Interview with Leo Beenhakker
Thursday, 15 May 08, 23:20 PM
Leo Beenhakker: I came back from the Polish Cup final with a headache. When the best two of Polish teams play, moveover, without any pressure, because both are guaranteed to participate in the cups, one expects a beautiful match and open game. Would want to call: "Go on, play! Nevermind, win or lose, but seek to score, seek to win." But no. Both teams above all, they did not want to lose a goal. I was watching this match, the play of Matusiak, Łobodziński, Wawrzyniak and the rest, and I was thinking about what awaits us in the Euro 2008 match with Germany. For God's sake, how I'm going to make them play on the level I need in three weeks? On the level of matches with Portugal, because in so we have to play on Euro. I was thinking to myself, that this qualification and style, in which we sometimes play, that's a real miracle. And we need a miracle again on the Euro. And therefore I can't wait till Monday, when the boys finally gather and start preparing.
Has Roger deserved to be chosen the best player of the final?
- Absolutely. I say it honestly and not to legitimate my decision to appoint him to the Euro. Roger was the only player in Belchatow, who wanted to play football. I don't say that he played very well. I say that he was pulling the game, he played forward, was creative.
What role would you entrust to Roger in Polish national team?
- Of the classic no. 10, but he may also, as he does in Legia with Vukovic, play on the position of defensive midfielder. In the national team the roles of defensive midfielders are such, that Lewandowski acts as a defender, guard the backs, and Dudka, Murawski and Garguła play forward. Number 10 meets the different functions, depending on the opponent. Sometimes he must be somewhat backed striker, sometimes he plays a role of the midfielder as Garguła, Roger or Majewski.
What may Roger give to the team?
- He is a very creative player. He sees more than others. As no one else in Polish Premier League, he can open the way to goal for his partner. He has an eye to find uncovered player, and once he aw him, he is able to pass successfully. In Belchatow he had two, three such passes, which I thought that they are perfect.
Looking at the game of Matusiak, we were wondering, who is making the mistake: the coach Beenhakker, invoking him, and not on Paweł Brożek for Euro, or the coach Skorża, who doesn't let him play in the league.
- I have bet on the players who have proven to me in the qualifying rounds, that they can rise from the league level to national team level. The fact that a player is playing in the club, makes no guarantee that he's going to play at the same level in the national team. Also, we have three matches in ten days. Look at Maciej Iwański. I was giving a chance to him, because he played in a club on good level. But in the national team he played on the same level. On the other hand, Łobodziński has shown me, even in the match with Kazakhstan, that he can be go above the average when the need comes. Matusiak is a puzzle for me. I will watch him on the preparation camp in Germany.
Artur Wichniarek scored ten goals in Bundesliga. We have heard that your staff has done a research that led to a conclusion, that he more often than the other players loses the ball before the a penalty area?
- We have reviewed the play of each player in every respect in many, many matches. I agree taht from the attacker playing with the number 9, we should require firstly and foremostly the goals. But to shot, you first need to find yourself close to the goal. And how many times we'll have an opportunity at goal in the match with Germany, you reckon?
Three or four?
- I hope that five. In today's football, at the highest level if both teams have five opportunities to score, it is a great game. This means that the most important task of number 9 is to move the ball from the rear to the front. Against Germany we are going to play under pressure and we will have to be smart to overcome it. This can be done in two ways. One we could see in the Polish Cup finals - close your eyes and shoot the ball out of the stadium. In Belchatow PZPN has lost four balls this way.
The second way is to shoot the ball from the back, look forward for the number 9 and send it to him. If the attacker is of the class of Raul, van Nistelrooy or Drogba, he will hold the ball and wait until the rest of the team left their own half and join the game. Miroslav Klose also play this way. Not only he scores, he is also able to skillfully hold the ball until Ballack and Schweinsteiger approach. All the time he controls the game. That's why, he is good.
I've reviewed in this respect all my potential players, how many balls can they hold, wait, and create a hazard for every ten balls they get. And how many of them they lose by allowing the rival to make a counterattack when the team is disorganized. You would be shocked if you could see the results of this research. If the fans could know more, they would understand some of my choices. Because in the match with Germany, we will be under pressure for about 60 minutes, and with Croatia even more. Austria will play differently, they will be waiting for our mistake and then react. I have honestly analysed, what people do I need for these matches. The fact that someone scored one goal in the last round, will not change my assessment of their skills and suitability. I say this with all respect for all the Jareks, Sikoras, Brożeks or Zieńczuks.
