Kryszalowicz clear for Amica

By Pawel Dimow

There is little doubt that Pawel Kryszalowicz provided the transfer story of the summer in Poland. After two-and-a-half years at German side Eintracht Frankfurt, the 29-year-old forward returned to the club where he made his name and subsequently turned the Polish table on its head.

Flying start
With six goals in seven games for early league leaders KS Amica Wronki, Kryszalowicz has put the disappointment of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and a dismal campaign with Eintracht behind him. And with one of the country's best strikers back on form, the whole of Poland may yet have something to celebrate.

Happy homecoming
It was no surprise when Amica welcomed Kryszalowicz with open arms after his contract in the Bundesliga expired in the summer. He had been a key figure for Amica in the late 1990s, as the club gained promotion to the Ekstraklasa in 1995 and won three Polish Cups and two Polish Super Cups between 1998 and 2000.

Glory days
His goals helped Amica qualify for the UEFA Cup and also kick-started the player's international career. Poland coach Janusz Wojcik gave Kryszalowicz his first cap in a UEFA EURO 2000™ qualifier against Sweden in October 1999, and he has rarely looked back.

International credentials
Wojcik's successor Jerzy Engel also had faith in the forward, and there was considerable celebration when Kryszalowicz scored his first international goal against the Netherlands in June 2000 - not least because it was Poland's first strike in 661 minutes of competitive action.

German progress
Not too long after, in November 2000, Kryszalowicz transferred to Eintracht in a €1.2m deal. He hit seven goals in 18 games in his first season, although the club were relegated to the second division. Another 16 goals followed in his second term.

World Cup disaster
All seemed to be going well. Poland had cantered to the World Cup finals, but they were in for a nasty surprise in Korea/Japan. Defeats by the Korean Republic and Portugal preceded a 3-1 win against the United States - in which Kryszalowicz scored the second goal.

Ruined season
It was too little too late, and national coach Engel resigned soon after. Kryszalowicz, meanwhile, was heading for more bad luck as injury soured his season at Eintracht, giving him just three goals from 23 appearances. Homesick, he leapt at the chance to rejoin Amica.

Scoring touch
It has proved a great move. He scored his side's first goal of the campaign in a 2-0 win against KP Polonia Warszawa and continued that form with a double in Amica's 2-0 victory against champions Wisla Kraków. A long-range effort against Wisla Plock in his last league outing was his 49th in the top flight.

Polish hope
Now, having terrorised domestic defences, Kryszalowicz could turn his sights on to the international scene with Pawel Janas's team. Poland need a win against Hungary in Budapest on 11 October - coupled with a victory for Sweden against Latvia - to reach the play-offs for UEFA EURO 2004™.

Potential hero
And if he can boost Polish fortunes in the same way he has shot Amica to the top of the Ekstraklasa, Kryszalowicz could yet be hailed as a hero far beyond Wronki.