Podolski prepares for potential Poland date

Lukas Podolski has warned Poland that if they set up a Euro 2012 quarter-final clash with Germany, ‘they will lose’.

Having been born in Gliwice, the Cologne attacker has strong emotional ties with the tournament co-hosts and he is desperate to see Franciszek Smuda’s men progress to the knockout stages.

However, while Podolski freely admits that facing the land of his birth in Gdansk in the last eight would be a ‘special moment’ for him, he insisted that he would be just as ruthless as he was at Euro 2008, when he netted both goals in a 2-0 win over the Poles in the group stages.

“I will watch the Poland game against Czech Republic (Saturday) and have my fingers crossed for them, but if we play against them in the quarter-finals, they will lose,” the 27-year-old said.

Podolski’s more immediate concern, though, is helping Germany seal their place in the knockout stages by getting something out of their final fixture in Group B, against Denmark.

Sunday’s game in Lviv will be his 100th appearance for his country, but Podolski said while he is proud of having reached such a milestone at such a young age, he played down the significance of the achievement.

“I feel very comfortable in the German team and I hope it will go on like this,” he said.

“I am very proud of myself but the statistics do not mean that much to me. In my career, I have other goals.”

Indeed, Podolski is preoccupied with upping his game after two relatively quiet showings against Portugal and Netherlands.

“I expect a lot from myself and will do more offensively,” he said.

Germany’s meeting with the Danes is scheduled to kick off on Sunday.