Who in this case is your number 1 position at number 9?
- It could be Ebi Smolarek, Maciej Żurawski or Matusiak. It depends on the opponent and in what form they will be. These are the questions to which I will seek answers during the preparation camp in Germany. For example, Matusiak will have to give me the answer on the field, is he able in such a short time to regain the form from the qualifications. If not, I will have to take a bad decision for him. But at least I am sure that he is able to play at a good level as the number 9. Many times we were practising that. I said to him: "Radek, hold the ball. See, your colleagues are 50 meters away from you. Wait until they are within 20 meters, and then you can reverse to the goal and do whatever you want - shoot, dribble, pass ...". And he knows that. I explain to him, that when he is facing back from a goal, he plays for the team. As is is facing front, then he may play his own game, has the freedom of action.
As you can see, the selection is something a little more complicated than to shout: "Hey, this guy scored yesterday, bring him on to the national team." Trust me, my staff did their homework well. We have reviewed every player concentrating for group matches and hence such choices.
What's with the health of Dariusz Dudka and Grzegorz Bronowicki? Apparently, the first one suffered a knee injury?
- Yes? I was surprised, he didn't play in the Polish Cup final, the medical staff of Wisla Krakow assured me, that he is healthy. I've asked my medical staff to double-check that. Rehabilitation of Bronowicki is progressing very well. We do not expect any problems with that.
In the German weekly newspaper "Sport Bild" you said, that you do not fear "the match with Germany, as the team of the coach Joachim Loewa is now an average team, deprived of world-class players and the mentality of the winner. This latter are today in Europe only Italians".
- I didn't say anything like that. I said that Klinsmann did revolution in the style of the Germans on the offensive game and he also changed the way of preparation. They are not playing the system with a libero, they switched to 4-4-2. They also play with the will ofwinning every match. I didn't also say anything about the Berlin wall. The man who wrote it, is stupid. I do not know whether he wanted to heat the atmosphere before our game? I will find him and find out.
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How Leo Beenhakker was selecting a squad...
Friday, 09 May 08, 22:40 PM
Leo Beenhakker has decided, that Arkadiusz Radomski, Artur Wichniarek, Dawid Janczyk, Lukasz Piszczek, Michal Golinski and Wojciech Kowalewski will not go to Donaueschingen for preparation camp before EURO 2008. Without three strikers, it seems that Poland is not going to be very dangerous offensively.
Here's what Leo Beenhakker said after announcing his decision:
1. Team welfare. Making any decision, I've been refering to what's the best for the team. I've done my best to make this group of players a real team. A team, in which there is full understanding and good coordination.
2. Skills of the players.
3. Team balance. In several cases I had three great players for one postion, but I knew that I can take only two of them - the main player and his substitute.
4. Physical and psychical form. It's going to be really hard tournament. Difficult matches every four days. I was looking for the players, who not only would recover fast physically but they wouldn't celebrate the win for the next three days or woudn't have been depressed for three days after eventual defeat. We won't have time for this on EURO 2008.
5. Social skills. Building the team, I'm judging also players' skills to be together in a group. In the best case we're going to spend six weeks together and I must be sure that players will be able to cooperate and coexist together.For many months me and my staff were analyzing every single detail. So now, if any Paul scores a goal in a match or any Peter scores in another, please don't call for them in the squad. I've already told you all: everything has been analyzed individually.
Well, we will see soon if he was right. I hope so.
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Leo Beenhakker has announced 31 players
Wednesday, 16 April 08, 23:02 PM
Although the official deadline of presentind the squad for EURO 2008 is 28 May, Leo Beenhakker has announced 31 players that he will consider when making the final decision.
Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic Glasgow), Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United), Łukasz Fabiański (Arsenal), Wojciech Kowalewski (Kolporter Korona Kielce)
Really, no one would expect anything else here. The first three will probably go to EURO, I reckon, and Kowalewski will stay in Poland.
Defenders: Jacek Bąk (Austria Wien), Arkadiusz Radomski (Austria Wien), Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht Brussels), Paweł Golański (Steaua Bucuresti), Mariusz Jop (FK Moscow), Adam Kokoszka (Wisła Kraków), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia Warszawa), Michał Żewłakow (Olympiakos Pireus), Grzegorz Bronowicki (Crvana Zvezda Belgrad)
Marcin Kus is the only defender who played against USA, but he's not on this list.
