12th place in the 2000 Olympic Games, despite beating 4-1 Spain and draws against Argentina (5-5) and India (1-1). Third in the World Cup Qualifying tournament in Edinburgh in July 2001, beating Belgium 5-2 in the 3rd place game and before loosing to Argentina (4-1) and Spain (5-1). Didn't play in the Champions Challenge in December due to the financial troubles. Since that the Poles playing 9 games, loosing 6 and drawing 3. The team's manager Tomasz Felman and the Polish Hockey Union representatives identify the squad's goal as entering into the top eight.

The Game

After having lost Tomasz Szmidt Polish pen corners defence is not so strong as it used to be. In Edinburgh Szmidt with his sprinting abilities and enormous fastness was a true leader to the defenders. They blocked 61 out of 65 pen corners. Poland have always had a lot of corners against them and didn't use this opportunity to increase the scoring too much themselves. Zbigniew Juszczak, who normally flick corners is in a good shape however and he proved it scoring in friendly matches against Belgium and South Africa.

The forwards are weaker too after Piotr Mikula left the team. His brother Artur is to replace his scoring abilities. Brothers Choczaj - Tomasz and Slawomir are firm points of the team as well. A good point in the squad may prove to be the goalkeepers Marcin Pobuta and Mariusz Chyla. Pobuta is much more aggressive and very quick, but Chyla seems to be technically more accurate.

The oldest member of the team is 37-years old sergeant of the Polish Army Eugeniusz Gaczkowski called "Dziadek" (Granny).

The Team

Young Miroslaw Juszczak is the only one who joined the team after Edinburgh qualifyer. The other one who didn't play in Scotland is Tomasz Spalek. He was injured two days before the tournament in a friendly match against India and replaced by Lukasz Wybieralski. Spalek and Zbigniew Juszczak's brother replaced Szmidt, Piotr Mikula and Marcin Nyckowiak (all Rheydter Moenchengladbach) who left after a quarell with the coach Jerzy Joskowiak. They underline they still support the team:

"I keep my fingers crossed and I wish the boys all the best" - Tomasz Szmidt said.

After his, Mikula's and Nyckowiak's withdrawal all the team members represent Polish clubs, mostly Grunwald and Pocztowiec. Only Mariusz Gromadzki plays outside Poznan, the unquestionable capital of Polish hockey.

Players' list:

(97KL = 1997 World Cup qualifier in Kuala Lumpur, Poland was 4th, 98U = 1998 World Cup in Utrecht, 12th place, 99P = 1999 European Nations Cup in Padova, 9th place, 00J = 2000 Olympic qualifier in Osaka, 4th place, 00S = 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, 12th place, 01L = 2001 European Indoor Nations Cup - 3rd place, 01E - 2001 World Cup qualifyer in Edinburgh - 3rd place)

Marcin Pobuta (G) - 26-years old, Grunwald Poznan, 97KL, 98U, 99P, 00S, 01L, 01E

Mariusz Chyla (G) - 24, Grunwald, 00J, 01L, 01E

Robert Grzeszczak - 30, Grunwald, 97KL, 98U, 99P, 00J, 00S, 01L, 01E

Tomasz Spalek - 28, Grunwald

Tomasz Choczaj - 25, Grunwald, 98U, 99P, 00S, 01L, 01E

Slawomir Choczaj - 27, Grunwald, 01E

Eugeniusz Gaczkowski - 37, Grunwald, 00J, 00S, 01E

Marcin Strykowski - 23, Grunwald, 00J, 01E

Artur Mikula - 23, Grunwald, 99P, 01L, 01E

Marcin Wichlacz - 20, Grunwald, 01E

Rafal Grotowski - 28, Pocztowiec Poznan, 97KL, 98U, 99P, 00J, 00S, 01L, 01E

Zbigniew Juszczak - 26, Pocztowiec, 97KL, 98U, 99P, 00J, 00S, 01E

Krzysztof Witczak - 23, Pocztowiec, 01E

Dariusz Malecki - 26, Pocztowiec, 97KL, 98U, 99P, 00J, 00S, 01E

Lukasz Wybieralski - 26, Pocztowiec, 97KL, 98U, 99P, 00J, 00S, 01E

Mariusz Gromadzki - 24, Start Gniezno, 01E

Miroslaw Juszczak - 20, AZS AWF Poznan