Poland’s youth groups achieved success on Monday, with both the U17 and U19 groups qualifying for their respective European Championships later this summer.
The Under-19s, led by former Górnik Zabrze and Piast Gliwice boss Marcin Brosz, were the first to qualify, following a 2-2 draw with Serbia in Rączna. They had trailed 2-0 after the hour mark, but drew level thanks to an own goal from Jan-Karlo Simić and late strike from Hellas Verona centre-back Wiktor Matyjewicz.
The draw alone, however, was not enough for the Poles to qualify. Fortunately, group rivals Israel also drew, 1-1, against Latvia. This result left both Poland and Israel tied on 5 points, and gave Brosz’s youngsters a place at the final tournament by virtue of their superior goal difference.
The U19 European Championship kicks-off in Malta on 3 July. Alongside the hosts, Poland will join Norway, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Iceland at the competition.
Marcon Włodarski’s U17 side qualified for the 16-team European Championship with much more ease, finishing second in Group 5 behind Elite Group hosts Portugal. Their 5-0 hammering of Slovakia in Penalva Castelo ensured they finished 3 points clear of Czech Republic and comfortably as one of the seven best runners-up.
Despite still being goalless in the 40th minute, the Poles entered the break with a comfortable 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Mike Huras, Oskar Tomczyk and Filip Rejczyk. Further strikes in the second half from Daniel Mikołajewski and captain Krzysztof Kolanko put the result beyond any doubt.
The tournament begins on 17 May; with the Poles joining hosts Hungary, reigning champions France, Serbia, Wales, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Croatia, Scotland, England, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland in the draw.
Poland – Serbia 2:2 (0:1)
Jan-Carlo Simić (o.g.) 77′, Wiktor Matyjewicz 87′ – Mihajlo Petković 32′ (pen), Ognjen Mimović 59′
Poland: Oliwier Zych (Aston Villa) – Dawid Bugaj (SPAL) [Igor Strzałek (Legia Warszawa)], Wiktor Matyjewicz (Hellas Verona), Miłosz Matysik (Jagiellonia Białystok) [Alex Da Graça Marques (HSV)], Igor Drapiński (Wisła Płock), Miłosz Brzozowski (Hansa Rostock) [Jakub Lewicki (Jagiellonia Białystok)] – Maximillian Oyedele (Altrincham FC), Antoni Kozubal (GKS Katowice) [Levis Pitan(Sheffield United)], Kacper Urbański (Bologna) – Jordan Majchrzak (Roma) [Szczepan Mucha (Piast Gliwice)], Tomasz Pieńko (Zagłębie Lubin).
Yellow card: Matyjewicz
POLAND U17 – Slovakia U17 5:0 (3:0)
Mike Huras 42′, Oskar Tomczyk 45′, Filip Rejczyk 45′, Daniel Mikołajewski 77′, Krzysztof Kolanko 90′
Poland: Miłosz Piekutowski (Jagiellonia Białystok) – Nico Adamczyk (Borussia Dortmund), Igor Orlikowski (Zagłębie Lubin, Jakub Krzyżanowski (Wisła Kraków) – Krzysztof Kolanko (c, Górnik Zabrze), Maksymilian Sznaucner (PAOK) [Igor Brzyski (Lech Poznań)], Filip Rejczyk (Legia Warszawa) [Szymon Kądziołka (Stal Rzeszów)], Karol Borys (Śląsk Wrocław) [Mateusz Skoczylas (Zagłębie Lubin)], Filip Wolski (Lech Poznań) [Krzysztof Kurowski (Śląsk Wrocław)] – Oskar Tomczyk (Lech Poznań), Mike Huras (VfB Stuttgart) [Daniel Mikołajewski (Parma)].
Yellow card: Sznaucner.
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