In addition to the Team Preview articles for Euro 2012, we’re also covering any friendlies between now and the tournament kick-off on Friday June 8. Last night saw Poland and Holland get their preparations under way, with showdowns against defeat Latvia and Bayern Munich respectively:
Poland 1-0 Latvia
Poland kicked off their run of friendlies ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 tournament with a 1-0 win over Latvia last night. With three players still to omit from his provisional squad, Franciszek Smuda fielded a handful of reserve options and regulars in his first XI, while Wojciech Szczesny and Robert Lewandowski were given the night off after both arrived at the national team’s training camp earlier in the day. Hannover forward Artur Sobiech – on as a sub for Pawel Brozek just before the hour mark – grabbed the only goal, with Kamil Grosicki providing the assist.
Poland Team: Fabianski; Jodlowiec (Kaminski 64), Wasilewski, Wojtkowiak, Boenisch (Wawrzyniak, 71); Polanski, Murawski; Grosicki, Mierzejewski (Kucharczyk 46), Wolski (Matuszczyk 46); Brozek (Sobiech 56).
Bayern Munich 3-2 Holland
Holland fielded a mainly second choice backline for the game against Bayern – Joris Mathijsen was the only regular – and shipped three goals at the Allianz Arena. Up front, Jan Klass Huntelaar started ahead of Robin Van Persie and grabbed a goal, as did winger Luciano Narsingh; Dirk Kuyt and Rafael Van der Vaart provided the assists. Bert Van Marwijk rang the changes at half-time, making seven substitutions, and also introduced Arjen Robben later in the second half – the winger was jeered by many in the home crowd after his Champions League Final penalty miss against Chelsea last Saturday.
Holland Starting XI: Vorm; Boulahrouz, Mathijsen,Vlaar, Willems; De Jong,Van der Vaart; Narsingh, Sneijder, Kuyt; Huntelaar
Other news
David Villa is out of Spain’s plans for the upcoming tournament. The Barcelona man has failed to recover from the broken leg sustained in Barcelona’s World Club Championship game with Al Sadd last December. With Carlos Puyol almost certain to miss out when Vicente Del Bosque names his squad on Sunday, Villa took to twitter to reveal:
I’ve tried, but I can’t be 100% to play the Eurocup. I called Del Bosque. It’s the honest thing. Thanks to all of you for your support. I’ll continue working to return as soon as possible with Barca and Spain.
Shay Given has picked up a minor knee injury in training for the Republic of Ireland. The Aston Villa man is rated “touch and go” for Saturday’s friendly against Bosnia after a scan on Monday confirmed the problem. The FAI revealed the keeper is set to skip the next few days training as a “precautionary measure”.
