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Poland were able to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008 as winners of Group A in qualifying and what followed was definitely an unforgettable experience.
A first inclusion in a European Championships, the White and Reds were not expected to make it out of the group as they were heavy underdogs heading into the group stages.
Poland were drawn in Group B alongside Germany, Croatia and Euro 2008 co-hosts, Austria, as Leo Beenhakker’s men looked to continue from where they left off after qualifying for the tournament fantastically.
Group Stages
Germany v Poland – 8th June 2008
The toughest challenge of UEFA Euro 2008 came in the first fixture against the mighty Germans. At the Wörthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria, Poland kicked off their first European campaign underway.
Inside the first 20 minutes, Joachim Low’s men found the breakthrough. Polish-born Lukas Podolski sunk a dagger into Poland’s fans hearts as he slotted the ball past Artur Boruc.
The forward was gifted the ball on a plate by fellow Polish-born striker Miroslav Klose and had the simple task of tapping the ball as it rolled into the back of the net.
Germany made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute and it was that man Podolski on the double. The forward was able to fire a sumptuous past Boruc as Low’s men took all three points from the fixture.
Austria v Poland – 12th June 2008
After disappointment in the first match of their maiden European tournament, the White and Reds faced Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria in Vienna.
Poland had Boruc to thank for keeping them in the game as they found the opener in the fixture on the half-hour mark.
A delightful diagonal ball found the feet of Marek Saganowski who squared the ball to Roger Guerriero as the midfielder had the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net.
Ivica Vastic rescued a point for the Austrians as he scored a penalty in added time of the second-half which sadly ended Poland’s chance of advancing out of the group stages.
Poland v Croatia – 16th June 2008
In the final game of the group stages, Beenhakker’s men faced an unbeaten Croatia side who had just beaten Germany and were on course to make it out of the group stages as Group B winners.
Throughout the first-half, both sides exchanged blows as the Poles were fired up to finally pick up a positive result at Euro 2008.
Boruc once more played a vital part throughout the game and held onto the clean sheet as much as possible pulling off great saves denying the likes of Ivan Rakitic from scoring.
Ivan Klasnić scored the eventual winner for Croatia in the 53rd minute. The striker collided with one of the Poland defenders but was able to get right back to his feet to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner.
Poland were only able to pick up one point from three Group B matches but exited the tournament with grace after their first experience of a European Championship under their belt.
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