the summer. Bartosz Slisz of Legia, Mateusz Łęgowski of Pogoń, and Ben Lederman of champions Raków could also make an appearance over the two games.

Perhaps one of the interesting things about Santos’ squad list is in which section certain players have been placed, and whether this will be reflected in the Portuguese coach’s tactics. Whilst usually employed as midfielders, Przemysław Frankowski, Jakub Kamiński and Skóraś have all been listed as strikers. There is also a place alongside the frontmen for winger/wing-back Nicola Zalewski.

Kuba

The friendly match against Germany in Warsaw is also notable for being the belated goodbye for former Poland captain and Wisła Kraków midfielder Jakub Błaszczykowski. Whilst not included in the squad, and there still being some doubt over whether he’ll take part in the training camp, Santos did confirm that he would appear on the pitch for his 109th and final Poland cap.

Santos did, however, state that he didn’t want Kuba’s goodbye to distract from his team’s important preparations for the qualification match against Moldova. The Białe-Orły currently sit in second place in Group E, with three points from two matches.

Poland host Germany for a friendly in Warsaw on 16 June, before travelling to face Moldova in Chisinau on 20 June.

FULL POLAND SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Bartłomiej Drągowski (Spezia), Łukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus).

Defenders: Jan Bednarek (Southampton), Bartosz Bereszyński (Napoli), Tomasz Kędziora (PAOK), Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal), Arkadiusz Reca (Spezia), Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont Foot), Przemysław Wiśniewski (Spezia).

Midfielders: Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City), Ben Lederman (Raków Częstochowa), Karol Linetty (Torino), Mateusz Łęgowski (Pogoń Szczecin), Bartosz Slisz (Legia Warsaw), Damian Szymański (AEK Athens), Sebastian Szymański (Feyenoord), Piotr Zieliński (Napoli).

Strikers: Przemysław Frankowski (RC Lens), Jakub Kamiński (VfL Wolfsburg), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus), Michał Skóraś (Lech Poznań), Karol Świderski (Charlotte FC), Nicola Zalewski (AS Roma).