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Italy lose their unbeaten record in 2003 with a shock 3-1 defeat in Warsaw, but Antonio Cassano can celebrate a debut goal.
This is the first time since 1999, a 3-1 defeat to Belgium, that the Azzurri have conceded three goals in a single game.
All eyes were on Antonio Cassano and Marco Marchionni, making their senior debuts in this international friendly. The Roma starlet was given a start following the injuries to Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Pippo Inzaghi, while Parma winger Marchionni is tested as an alternative to Mauro Camoranesi.
Marco Di Vaio was also in the starting eleven after his fine recent form for Juventus.
There was a minute's silence before kick-off for the Italian soldiers who died in a bombing in Iraq earlier today.
Poland took a surprise lead after just six minutes with a stunning strike from Jacek Bak. A corner was punched out to the edge of the box where Bak rifled a fierce drive into the top corner.
The home side was far more aggressive and Francesco Toldo performed a bizarre clearance just outside the penalty area that only just missed a Polish player.
Poland eventually made it two on 18 minutes from another set-piece. A free kick was swept in and defender Klos got in front of his marker to nod in from eight yards.
Italy finally woke up and hit back with a memorable goal within sixty seconds. Marchionni's cross was touched on by Christian Vieri and Cassano was able to net on his senior debut with a delightful finish lifted over goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.
It was important to see both debutantes combine to create that goal which lifted a sluggish Italy squad.
Cassano nearly bagged a second on the half-hour mark, but Klos managed to dive in and block his path.
There was controversy just before the break when Vieri charged into the box and fell following a challenge from Zielinski, but the referee waved play on. The Inter hitman had already gone past the defender and was alone on goal when he fell.
Poland nearly restored their two-goal cushion moments later, as another Klos corner kick took a deflection and whistled past the far post with Toldo beaten.
Giovanni Trapattoni made several changes at half-time, introducing defenders Marco Materazzi and Massimo Oddo.
After ten minutes he also changed the tactics, with Perugia wide man Fabio Grosso and battling midfielder Gennaro Gattuso stepping in.
Two Juventus teammates switched places when Fabrizio Miccoli came on for the relatively quiet Di Vaio.
The new entry really should have drawn the Azzurri level just 120 seconds after stepping on to the field. Dudek scuffed his clearance and sent the ball hurtling into the air, but Miccoli's volley was over an open goal.
Toldo made up for his earlier error by twice performing reaction saves on Niedzelan and Rasiak.
Sampdoria hitman Fabio Bazzani - a late call-up following Bernardo Corradi's injury - also made his Azzurri debut in the final minutes.
Poland remained very dangerous on the counter-attack and scored a curious goal six minutes from time. Toldo fingertipped a Zurawski angled drive on to the upright, then Krzynovek rifled the loose ball on to the crossbar and back out again. The linesman flagged for the goal and replays suggest the ball had crossed the line.
The home side was lifted by the promise of victory and Krzynovek nearly bagged a brace when his low drive skimmed the near post.
There was more bad news for Italy, as in stoppage time Inter defender Marco Materazzi suffered a thigh problem and was forced to limp off.
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