Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has had an excellent season and we are tipping him to impress for his host nation.
At the end of Euro 2012 a team of the tournament will be compiled by UEFA, and most will expect the goalkeeping spot to be filled by Spain’s Iker Casillas.
In the spirit of predicting what will happen this summer, we are tipping Arsenal ‘keeper Szczesny to make a name for himself on the international stage.
The 22-year-old is coming off the back of his first full season in goal for Arsenal, where he played a key part in helping the side pull off an unlikely third place finish.
Pulling off outstanding penalty saves against Udinese and Liverpool along the way, he has proved once again his manager knows best when developing young talent.
Take Part In Our Euro 2012 Predictor Competition – Free Entry, £4,000 Prize Fund
With all eyes on host nation Poland at Euro 2012, the tournament presents him with an outstanding chance to cement his growing reputation in front of a global audience.
His competition for a starting spot consists of Przemyslaw Tyton of PSV and Grzegorz Sandomierski of Genk. Arsenal number two Lukas Fabianski missed out at the last minute with a shoulder injury.
Not Szczesny should worry, he is the red hot favourite to start the tournament’s opening game against Greece, and he will fancy his chances of keeping a clean sheet.
He is not short of confidence, as shown by the excellent ‘Rabona’ goal he was seen scoring in training, and will relish the chance of representing his home country.
To date he has seven international caps, making his debut back in 2009, and featured from the start in recent friendlies against Portugal and Germany.
Due to Poland’s automatic qualification as host country, he is yet to experience the pressure of playing a competitive game, but judging from his more than adept Champions League showings, he won’t allow anything to phase him.
Szczesny has the ability to pull off saves which just shouldn’t be made. Poland have a chance of qualifying from their group, featuring Czech Republic, Greece, and Russia, and home support should give them an edge.
They are a team without many big-name stars, Robert Lewandowski will hope to continue from his excellent season at Dortmund, but beyond that Szczesny’s individual brilliance see him should stand out.
We might be wrong, he could drop a clanger, but we doubt it. He is our prediction to make the team of the tournament.
How do you think Szczesny will perform? Who will be the best goalkeeper?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