Midfielders: Dariusz Dudka (Wisła Kraków), Wojciech Łobodziński (Wisła Kraków), Jakub Błaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund), Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rafał Murawski (Lech Poznań), Łukasz Garguła (PGE GKS Bełchatów), Jacek Krzynówek (VfL Wolfsburg), Euzebiusz Smolarek (Racing Santander), Radosław Majewski (Groclin Grodzisk Wlkp.), Michał Goliński (Zagłębie Lubin), Michał Pazdan (Górnik Zabrze).
No changes from the match with USA. Only Euzebiusz Smolarek is listed here, not as a striker.
Strikers: Maciej Żurawski (AE Larissa), Tomasz Zahorski (Górnik Zabrze), Radosław Matusiak (Wisła Kraków), Łukasz Piszczek (Hertha Berlin), Marek Saganowski (FC Southampton), Artur
Wichniarek (Arminia Bielefeld), Dawid Janczyk (CSKA Moscow).
In the post presenting the squad for the match with USA I was wondering, why Leo Beenhakker doesn't consider Wichniarek and Saganowski. And they're here. We don't see Paweł Brożek (from Wisła Kraków) and it's nothing strange, because this guy has totally lost his chances to go to EURO 2008 in the last match. He was simply pathetic and everyone was afraid that he could be the weakest link of our national team.
The other missing guy is Ireneusz Jeleń (Auxerre). I really have no idea, why Loe Beenhakker is not giving him a chance - he's doing pretty well in Le Championat.
Another name that still may appear on the final list going to be presented on 28th May is Roger Guerreiro (Legia Warszawa). I've written a post about him some time ago - he's from Brazil, but he has applied for Polish citizenship and everyone keeps wondering whether he'll find his place in the squad for EURO 2008, or not.
"Have fun trying to guess the ultimate squad" - said Leo Beenhakker to journalists.
He added, that there's going to be three goalkeepers, eight defenders, ten midfielders (4 wingers, 4 defensive and 2 offensive) and three strikers in the final list.
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Polish squad for the match with USA and probably for EURO 2008
Thursday, 13 March 08, 18:42 PM
Leo Beenhakker has announced the list of players for the match with USA on 26th March 2008. The list of players who will go to EURO 2008 is going to be announced right after this match, so we could expect not many changes. Although:
"This is the squad only for the match with USA, we are not closing the door for anyone. The list is not set in stone." - said Dariusz Dziekanowski, Leo Beenhakker's assistant.
But my personal feeling is that changes in this list are going to be done only in the case of injury.
Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic Glasgow), Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United), Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal)
No surprises. Artur Boruc's position in the squad is inarguable and these three are simply the best Polish goalkeepers, despite Kuszczak and Fabianski being only reserve goalkeepers in their teams.
Defenders: Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht Brussels), Pawel Golanski (Steaua Bucuresti), Mariusz Jop (FK Moscow), Jacek Bak (Austria Wien), Michal Zewlakow (Olympiakos Pireus), Grzegorz Bronowicki (Crvena Zvezda Belgrad), Arkadiusz Radomski (Austria Wien), Marcin Kus (Kolporter Korona Kielce), Adam Kokoszka (Wisla Krakow), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia Warszawa)
Arkadiusz Radomski being in the conflict with his coach, will not be able to practice before EURO. But in the past, he and Jacek Bak they were forming our best defense block. I'm also looking forward to see some goals scores by Adam Kokoszka - this guy can be the real threat for unsuspecting opponents. Marcin Kus, Adam Kokoszka and Jakub Wawrzyniak got really big chance to prove themselves worthy in Polish national team.
Midfielders: Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dariusz Dudka (Wisla Krakow), Rafał Murawski (Lech Poznan), Michal Pazdan (Gornik Zabrze), Michal Golinski (Zaglebie Lubin), Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund), Wojciech Lobodzinski (Wisla Krakow), Lukasz Gargula (PGE GKS Belchatow), Jacek Krzynowek (VfL Wolfsburg), Radoslaw Majewski (Groclin Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wlkp.)
Leo Beenhakker has tested many midfielders in the last 6 month, so I'm sure that he has chosen the best of them.
Strikers: Tomasz Zahorski (Gornik Zabrze), Maciej Zurawski (AE Larissa), Euzebiusz Smolarek (Racing Santander), Lukasz Piszczek (Hertha Berlin), Radoslaw Matusiak (Wisla Krakow), Pawel Brozek (Wisla Krakow), Dawid Janczyk (CSKA Moscow).
The most surprising name: Dawid Janczyk. 19 years-old reserve player of CSKA Moscow doesn't seem like having enough experience to be in the squad for European Championships, but we'll see in June.
