Poland ready for Portugal

Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski is excited ahead of the friendly with Portugal on Wednesday.

Speaking exclusively with Goal.com, the Dortmund midfielder said the friendly was the most important clash for Poland ahead of Euro 2012.

“The match against Portugal is our dress rehearsal before the European Championship,” he said.

“We still have our two test matches in Austria, but these will not take place in our National Stadium.”

Poland face Latvia and Slovakia in May, but those matches will take place in Klagenfurt, Austria, rather than Warsaw where Franciszek Smuda’s men will play two of their three matches during the Euro 2012 group stage.

Heading into the clash with Portugal, Blasczykowski feels that his side are prepared despite the limited training time they have together.

“We only have three days to prepare for this match, but I do not think there should be a problem, because we have already developed a specific style of play,” he said.

‘Kuba’ also added that Poland are comfortable with their role as co-hosts, and that for the time being, he is more concerned with play at club level.

“I do not feel any additional pressure. For me, what matters most is to have good performances with Borussia, because that will bring good form at the Euros.”

Blaszczykowski’s team-mate for both club and country, Robert Lewandowski, is also eagerly anticipating the Portugal game, which will be the first played in the newly-constructed National Stadium.

“I’m sure the conditions in the new stadium will be excellent. For us and for the fans it will be an interesting game,” he said.

Despite recent safety concerns with the National Stadium, which forced the Polish FA to move move a match between Wisla Krakow and Legia Warsaw, Blaszczykowski is not worried.

“The National Stadium is not our concern. We have nothing to decide and must focus on the games we have to play.”