Poland manager Adam Nawalka has no fears that his players will still be distracted by their historic win over world champions Germany when they take on Scotland today.
Poland is still in celebratory mood after their national team’s 2-0 victory on Saturday – their first triumph over their neighbours and rivals at the 19th time of asking.
However, Nawalka has been impressed with the way his players immediately cast their attentions to their next European championship qualifier against Scotland in Warsaw tonight.
Nawalka said: “The team is actually very calm and modest. At the end of the game against Germany we were already focusing on the game against Scotland.
“I think we will show that we are heading in the right direction. We have to be prepared mentally and physically and we need a good game plan like we had against Germany.
“I was very pleased we made our supporters happy and we were happy, too, but as soon as the game finished we were thinking about Scotland. We have a very detailed strategy and we hope to be very well organised and prepared for the next game, so I am positive.”
Arkadiusz Milik epitomised the modesty that his coach talked about. The attacker, who has been sent on loan to Ajax from Bayer Leverkusen, headed the opener against the Germans but his head has not been turned by the attention.
“I’m not the national hero, the whole team are national heroes,” he said when asked about adjusting to the fame.
“But we are trying not to think about that. We’re concentrating on the game against Scotland. That’s our priority.”
Despite the exertions of holding out the World Cup winners, Nawalka admitted he had hoped to name the same team.
But, like Scotland with Grant Hanley, Poland have lost a centre back for the match. Legia Warsaw defender Tomasz Jodlowiec drops out after twisting his ankle.