Coach: Pawel Janas

Star Players: Jerzy Dudek, Maciej Zurawski, Tomas Frankowski

Tournament Best: 3rd place 1974, 1982

Last Time: Group Stage

Qualifying: 2nd in European Group 6

Top Scorer In Qualifying: Maciej Zurawski, Tomas Frankowski 7

Poland will be hoping to progress to the second round this time and wipe the memories of 2002, when they finished bottom of their group.

They have a good record of qualifying for major tournaments but have done little when they get there in recent years, although they finished third in 1982.

The class of 2006 boasts a decent forward line with Celtic's Maciej Zurawski, Tottenham's Grzegorz Rasiak, and Portsmouth's Tomas Frankowski to choose from.

Ebi Smolarek, son of former Poland winger Wlodimierz Smolarek, has had a fantastic season at Borussia Dortmund. He can play on the right wing or as a striker and offers high energy and pace, as well as goals.

If goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek can perform the heroics he did in the 2005 Champions League final, then Poland stand a good chance of progressing from one of the weaker groups.