Poland planning to drop midfield general Szymkowiak

DORTMUND, June 13 (Reuters) Poland coach Pawel Janas is likely to drop playmaker Miroslaw Szymkowiak for tomorrow's crunch Group A clash with Germany in Dortmund.

After Friday's 2-0 loss to Ecuador, the Poles are even more desperate to beat the Germans for the first time in 85 years of trying to give themselves a chance of making the second round.

Janas has said he will make at least one change from the lineup used against Ecuador but refused to give any details.

''In training the only thing Janas has done for now is to leave out Szymkowiak from the first 11,'' a source at the Polish camp told Reuters. ''Ireneusz Jelen will play instead of him.'' Another source confirmed that was how the Poles were training.

''Janas has been playing the same 4-5-1 formation with Ebi Smolarek up front and Ireneusz Jelen on the wing. Maciej Zurawski will move back into midfield to take Szymkowiak's place,'' the second source said.

Szymkowiak has been central to Janas's plans since he took over as national team coach four years ago, scoring three goals in 30 appearances from central midfield.

But the Trabzonspor and former Wisla Krakow man has looked off the pace in recent games and traditionally struggles when Poland play teams from Europe's top tier.

Asked whether Szymkowiak would be dropped, Janas said: ''All the players are training. All 23 have the chance of playing tomorrow.'' ''Our main problem against Ecuador was that we did not create chances. We have to do more against the Germans. We also cannot afford to make the same schoolboy mistakes in defence.'' ''We now have nothing to lose -- a draw probably gives us nothing as well. One day we have to win against the Germans. I hope very much that it will be tomorrow.'' REUTERS DH RAI0029