Poland at full strength for first
time
 Katowice,
Poland, June 23, 2005 – Pool C leaders
Poland will have their full strength
lineup start a match for the first time
in the 2005 World League when they play
final round hosts Serbia and Montenegro
in Round Five of the Intercontinental
Round this weekend.
Both matches are expected to be sell out
affairs as Poland’s passionate
supporters are renowned for filling
every last seat when Poland play at home
and Polish coach Raul Lozano believes
his side will definitely take advantage
of that fact starting in the first game,
which is played on Friday night at 17:00
GMT.
Pic: Poland's seventh player - the
fans
“I am really glad that it is
Katowice where we will play Serbia and
Montenegro,” Lozano said. “I can assure
you that the match will be ‘played’ not
only on the court but also in the
stands. We really count on our fans,
especially when we play the strongest
team in our group.
“Our first line-up is finally modified
with our best players. That means
Zagumny, Wlazly, Grzyb, Kadziewicz,
Gruszka, Winiarski or Murek, and libero
Ignaczak are all fit, raring to go and
will start the first match.“
With Serbia and Montenegro, last year’s
bronze medallists, automatic qualifiers
for the Final Round, the race for the
finals ticket in Pool C is down to
Poland (6-2) and Greece (4-4) – although
Argentina (2-6) can still qualify if
they win the rest of their matches - and
two victories this weekend will keep
Poland at least two points clear of
their nearest rivals with two matches to
play.
Polish captain Piotr Gruszka believes
the home support will be the key factor
also.
“I would like to emphasise that these
matches [this weekend] will be top
class,” he said. “My team still fights
to qualify to the World League finals in
Belgrade, that is why we count on our
fans and their great support which will
help us to improve on our fifth place
finish in the World League Finals in
Katowice a few years ago. I admit that
it will be extremely hard to win with
our opponents, because they came with
their top line-up, but I can assure you
that we will fight till the end.”
The second match between Poland and
Serbia and Montenegro is on Saturday at
13:00 GMT. |
Competition Formula