SoccerNews.com

Defender Jacek Bak will take the skipper’s armband for Thursday’s match against co-hosts Austria in Group B in place of the injured Maciej Zurawski, coach Leo Beenhakker said Wednesday.

Zurawski, 31, is an experienced campaigner with 72 caps and has scored 18 times for his country but he misses out after suffering a thigh strain in the opening-day loss to Germany.

Bak, 35, has 95 caps and said he was “honoured” to take over as the Poles bid to stay alive after losing 2-0 to the Germans.

He knows the Austrians well as he plays for Austria Vienna.

“They have no stars but we must be vigilant, even if we are stronger,” said Bak.

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