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Many players were born in Poland and many are eligible due to grandparents or even parents being from the country. A few could have played for the European country and some still may have the chance of gaining an international cap for the White and Reds.
Miroslav Klose
Klose broke many records for the German National Team as he switched alliances from Poland to Germany early on in his career.
The ex-Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Lazio striker was born in Opole, Poland and could’ve played for the White and Reds but decided to play for Germany instead.
He won the World Cup with Die Mannschaft in 2014 and is their all-time record goalscorer with 71 goals in 137 international matches.
Alongside with being Germany’s record goalscorer he is the all-time record goalscorer at the World Cup with 16 goals out of all of his appearances at the biggest international stage.
Having the possibility of Klose in the front-line, Poland’s chances of reaching the 2010 World Cup, advancing out of the group stages at the 2012 Euros would have been a lot higher with a talisman-like the Poland-born striker.
Lukas Podolski
Another Polish-born player similarly to Klose is striker Lukas Podolski. The ex-Bayern Munich forward was born in Gliwice, Poland and was eligible to play for his country of birth but decided to play for Germany at an international level.
Antalyaspor’s striker now at the age of 35 is still going strong in Turkey and has five goals to his name in 30 appearances for the Super Lig outfit.
Podolski has stated that he has a dual citizenship, both German and Polish, but does not possess a Polish passport.
In an interview, the forward stated that the Polish Football Association never cared about him until he started playing for Germany’s under-21’s with him getting a lot of media coverage around him.
Once more just like Klose, Poland could have had a very strong front-line with Klose and Podolski which would have definitely caused many problems for opposition defenders.
Matty Cash
The Aston Villa defender is yet to make an international appearance for the England National Team with the ex-Nottingham Forest full-back born in the country.
Cash is eligible to play for Poland as his grandparents were both born in the Eastern European country with his mother half-Polish.
He would definitely fill the void of an energetic full-back who can provide with his crossing ability and forward runs.
Poland have missed that ever since the international retirement of Lukasz Piszczek and if Cash was to represent his grandparents’ nation it will be an exciting sight to see him play at the back for the White and Reds.
James Tarkowski
Manchester-born Tarkowski also had the chance of playing for the Poland National Team as he nervously awaited his England call up which he eventually got earning himself two international appearances for the Three Lions to date.
The 28-year-old Burnley defender qualifies to play for the White and Reds through his grandfather Boleslaw, but Tarkowski insisted that he has never considered representing any country other than that of his birth.
One of the defender’s cousins, Pawel, has already tried to persuade the Burnley centre-back to switch allegiances and to represent Poland instead.
With the defender already having represented England now it is very unlikely that he will want to make the switch and will likely wait for his next chance for the Three Lions under Gareth Southgate.
Paulo Dybala
Dybala’s eligibility to play for the Polish National Team stems all the way back to World War Two with his grandfather Boleslaw.
After the war, Boleslaw moved to Argentina in search of better living conditions for himself and his family. Dybala has since then acquired a Polish citizenship to feel more connected with his grandfather.
The Argentine-born forward had the chance to represent either Italy, Poland or Argentina at international level with him ultimately picking the country of his birth.
In 2011, when Dybala was still a youngster the Polish FA asked the then 17-year-old if he’d want to represent his grandfather’s nation international, but the forward politely declined the offer.
A midfield line of Zielinski, Krychowiak and Dybala would definitely be an exciting prospect if it happened but with the Argentine settled with his national team, Polish footballing fans are only able to wish of the sight.
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