Several names are missing on this list, mostly Ireneusz Jelen (Auxerre), Artur Wichniarek (Arminia Bielefeld) and Marek Saganowski (Southampton). One of our biggest problems is the lack of classic centre striker and any of these guys could play really well on this position.
Alltogether this squad looks really well and I can't wait to see them in action
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Poland loses to foreign players in Orange Ekstraklasa
Wednesday, 12 March 08, 18:17 PM
So... 84 days left to EURO 2008 and Polish national team loses 2-3 to the team made from foreign players playing in Orange Ekstraklasa. Nothing to be happy about.
For Leo Beenhakker's excuse, the team wasn't actually Polish national team, at least not in the sense of EURO 2008 - from the first squad we could see Jacek Krzynowek, Tomasz Zahorski and Jakub Wawrzyniak. It was a team made from players playing in Polish teams (+Jacek Krzynowek and Lukasz Piszczek). In spite of that, it was clear that the foreigners outclass Polish players technically.
The problem is also (as I've been already writing before) the fact, that key players in possible Polish squad for EURO are not playing in their teams. Jacek Krzynowek and Lukasz Piszczek were playing in this match simply because they haven't played in their teams for weeks. Said that, I can't ignore the form of Krzynowek - even if he's not good enough for his club coach, he's still really good player and he's going to be natural Polish leader in upcoming European Championships.
One of the players, who were really disappointing in this match was Roger - Brazilian player from Legia Warszawa, who is the "hero" of the national debate about giving Polish citizenship to foreing players. He didn't show anything in this match, that would give Leo Beenhakker a reason to actually give him a place in the squad.
Match Info:
Poland: Wojciech Kowalewski (66. Sebastian Przyrowski) - Marcin Kus, Grzegorz Bartczak (66. Adam Danch), Jakub Wawrzyniak, Mariusz Magiera (46. Piotr Kuklis); Michal Pazdan (46. Michal Golinski), Rafal Murawski (40. Lukasz Gargula), Jacek Krzynowek, Robert Kolendowicz (46. Grzegorz Baran); Tomasz Zahorski (46. Grzegorz Bonin), Lukasz Piszczek (66. Radosław Majewski)
Foreigners: Emilian Dolha (46. Jan Mucha) - Radek Mynar (46. Stefano Napoleoni); Pance Kumbev (46. Hernani), Sreten Sretenovic (46. Ivan Djurdjevic), Manuel Arboleda; Miroslav Radovic (46. Edi Andradina), Aleksandar Vukovic (46. Roger Guerreiro), Hermes (46. Inaki Astiz), Edson da Silva (46. Mauro Cantoro); Ilijan Micanski (46. Vuk Sotirovic), Filip Ivanovski (46. Takesure Chinyama)
Goals: Lukasz Gargula (74.), Jakub Wawrzyniak (89.); Arboleda (1.), Ivanovski (40.), Chinyama (78.)
Cards: Marcin Kus - yellow, Arboleda - yellow
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Roger - new Polish player?
Monday, 03 March 08, 01:17 AM
Michal Listkiewicz - the president of Polish Football Association said in the interview with Gazeta Wyborcza that Polish Football Association and Legia Warsaw do everything they can to get Polish citizenship for Legia's player - Roger. This Brazilian player supposedly has been noticed by Polish coach - Leo Beenhakker and another rumour states that he would be playing in Polish national team on Euro 2008!
Personally, I have nothing against foreign players playing in Polish national team. On World Cup 2002 in Korea and Japan our main striker was Olisadebe who got Polish citizenship also basically to be able to play in Polish national team. Some people claim that the difference between these two players is significant: Olisadebe had married the Polish girl and he was the lead player in WC 2002 qualifications. He was dedicated to get Polish citizenship, because he felt as being a Pole. Roger, on the other hand, doesn't seem like becoming a Polish citizen would be his dream. I don't want to make any conjectures, but I think that he wouldn't have a slightest chance to play in Brazilian national team, so maybe (maybe!) he's trying to become a part of the national team of the country he's playing in. Although another rumour is that it was directly Leo Beenhakker's idea to include Roger in our team on Euro 2008.
While I don't have anything against foreign players playing in Polish national team, I'm strongly against giving someone the citizenship only to allow him to play in the national team. If someone doesn't feel like a citizen, he shouldn't get the citizenship, right?
Or am I wrong? What are your thoughts in this subject?
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On Poland - USA : 0-3