The gloom that set in after their humbling early exit from the 2006 World Cup looked like continuing as the team initially failed to spark under controversially-appointed new coach Leo Beenhakker.

Many Poles were opposed to the Dutch veteran - the country's first foreign coach - taking charge and the knives were quickly out, but the former Trinidad and Tobago boss used all his experience to turn the campaign around.

Instilling new discipline and using his shrewd tactical brain, Beenhakker led a revival so impressive that Poland powered through to win the group ahead of Portugal with a game to spare.

Racing Santander striker Euzebiusz Smolarek, formerly of Borussia Dortmund, was the star of the campaign with nine goals, including both in the 2-0 win over Belgium that booked their ticket to Austria and Switzerland.

It was no mean achievement. Poland have become familiar faces at the World Cup after qualifying for the last two tournaments and four times in succession from 1974-86 - when they twice finished third - but this will be their first time at a European Championship finals.

"To finish in such style feels great," said Beenhakker after the Belgium success. "I am delighted because we have made so many people in Poland happy.

"It is a great achievement for the players that in a very short time they have managed to form a team capable of this historic first qualification."

Beenhakker knew he had his work cut out after Jari Litmanen, Finland's all-time leading goalscorer, rolled back the years on his side's visit to Bydgoszcz in September 2006.

The veteran former Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool star struck twice in the second half before setting up a third for Mika Vayrynen.

Lukasz Gargula pulled one back in the last minute but it was little consolation for the Poles, who finished with 10 men after the sending off of Arkadiusz Glowacki.

Poland then missed the chance to get their campaign back on track four days later as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia in Warsaw.

Radoslaw Matusiak got them off to a good start but Serbia substitute Danko Lazovic struck back in the second half.

Having taken just one point from two home games, Poland clearly had work to do but things began to turn around as Smolarek fired them to a 1-0 triumph in Kazakhstan.

That win provided the platform and the morale boost they needed as they returned home to stun Portugal 2-1 in their next game in Chorzow.

Smolarek hit both Polish goals inside the opening 18 minutes as Beenhakker's men made a blistering start. A Nuno Gomes goal in injury time was not enough to prevent Portugal slipping to a first defeat.

Momentum then started to gather as the Poles went on to win their next four games.

Matusiak netted the only goal in a 1-0 win in Belgium before Azerbaijan were swept aside 5-0 in Warsaw. Jacek Bak, Dariusz Dudka, Wojciech Lobodzinski, Jacek Krzynowek and Przemyslaw Kazmierczak were the men on target in a convincing performance.

Maciej Zurawski's goal then saw off Armenia 1-0 in Kielce before Smolarek got back into the groove and Krzynowek hit two more in a 3-1 victory, after they had fallen behind, in Azerbaijan.

Poland then perhaps switched off too early as Armenia avenged their previous loss by winning the final qualifying game of the 2006-07 season 1-0, but they at least had three months to recover before facing Portugal again.

Kryznowek was the hero as Poland snatched a morale-boosting 2-2 draw in Lisbon, equalising in the 88th minute after Maniche and Cristiano Ronaldo had responded to Mariusz Lewandowski's opener.

The Poles then picked up another crucial point with a goalless draw in Finland before Smolarek hit a hat-trick to see off Kazakhstan 3-1 after conceding an early goal in Warsaw.

That result put them on the brink and the job was completed when Belgium visited Chorzow, with Smolarek again taking centre stage.

The programme ended in slightly disappointing fashion as, after taking a 2-0 lead through Rafal Murawski and Matusiak, they had to settle for a 2-2 draw in Serbia.

Nevertheless, it had been a hugely satisfying campaign and, drawn into a reasonable group alongside Germany, Austria and Croatia, there could be more to come from this Poland team.