‘We expect a passionate game’
LUKASZ Fabianski says Poland are expecting a physical approach from Northern Ireland in their Euro 2016 opener.
The two countries start their Euro 2016 campaign in Nice today, with Germany and Ukraine completing the Group C line-up.
“I have not really analysed their games a lot,” Poland goalkeeper Fabianski said.
“But I guess it will be proper physical football, a lot of set-pieces which will tough to defend.
“We will be expecting a lot of intensity and passion from Northern Ireland. We have been lucky that we played against Scotland and the Republic of Ireland in the qualifiers.
“So we know what to expect from Northern Ireland.”
Poland qualified for Euro 2016 by finishing second to Germany in their group.
But they did shock Joachim Low’s world champions 2-0 in Warsaw – the first time Poland had ever beaten Germany.
Robert Lewandowski finished top scorer in qualifying – his 13 goals putting him two clear of Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic – and Fabianski recognises the importance of the Bayern Munich striker.
“He’s our captain, our leader and our goal-scoring machine,” Fabianski said.
“If he keeps his form then we should not be worried.”
But Swansea goalkeeper Fabianski says Poland are not a one-man team and possess other players capable of causing opponents problems.
“When we have won recent games the other team is so focused on trying to defend against Lewandowski that other players get the chance to score,” he said.