Nina Patalon named her Poland squad on Tuesday, ahead of September’s Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Kosovo. Amongst the 23 names are two debutants!
With goalkeeper and captain Kasia Kiedrzynek ruled out with a hamstring injury, Patalon has handed a first call up to 20-year-old Pogoń Szczecin stopper Natalia Radkiewicz, after strong performances for the U19 side. There is also a maiden call for Canadian-born defender Kayla Adamek, Who currently represents Swedish side Vittsjo GIK. The 27-year-old qualifies for Poland through her Polish grandparents.
There are also places in the squad for a number of players who have moved clubs during the summer: Kinga Szemik, Kasia Konat, Gosia Mesjasz, Kinga Kozak and Nikola Karczewska all in contention for the double-header.
Poland’s penultimate game of the campaign kicks off on 1 September, away in Albania. They then end it against Kosovo in Lublin, five days later. Patalon’s side can still qualify for the play-offs, although they will need second-placed Belgium to lose to both group leaders Norway and bottom side Armenia.
Goalkeepers: Karolina Klabis (AZS UJ Kraków), Natalia Radkiewicz (Pogoń Szczecin), Kinga Szemik (Stade de Reims)
Defenders: Kayla Adamek (Vittsjo GIK), Paulina Dudek (Paris Saint-Germain), Małgorzata Grec (Dijon FCO), Katarzyna Konat (Pomigiliano Calcio Femminile), Sylwia Matysik (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Małgorzata Mesjasz (AC Milan), Anna Zapała (AZS UJ Kraków)
Midfielders: Dominika Grabowska (FC Fleury 91), Weronika Kaczor (GKS Górnik Łęczna), Nikol Kaletka (KKS Antrans Czarni Sosnowiec), Kinga Kozak (Glasgow City FC), Klaudia Lefeld (GKS Górnik Łęczna), Tanja Pawollek (Eintracht Frankfurt), Natalia Wróbel (Brondby IF)
Attackers: Nikola Karczewska (Tottenham Hotspur), Natalia Padilla-Bidas (Servette FC), Ewa Pajor (VfL Wolfsburg), Agata Tarczyńska (Werder Bremen), Martyna Wiankowska (Turbine Potsdam), Weronika Zawistowska (1. FC Koeln)
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