Matuszczyk unsure over Szczesny return

Poland midfielder Adam Matuszczyk has empathised with Franciszek Smuda as his coach ponders whether to recall Wojciech Szczesny.

Przemyslaw Tyton became an instant hero when he came off the bench and saved the penalty that had been conceded by Szczesny in their opening Euro 2012 clash against Greece, which finished 1-1.

But the Arsenal goalkeeper, who started the tournament as first choice, is back from his ban for the game against Michal Bilek’s Czech Republic, leaving Smuda with a difficult decision to make.

“We have two very good goalkeepers, Wojciech and Przemyslaw,” Matuszczyk told reporters.

“I am happy that I do not have to make the decision (about) who must be the number one.”

Midfielder Rafal Murawski echoed his countryman’s sentiments.

“I am happy that I must not make the decision (about) who must be the number one against Czech Republic,” Murawski said.

“It is very difficult to say who is the better keeper. Szczesny and Tyton have shown their skills many times.”

Looking ahead to the crunch Group A fixture, Matuszczyk singled out Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky – who is a doubt with an Achilles injury – as the danger man.

“They are a good team and have proved it against Greece. It’s hard to tell with which player we must be especially careful,” he said.

“Rosicky is maybe their best player. We will give 100 percent and try to win this match.”

Murawski, meanwhile, hinted Poland are willing to play a cagey, tactical game as they attempt to qualify for the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time.

“It is difficult to say how we will play. Against Greece we played with two defensive midfielders. Against Russia, it was important to close the space in the midfield and to have their three offensive players under control,” he said.

“Now, against Czech Republic, we must play more offensively, but we do not want to (concede) a goal and that’s why we must play intelligently and carefully.”

“We do not think about history. We will try to give our best and reach the next round. We must think from game to game and then we will see the result.”

The Czechs ran out 2-0 winners the last time the two sides met – in a 2009 World Cup qualifier – but Murawski believes that encounter will have no bearing on the outcome of the game on Saturday.

“We cannot really compare the teams. The Czechs and Poland now have younger teams and it is a different game because both want to reach the quarter-finals at a Euro tournament,” he said.