EURO 2016: Five things to know about Poland

Five facts about Poland going into the European Championship finals in France where they are in Group C against Germany, Northern Ireland and Ukraine.

MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Germany

MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Northern Ireland

MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Ukraine

MUST READ: All you need to know about GROUP A, GROUP B, GROUP C, GROUP D, GROUP E, GROUP F

1) First victory

Poland are chasing their first passage into the second round at a European Championship finals having finished bottom of their group at both Euro 2008 and four years ago when they co-hosted Euro 2012.

They have a miserable record of three wins and three draws, with just three goals scored and three conceded in their six matches.

2) 30-year wait

The 'Biało-Czerwoni' (White and Reds) are looking to end their 30-year wait to qualify for the knock-out stages of either a World Cup or a European championships since reaching the last 16 at Mexico '86 where they were thrashed 4-0 by Brazil.

What you need to know about Poland in Euro 2016

3) Rival neighbours

Poland claimed an historic first win over neighbours Germany at the 19th attempt when they stunned the world champions with a 2-0 win in Warsaw in October 2014 with goals by Arkadiusz Milik and Sebastian Mila in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

The Germans gained revenge in Frankfurt last September with a 3-1 win. But there will be plenty of spice when Poland faces Germany again at Paris' Stade de France in Group C on June 16.

4) Record-holder Lewandowski

The Bayern Munich striker netted 13 goals in the qualifying campaign to equal David Healy’s record, set in the qualifiers for Euro 2008 while playing for Northern Ireland.

The Poland hot-shot also set four new Bundesliga records last September by scoring five goals in nine minutes for Bayern against Wolfsburg.

With 34 goals in 75 internationals, it seems only a matter of time before Lewandowski breaks his country's all-time record of 48 scored by Wlodzimierz Lubanski.

5) Kuba's tragedy

Poland midfielder Jakub 'Kuba' Blaszczykowski can often be seen looking up to the sky after scoring a goal for his country, but there is a tragic story behind his celebration.

As a 10-year-old, he suffered the trauma of witnessing his father killing his mother. He was encouraged to keep playing football by his grandmother and his uncle, former Poland captain Jerzy Brzeczek.

"I am perfectly certain that my mother is watching over me up there," he said after looking skyward having scored against Russia in the group stages of Euro 2012.