Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Euro 2012 Group A match between Poland and Russia in Warszawa.
Poland opened up their European campaign with a 1-1 draw against Greece on Friday. Meanwhile, Russia recorded an impressive 4-1 victory over Czech Republic.
If Russia can secure all three points, then they will become the first side through to the quarter-finals of this summer's tournament.
Meanwhile, Poland are still awaiting their first ever victory at the finals of a European Championship, with their record at two draws and two defeats.
> Full team news for the match
21.36So there we have it. Poland recover from a goal down to secure a point in a 1-1 draw with Russia. It was the Russians who took the lead after 37 minutes courtesy of Dzagoev, however, a wonderful strike from Blaszczykowski levelled it at 1-1 in the second period. Both sides seemingly settled for a point in the latter stages, with it all to play for in the final round of fixtures. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the coverage.
FULL-TIMEPoland 1-1 Russia
90min+3Change for Poland as Obraniak is replaced by Pawel Brozek.
90min+1Big penalty shout for Russia as Zhirkov advanced into the Poland box. However, no decision was forthcoming.
90 minWe will play an additional three minutes.
89 minRussia continue to pass, pass, pass. It looks like 1-1.
87 minIt seems as if both teams have settled for a point in the past few moments. Little over five to play.
85 minChange for Poland as Polanski is replaced by Adam Matuszcyk.
83 minIt's Russia on the attack in the last 10 minutes.
81 minSo nearly for Poland as they counter-attack with Lewandowski and Obraniak. However, the latter's effort is gathered by the Russian stopper.
80 minChange for Russia as Dzagoev is replaced by Marat Izmailov.
79 minRussia have just gone ever so casual in the last few minutes, and now it's Poland who look the most likely.
77 minIt's nice work from Boenisch as he cuts inside, but his shot is high and wide.
75 minBooking for Dzagoev for dissent. 15 minutes to play this evening. Will we have a winner?
73 minChange for Poland as Dariusz Dudka is replaced by Adrian Mierzejewski.
72 minIt's more good work from Arshavin as he glides past the Poland defence, but his cross is gathered by Tyton.
70 minChange for Russia as Roman Pavlyuchenko replaces Kerzhakov.
69 minChance! So nearly for Poland as Polanski releases a strike in the area, but Malafeev beats the ball away.
68 minSo nearly Dzagoev's second after brilliant link-up play with Kerzhakov. However, the attacker's strike is just a bit tame.
66 minIn truth, Russia are the better side. And I will put my neck on the line by saying that they will win this one.
64 minBrilliant play from Kerzhakov as he rides two challenges before feeding Dzagoev. However, the danger is cleared. Arshavin continues to run this match.
62 minStill Russia continue to boss possession in midfield. You just know that there are more goals in this one.
60 minBooking for Lewandowski for a late challenge on Igor Denisov. It wasn't pretty.
60 minFor me, this is the game of the tournament thus far. Such quality on display. We still have 30 minutes left. I don't want it to ever end.
58 minOh my word! What a strike from Blaszczykowski as he cuts inside before releasing a wonderful strike into the top corner. Brilliant.
57 minGOAL! Poland 1-1 Russia (Blaszczykowski)
56 minWow. Big chance for Russia as Zhirkov meets the bouncing ball in the area. But he slices off-target. Where was the Poland defence?
54 minRussia are such a threat in behind with their pace and movement. Can they seriously win Euro 2012? You better believe it.
52 minAgain Arshavin threatens down the left as he evades the Polish defence, but his cross is just too long.
50 minChance! So nearly for Poland as Lewandowski challenges with the Russian keeper. However, the danger is just cleared. Really brave from Malafeev.
50 minRussia continue to threaten with Zhirkov down the left. However, his cross is poor and Poland break.
48 minPoland have started the second period on the front foot once more.
48 minSo how do Poland get back into this? It isn't as if they can just drop off, because Russia will play in front of them. Meanwhile, if they push forward, Russia will threaten in behind. Tough ay?
46 minHere we go then. Russia start us off in the second period. Almost an immediate chance for Lewandowski as he rounds the goalkeeper. However, the ball is cleared.
20.32So there we have it. Russia lead Poland 1-0 at the break courtesy of a header from Dzagoev after 37 minutes. It was Poland who started much the better, and they might have led with a series of efforts from the impressive Lewandowski. Russia improved as the half developed, however, and arguably deservedly go in with a one-goal lead.
HALF-TIMEPoland 0-1 Russia
45 minRussia have a big penalty shout turned down on the stroke of the interval as Dzagoev is bundled over in the area. Meanwhile, we will play an additional two minutes at the end of the half.
43 minSo nearly two for Russia as Arshavin searches out Dzagoev at the near post. However, the danger is cleared by Perquis.
42 minStill Poland push forward as the half draws to a close. But Russia just look so marshalled in defence.
40 minThey so nearly did as Blaszczykowski strikes from distance, but the ball is beaten away.
40 minDzageov takes himself to the top of the Euro 2012 goalscoring charts with three goals. Will Poland respond?
38 minIt's just wonderful from Arshavin as he floats a delightful cross into the box and Dzageov is on hand to thump the header home.
37 minGOAL! Poland 0-1 Russia (Dzagoev)
37 minZhirkov gains a free-kick for Russia in a dangerous position...
37 minRussia just stroking the ball around in midfield as we approach the break. They are dominating the ball in this match now.
35 minAgain it's smart play from Russia as Arshavin feeds Roman Shirokov in the box. However, the danger is cleared by Perquis.
