Euro 2012: Highlighting Poland's Provisional Squad for the Tournament

On Wednesday, Poland became the first nation in Euro 2012 to announce their provisional squad for the tournament.

Coach Franciszek Smuda chose a squad that features many of the biggest stars in Polish football alongside some major surprises. Stars such as Arsenal's Wojciech Szczęsny and Borussia Dortmund trio Łukasz Piszczek, Jakub Błaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski all made the squad and will be among the biggest stars in the tournament.

Smuda chose a roster of 26 players plus seven reserves, all of whom could participate for Poland in just over a month.

When selecting this roster, Smuda made a nod toward choosing younger players, saying, "I tried to pick young players not only for Euro but for the future as well. These tournaments always create new names and I believe that two or three or them will be Polish. If we're successful then my players will be heroes, with me in their shadow."

Lets take a look at Poland's Euro 2012 roster.

Goalkeeper: Łukasz Fabiański

Club: Arsenal

One of two Arsenal keepers on this Polish roster, Łukasz Fabiański will look to become the starter for Poland during this tournament over his main competitor, Wojciech Szczęsny.

Fabiański was on Poland's squads during the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, but was not able to start in either tournament.

Fabiański has not started in the Premier League for Arsenal this year and right now it looks like he will become the second choice keeper for this tournament.

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczęsny

Club: Arsenal

Wojciech Szczęsny has been the starting goalkeeper at Arsenal this season and after a fairly disappointing start to the campaign, it looks like he will get Arsenal an automatic berth into next season's Champions League.

Szczęsny has been an impressive goalkeeper with Arsenal and has been among the best keepers in the EPL. Though he has very little experience with the Polish national team, he will in all likelihood be their starting keeper once the tournament begins.

Goalkeeper: Przemysław Tytoń

Club: PSV

Another young goalkeeper with a future with Poland, Przemysław Tytoń has become a starter with PSV and has only continued to progress during his time there.

Considered to be one of the top goalkeepers in the Eredivisie, Tytoń has become a star in the Netherlands during the last two seasons and could make a run to possibly start for the Poles in this tournament.

Defender: Sebastian Boenisch

Club: Werder Bremen

A former Schalke defender, Sebastian Boenisch now is with Werder Bremen where, despite various injuries, has now earned a full call-up to the Polish national team for Euro 2012.

Boenisch once intended to play for Germany in international football and earned call-ups to their U21 side in the past, but he has since rejoined Poland's national team and will be tied to Poland assuming he plays in Euro 2012.

Defender: Kamil Glik

Club: Torino

A former defender for Real Madrid C, Kamil Glik has since moved onto Italy, where he is a member of Torino's squad in Serie B.

Just 24 years old, Glik has made a strong impact with the Polish national team since his first call-up in January 2010 and can have a strong tournament should he get to start.

Defender: Tomasz Jodłowiec

Club: Polonia Warsaw

Tomasz Jodłowiec has been a member of Poland's national team since 2008 and will look to try to make an appearance in the tournament.

Jodlowiec is among one of seven players in the provisional 26-man roster that currently plays their club football in Poland.

Defender: Marcin Kamiński

Club: Lech Poznań

One of the youngest players on this provisional roster, Marcin Kamiński and his one cap will become part of Poland's squad for Euro 2012.

Kamiński has been impressive this season with Poznań and has them in the thick of the title race. He has also earned a call-up this year against Portugal earlier this year.

Defender: Damien Perquis

Club: Sochaux

A product of France, Damien Perquis joined the Polish national team in 2010 after being a part of the French youth national team setup during the mid-2000s.

Perquis has since been called up for five friendlies, including the one against Portugal earlier in the year.

Defender: Łukasz Piszczek

Club: Borussia Dortmund

One of three Dortmund players on Poland's roster, Łukasz Piszczek has established himself as one of the better right backs in Europe.

