Wales outclassed by Poles

Mariusz Lewandowski clears from Wales' Jamie Tolley

Wales u-21 0-4 Poland u-21

Wales Under-21s were outclassed in clinical fashion as they slumped to their sixth successive European Championship qualifier.

Poland's expert touch in front of goal proved Wales' undoing.

The Poles' two-goal star was Feyenoord's exceptional Euzebiusz Smolarek, who ran Wales ragged.

It means Wales have now gone 20 games without a win at this level and it is hard to see where their next victory is going to come from.

Wales included five previously uncapped players - Swansea's goalkeeper Jason Jones, Everton's 18-year-old Ryan Valentine, Wrexham's Stephen Thomas, Shrewsbury's Jamie Tolley and substitute Matthew Williams from Manchester United.

Towering

At the other end of the scale Sheffield United's James Thomas equalled the Welsh caps record at this level with his 17th appearance.

The physically bigger and older Polish players almost went ahead after three minutes when Marcin Wasilewski got clear on the right only to be stopped by a fine saving tackle from Daniel Gabbidon.

Six minutes later Cardiff striker Robert Earnshaw turned in the box to hook over the crossbar, but the 20 year-old who hit 26 goals this season found life tough against the towering Tomasz Ciesielski.

Poland were ahead after 16 minutes when the classy Smolarek, an steered home from close range.

Wales almost carved out an equaliser on 23 minutes.

Skipper Ryan Green played James Thomas down the left and his low cross was scooped off Earnshaw's toes by goalkeeper Maciej Melcarz, throwing himself desperately full length at the striker's feet.

But Poland were two ahead on 33 minutes when Damian Gorawski completed a fine flowing move.

James Thomas is foiled by Arkadiusz Glowacki

Gabbidon had gone on a long run down the left from his defensive duties, and when the ball was lost Poland hit quickly on the break against a stretched back line.

Grzegorz Rasiak and Wasilewski combined with some neat passing before the later laid the ball back form Gorawski to crack home from 20 yards.

It did not take Poland long to get their third, another stunning goal from Smolaerk.

The young left sided striker cruised onto a through ball, glided past a couple of defenders before cooly beating Jones.

Wales went further behind on the hour when Rasiak burst down the right and fed Gorawski, who clipped the ball high over Jones and just inside the far post.

Tolley set up Earnshaw for a fierce shot that Melcarz could only palm out but James Thomas somehow managed to sidefoot wide of an open goal from six yards.

Wrexham's Danny Williams missed the game after pulling an abductor muscle in training.

He was also due to play in Ukraine, but because of visa regulations Wales may not be able to replace him in the squad.

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Wales: Jason Jones (Swansea), Daniel Gabbidon (Cardiff), Ryan Green (Wolves), Rhys Day (Man City), Ryan Valentine (Everton), Neil Gibson (Sheffield Wednesday), Stephen Thomas (Wrexham), James Tolley (Shrewsbury), James Thomas (Sheffield United), Rob Earnshaw (Cardiff), Layton Maxwell (Liverpool). Subs: Hillier, Devulght, Slatter, Price, Williams, Whitfield.

Poland: Melcarz, Sznaucner, Nowak, Ciesielski, Lewandowski, Glowacki, Wasilewski, Konalczyk, Rasiak, Smolarek, Gorawski. Subs: Szszko, Pietrasiak, Smolinski, Jaroslaw Mazurkiewicz, Grebowski.

Referee: S Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)