Support: Fans of Legia attend a ceremony dedicated to Kazimierz Deyna

Bordeaux's Ludovic Obraniak is one of the accused. Born in France, like centre half Damien Perquis, Obraniak has a Polish grandfather. Left back Sebastian Boenisch has played for Germany's Under 21s.

'This foreigner debate has not been particularly good for me,' Obraniak said this week. 'There's a similar one in France. I feel Polish, but I know I'm not 100 per cent Polish.'

It is five years since UEFA gave Poland and Ukraine the go-ahead, a day described by the then Polish FA president as 'the most  important in Polish football ever'.

A good start tonight in Warsaw would help ease anxiety, and should spur excitement. Poland host Greece, who qualified above Croatia, conceding just five goals in 10 matches. The Poles have been playing friendlies since 2009.

They have lost 6-0 to Spain and drawn 2-2 against Germany.

A home win is hardly guaranteed, but one would tee up next  Tuesday, when Russia are Poland's opponents. That has the potential to captivate not just Poland  but beyond.

That, for current Prime Minister Donald Tusk, is the aim. The political hope is that Euro 2012 transforms perceptions of the country. This will be seen as the first major eastern European tournament, but Poland wants to be known as central Europe, as a bridge.

'The greatest investment of Euro 2012 isn't the wonderful stadiums, the great airport terminals, the roads and railway stations,' said Tusk. 'It's investment in the brand and reputation of Poland among the hundreds of millions who will watch it on TV, and the hundreds of thousands who will come here and won't judge us only on sport.'

What cannot be ignored is that the estimated £20billion pumped into infrastructure concerns the population at a time of recession; Solidarity are threatening tournament strikes over pensions but Poland is not convulsed politically, as Ukraine is.

If optimism feels fragile - Walesa spoke of 'the lack of self- confidence as a country' recently - perhaps they are just waiting to see if they can pull it off.

'We may not have everything quite buttoned up,' Walesa added. 'But Poland has already won.'

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