Piszczek was part of Poland's squad during Euro 2008 and will look to have a greater impact than the one he had in Austria, where an injury following his first match ended his tournament.

Defender: Marcin Wasilewski

Club: Anderlecht

A part of Poland's squad during Euro 2008, Marcin Wasilewski will look to find a starting role after another strong season in Belgium.

Wasilewski has the most experience of any player on Poland's defensive roster and his past seasoning will be relied on by many players on the host nation.

Defender: Jakub Wawrzyniak

Club: Legia Warsaw

A member of the Polish national team during Euro 2008, Jakub Wawrzyniak has continued to earn call-ups and will look to again start for Poland in Euro 2012.

Wawrzyniak has put together an impressive season with Legia Warsaw and can be expected to play well for Poland considering his past experience.

Defender: Grzegorz Wojtkowiak

Club: Lech Poznań

Grzegorz Wojtkowiak has been a member of the Polish national team since 2009 and will probably not start in Euro 2012 considering the strong pool of right backs.

Wojtkowiak has been a part of Poland's squads during the last several matches and he could make appearances as a substitute.

Midfielder: Jakub Błaszczykowski

Club: Borussia Dortmund

The captain of the Polish national team, Jakub Błaszczykowski has been a key member of Borussia Dortmund's team in the past several seasons and can be one of Poland's biggest stars in the tournament.

Though he did not play in Euro 2008 due to a torn leg muscle, Błaszczykowski will be a starting midfielder in the tournament and will look to build upon a great season with Dortmund where he led the club in assists and averaged nearly two key passes per match.

Midfielder: Dariusz Dudka

Club: Auxerre

The most-capped player on Poland's 2012 roster, Dariusz Dudka will be a key component for Poland throughout the tournament.

Dudka has already participated for Poland in both the 2006 World Cup and in Euro 2008, and will be viewed as one of Poland's biggest leaders.

Midfielder: Kamil Grosicki

Club: Sivasspor

A former U19 and U21 player with Poland, Kamil Grosicki broke into the national team ranks in 2008 and is a future star with the national team.

Grosicki has registered seven goals and 11 assists in Turkey this year, and is poised to make a major move following the completion of Euro 2012.

Midfielder: Adam Matuszczyk

Club: Fortuna Düsseldorf

Adam Matuszczyk is another young talent for Poland who will look to star should he get playing time.

Matuszczyk was eligible to play for both Germany and Poland, but chose to play for Poland even though he currently plays his football in Germany.

Midfielder: Adrian Mierzejewski

Club: Trabzonspor

Adrian Mierzejewski is another relative newcomer to the national team in midfield. Currently plying his trade in Turkey, Mierzejewski has been part of Poland's squad since 2010 and will try to make a big impact should he make the final squad.

Mierzejewski is among the leaders in the Turkey in assists and got Trabzonspor into a third place finish in the league.

Midfielder: Rafał Murawski

Club: Lech Poznań

Formerly with Rubin Kazan, Rafał Murawski played with Poland in Euro 2008 and will look to remain in a starting role during this tournament.

Murawski is a talented player who could use this tournament to help him make a transfer into a league outside of Poland considering that his talent and experience will give Murawski a chance to star in Euro 2012.

Midfielder: Ludovic Obraniak

Club: Bordeaux

Ludovic Obraniak joins Perquis as another member of this Polish squad who is from France and played for French youth teams, yet he now will play for Poland.

Obraniak has become one of Poland's top midfielders since his first call-up in 2009 and will play a major role in Euro 2012.

Midfielder: Eugen Polanski

Club: Mainz 05

Eugen Polanski was at one time the captain of Germany's U21 national team during the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. However, Polanski decided to join the nation that he was born in to play his football in 2011, and has not looked back since.

Polanski has been among the best midfielders on Mainz this year and will look to carry that success over to this summer.

Midfielder: Maciej Rybus

Club: FC Terek Grozny

An emerging winger on the national team setup since 2009, Maciej Rybus can be one of the most dynamic players for Poland in a month's time.

