Poland beats Latvia 1-0 in Euro 2012 warm-up game

Artur Sobiech's first international goal gave Poland a 1-0 win over Latvia on Tuesday in the co-host's first warm-up game before the European championship.

The Hannover striker came on as a substitute for the final 33 minutes and scored with a header from a left-wing cross by Kamil Grosicki in the 81st.

Poland coach Franciszek Smuda rested several key players, including the team's top scorer Robert Lewandowski of Borussia Dortmund.

Poland dominated possession but created few dangerous chances. Defender Marcin Wasilewski missed the team's best chance in the first half when his header hit the post.

Latvia, which failed to qualify for the European championships, came close after two minutes when unmarked striker Artjoms Rudnevs forced Poland goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski into a diving safe.

Later, Fabianski denied Latvia midfielder Ivans Lukjanovs a goal by pushing his curling 20-meter shot over the crossbar.

Poland had its first effort on target after 20 minutes but `keeper Pavel Dorosevs saved Pawl Brozek's shot.

In the closing minutes, substitute Jakub Wawrzyniak missed a chance to double the score as he sent his header just high.

Poland's next friendly is against Slovakia on Saturday, again in Klagenfurt. It will then play Andorra on June 2 in Warsaw before opening Euro 2012 against Greece in the same stadium six days later.

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Lineups:

Poland: Lukasz Fabianski, Marcin Wasilewski, Tomasz Jodlowiec (Marcin Kaminski, 64), Grzegorz Wojtkowiak, Sebastian Boenisch (Jakub Wawrzyniak, 72), Rafal Murawski, Adrian Mierzejewski (Michal Kucharczyk, 46), Kamil Grosicki, Eugen Polanski, Rafal Wolski (Adam Matuszczyk, 46), Pawel Brozek (Artur Sobiech, 57).

Latvia: Pavels Dorosevs, Oskars Klava, Deniss Ivanovs, Kaspars Gorkss, Ritvars Rugins, Aleksandrs Fertovs, Olegs Laizans, Aleksandrs Cauna, Aleksejs Visnakovs (Andrejs Pereplotkins, 73), Ivans Lukjanovs, Artjoms Rudnevs (Edgars Gauracs, 78).