As the lowest-ranked nation in Euro 2012, the co-hosts will need to make the most of home advantage, especially when opening the tournament against Greece in the new 58,000-capacity national stadium in Warsaw.
Poland has been cast as the more hospitable of the two host nations, with 13 of the squads basing themselves in the more Western country and fewer scare stories about latent racism, transport and accommodation problems.
Yet Poland has also had its issues in the build-up to a tournament where Uefa will hope the host nations fare better than in 2008, when neither Switzerland nor Austria flew the flag beyond the group stages.
The Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw opened in November, only for Slask Wroclaw to have to return to their old ground for five months when the pitch-spraying system broke down.
Then there was an embarrassing PR own goal when the new national team kit was unveiled six months ago without the eagle, the country’s national symbol, on its crest. Nike and the Polish FA had to restitch rapidly.
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Poland’s first appearance in a European Championship finals was only four years ago, when they failed to make it out of the group, and without the need to qualify for this event, recent results have been promising. Before beating Andorra 4-0 in Warsaw on Saturday, England’s 2014 World Cup qualification rivals had won 1-0 against Slovakia and Latvia, after a goalless draw against Portugal in Warsaw in February. No one is getting too excited about their chances.
Tactics/Coach
Franciszek Smuda likes to play a 4-2-3-1 formation that aims to bring the best out of an attacking quartet headed by Robert Lewandowski, Borussia Dortmund’s free-scoring striker. Smuda has coached in Germany, Poland and Cyprus, taking Widzew Lodz to the Champions League quarter-finals in 1996.
Strengths
The home team will not travel too much, with two games in the capital before facing Czech Republic in Wroclaw, and they have beaten Argentina and drawn with Germany in the past 12 months. They have a trio of talented players who have just won the German double with Borussia Dortmund in Lewandowski, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek. Wojciech Szczesny has proved himself a top-level goalkeeper with Arsenal.
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Weaknesses
They lack strength in depth, have no history of achievement and no players to match the graceful 1970s stars such as Zbigniew Boniek. With Lukasz Fabianski, Arsenal’s back-up goalkeeper, out injured, Poland will be in trouble if Szczesny or Lewandowski are injured. They look frail in the centre of defence.
Star player
Lewandowski looks a star in the making. The Bundesliga Player of the Year scored 30 goals as Borussia Dortmund won the double, including a hat-trick in the German Cup final against Bayern Munich. The 23-year-old could be a target for Barclays Premier League clubs.
Friday, June 8: Poland v Greece (National Stadium, Warsaw, 5pm, BBC One).
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Tuesday, June 12: Poland v Russia (National Stadium, Warsaw, 7.45pm, ITV1).
Saturday, June 16: Czech Republic v Poland (Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw, 7.45pm, BBC One).