Pole to Pole

By Maciej Iwanski and Pete Sanderson

It is almost ten years since a Polish club made it to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. But Polish fans will be holding their breath when Liverpool FC's Jerzy Dudek takes on his international team-mate and best friend Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Jacek Krzynówek for a place in the last eight.

World class
It may not quite have the same impact as watching former Champions League contenders Widzew Lódz, now consigned to the Polish second division, doing battle with Europe's finest but it is a sure sign that Polish football can still produce world-class talent.

Friendly foes
"We both knew we'd end up playing against each other before the draw was made", Dudek told uefa.com. "We're great friends and it is a shame one of us has to go out."

Cabinet maker
Their similarities do not end with friendship. Both were born in Poland and grew up in small cities and both were on the verge of snubbing a career in football to work in industry - Dudek as a miner and Krzynowek to become a cabinet maker. Fortunately for Liverpool and Leverkusen, two irresistible offers came to the rescue.

Moves abroad
After failing to set the Polish league alight, the duo fled their homeland in search of establishing successful football careers elsewhere. Dudek left GKS Tychy after only a couple of matches for the Polish side, he finally began to flourish at Dutch club Feyenoord. Krzynówek, meanwhile, opted to join German side 1. FC Nürnberg - a move which changed his career.

Dutch magic
Both players were now regulars in Jerzy Engel's fast-improving Polish side who were, at the time, well on course to sealing a place at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan. For the first time in their careers, however, the two were enjoying contrasting fortunes at club level. While Dudek was being named as the Eredivisie's player of the year in 2000, Krzynówek, was trying to come to terms with a life in the German second division.

Bounced back
There was even better news round the corner for Dudek. On the same day Poland defeated Norway 3-0 to secure a World Cup place, he signed for Liverpool, the club he had supported all his life, for €7.9m. Never one to wallow in self-pity, Krzynówek showed impressive self-motivation and was named Poland's best player in Japan/Korea - a tribute to his superb form which eventually earned him a switch to Leverkusen.

Spectacular goals
This season Krzynówek has come into his own. Voted as Poland's finest for the second time, he has excelled in the Champions League with breathtaking goals against Real Madrid CF and AS Roma. Dudek too remains No1 at Anfield and a key figure alongside his friend in new national coach Pawel Janas' side.

Head to head
With Liverpool holding an all-important 3-1 advantage, Dudek is in the box seat ahead of the return leg. "It will be a tough game," the goalkeeper told uefa.com. "We were leading 3-0 in the last minute of the first leg but I made an error to let them get back in the tie. Jacek is a great player and would certainly like to score against me but we'll have to see. Hopefully we can hold on and win the tie." No matter what the result, however, the two Poles will give each other a firm handshake come the final whistle.