With Russia on a high after a superb 4-1 defeat of the Czech Republic, Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland are keeping their cards close to their chest as they brace for their politically-charged match here on Tuesday.
Poland coach Franciszek Smuda, who has dubbed Russia Group A favorites, is widely expected to make key changes to the line-up that drew 1-1 with Greece in Friday’s tense European championship opener.
“It’s a maybe,” said team media director and former Poland defender Tomasz Rzasa when pressed repeatedly for comment.
There is speculation that Smuda could start midfielders Adrian Mierzejewski and Kamil Grosicki, of Turkish clubs Samsunspor and Sivasspor.
They are seen as likely to replace Bordeaux’s Ludovic Obraniak and Maciej Rybus, despite the Terek Grozny player’s familiarity with the Russian league.
Smuda’s squad is seen as Poland’s strongest since the long-lost 1970s and 1980s glory days, raising fans’ hope.
But Smuda, who has set the quarter-finals as his basic target, warns that Poland must not lose focus if they want to bring home any points from Tuesday’s clash with the flair-filled Russians, let alone the coveted three.
He and Russia’s Dutch coach Dick Advocaat will be expecting great things from their star strikers – both rumoured to be being courted by English Premier League clubs.
Poland’s is 23-year-old Robert Lewandowski, fresh from a stellar season with German double winners Borussia Dortmund, who sent home fans wild when he scored on Friday.
Russia are counting on another sterling performance from CSKA Moscow’s 21-year-old Alan Dzagoev, their two-goal hero against the Czechs. Poland reckon that having seen Russia in action already is a help.