33 minYou just get the sense that Russia are beginning to take control of this match after an explosive Polish start.
31 minLewandowski continues to impress with his movement and ability on the ball. He looks a real player.
29 minMazy run from Kerzhakov as he drifts past three Polish defenders, but his shot is wayward.
27 minMuch better from Kerzhakov as he moves down the right and produces a low cross into the box. However, Arshavin just cannot make contact.
27 minAgain Poland threaten as Obraniak finds Marcin Wasilewski in the area, but his header is gathered by Malafeev.
25 minChance for Russia as Arshavin finds Kerzhakov in the box. However, his header is poor and drifts wide.
23 minJust brilliant football from Poland with Lewandowski, Polanski and Rafal Murawski all involved. However, Russian defender Sergei Ignaschevich clears the danger at the final moment.
23 minMore bright work from Poland as Lukasz Piszczek feeds Obraniak down the left. However, it breaks down.
22 minRussia have seven Zenit St Petersburg players in their starting side this evening. Incredible.
21 minA word from former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy: "Arshavin looks disinterested but if they can get the ball to him, he can hurt you if you're not close to him. He plays like a number 10 behind the striker but he starts out on the left and drifts but the full-back can't follow him so he becomes so difficult to pick up," he told reporters.
20 minHow good have Poland been thus far? Wow. You just could not see it coming. This opening 20 minutes has flown by.
18 minPoland have the ball in the net as Polanski finishes off a wonderful move. However, it is just ruled out for offside.
17 minWe haven't seen a great deal from Dzagoev or Arshavin thus far for the Russians - famous last words.
15 minPerquis has returned. That's good news. Poland are dominating possession in this match thus far. I did not expect that.
15 minOuch. It looks a nasty cut for Perquis. That one will almost certainly require stitches.
13 minFinally we have a moment to catch our breath with Damien Perquis on the deck with an injury. What a start.
11 minWow! That's some hit from Lewandowski as he collects the ball on his chest before releasing a brilliant volley which drifts just wide.
11 minLewandowski has been involved in the early stages for the Poles. Meanwhile, Kerzhakov is just ruled offside down the other end.
9 minIt's as clear as day what game-plan Poland have been sent out with. Attack, attack, attack. And why not?
8 minAgain Poland come close with a header from Sebastian Boenisch. However, Malafeev collects the ball. Bright start from both sides.
7 min... It's a wonderful cross from Ludovic Obraniak. However, Vyacheslav Malafeev produces a sensational save to clear the danger.
6 minIt's sloppy defending from Zhirkov as he fells Eugen Polanski. Free-kick to Poland in a dangerous position...
4 minAgain it's bright work from Russia as Yuri Zhirkov searches out Andrey Arshavin in the box. However, the ball is just too long.
2 minReally bright piece of work from Jakub Blaszczykowski as he searched out Lewandowski. However, the Pole was chopped down.
1 minAs expected, Russia immediately goin possession of the ball. They really are the dark horses in this tournament.
1 minHere we go then. Poland start us off.
19.43Now Poland. Great scenes this evening. Such passion.
19.41Here comes the national anthems. Russia first.
19.39Both sets of players are emerging onto the pitch.
19.37So what do we think this evening then? For me it's hard to look past Russia.
19.35Czech Republic beat Greece 2-1 in Group A's other match earlier this evening. Therefore, Poland will hope to stay in touching distance of the top two.
19.32Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Lewandowski performs this evening. The Pole has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United and he grabbed the opening goal of the tournament on Friday.
19.30A word from former Tottenham Hotspur boss David Pleat prior to the match: "With Andrey Arshavin you never knew what you would get from him. At his best he was very, very good. At his worst he was bang average," he told the BBC.
19.35Czech Republic beat Greece 2-1 in Group A's other match earlier this evening. Therefore, Poland will be keen to stay in touching distance of the top two.
19.23A particular highlight of Russia's win over Czech Republic was the combination play between Dzagoev, Andrey Arshavin and Kerzhakov in the attacking third. However, the latter did miss a host of chances!
19.20The also boast the in-form Alan Dzagoev in their ranks. The young attacker has now scored five goals in his last three competitive international games.
19.18Meanwhile, Russia's victory over the Czechs means that the nation have now gone 15 games unbeaten - conceding just five goals in that period.
19.16The last time these two teams met was in August 2007, with the friendly match ending 2-2 in Moscow.
19.16Poland head coach Franciszek Smuda did admit that the pressure of opening the tournament on Friday had affected his players: ?The pressure for the opening game was really huge because we thought we had to win. We didn't want to fail. We want to win but we don't want to lose. We know we have one point and because of this we will have a chance until the very end,? he told reporters.
19.39Both sets of players are emerging onto the pitch. Some atmosphere!
19.12Meanwhile, Russia name an unchanged line-up from their 4-1 win over Czech Republic. Aleksandr Kerzhakov keeps his place in attack despite missing a host of chances.
19.12Poland make two changes from Friday's match with Greece. Goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton starts between the sticks of the suspended Wojciech Szczesny. Meanwhile, Dariusz Dudka replaces Maciej Rybus in midfield.
19.10Team News: Russia: Malafeev; Anyukov, Ignashevich, A. Berezutski, Zhirkov; Shirokov, Denisov, Zyranov, Dzagoev; Arshavin, Kerzhakov
19.10Team News: Poland: Tyton; Piszczek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Boenisch; Dudka, Polanski, Murawski, Obraniak, Kuba; Lewandowski
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