Rybus, who is the only player in the provisional 26 man roster who is currently playing in Russia, has already scored two goals this season in Russia.

Midfielder: Rafał Wolski

Club: Legia Warsaw

Rafał Wolski is by far the most surprising player on the 26-man provisional list for Poland going into Euro 2012.

Wolski, who is just 19 years old and only has four caps with the U21 side, will be a shocking finalist for the tournament if he survives the cut from 26 to 23 players.

Forward: Paweł Brożek

Club: Celtic

A member of the 2006 Polish World Cup squad, Paweł Brożek has been a longtime member of the Polish national team and will look to score some goals after some underwhelming goal totals from the last two years.

This is possible considering Brożek is the second-best striker on Poland's squad and will get plenty of good chances.

Forward: Michał Kucharczyk

Club: Legia Warsaw

Another interesting addition to Poland's squad, Michał Kucharczyk has been an accomplished goalscorer who is getting called up as a potential backup at striker.

Kucharczyk was an accomplished goalscorer with Świt Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki and Coach Smuda probably hopes that the ability that Kucharczyk used to show with them will transpire into Euro 2012.

Forward: Robert Lewandowski

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Perhaps the most recognizable name on Poland's roster, Robert Lewandowski has become a star in the Bundesliga and his goalscoring record will be needed in order to allow Poland to advance.

Lewandowski has scored 13 goals with Poland (more than any other player on the roster) and many already expect this to be a tournament in which he will dominate. Stay tuned.

Forward: Artur Sobiech

Club: Hannover 96

A surprising addition to the Polish national team, Artur Sobiech, who has played very little for Hannover this season, will get a call-up for Euro 2012.

Sobiech, who has never scored more than 12 goals in a season in any league and has just three matches with the national side under his belt, will have his chances to prove his doubters wrong, but his selection certainly is a major surprise.

Reserve Goalkeeper: Grzegorz Sandomierski

Club: Jagiellonia Białystok

Grzegorz Sandomierski has very little experience with Poland (just three matches since 2010) but has been a good goalkeeper at Jagiellonia Białystok, which is one of the top clubs in Poland.

Reserve Defender: Arkadiusz Głowacki

Club: Trabzonspor

An accomplished footballer who participated in the 2002 World Cup, Arkadiusz Głowacki found himself overlooked for years but has a slim chance of playing in Euro 2012.

Głowacki has been playing in Turkey for the last two years alongside Mierzejewski.

Reserve Defender: Marcin Komorowski

Club: Terek Grozny

A longtime defender in the Ekstraklasa, Marcin Komorowski, who has only sporadically played for Poland in recent years, will probably not get a call-up for Euro 2012. Considering Komorowski is only now overcoming a knee injury, don't expect him to play in the tournament.

Reserve Midfielder: Ariel Borysiuk

Club: 1. FC Kaiserslautern

An emerging midfielder in Germany, Ariel Borysiuk started to play in 2007 as a 16-year-old and will be a star for the future. But with a strong midfield already, don't expect to see him starting in any matches during June.

Reserve Forward: Ireneusz Jeleń

Club: Lille

Part of Poland's squad during the 2006 World Cup, Ireneusz Jeleń has been a good player in France in recent years, but had not made the same impact as he would with wish with Lille this year. Jeleń could find himself called up considering the lack of experience Poland's strikers have.

Reserve Forward: Arkadiusz Piech

Club: Ruch Chorzów

Unlikely to get called in to Poland's squad for the tournament, Arkadiusz Piech has a strong season with Chorzów by scoring ten goals and six assists in 30 matches. However, this season does not appear to be enough for Piech to make the Euro 2012 squad.

Reserve Forward: Michał Żyro

Club: Legia Warsaw

Only 19 years old, Michał Żyro is another forward who has a bright future. Just don't expect to see him play in this tournament due to his lack of experience.

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