Baby boost for Poland's goalkeeper Boruc - and Celtic man hopes to deliver

New dad Artur Boruc faces Austria in Vienna tonight just hours after his wife, Katarzyna, gave birth to a baby boy in Warsaw.

The Celtic keeper stayed with the Poland squad at Euro 2008 but could be granted time to return home by manager Leo Beenhakker after his country's second game in the group.

Katarzyna was due on Sunday, when the Poles were beaten by Germany in Klagenfurt, but the couple's first child was born early yesterday.

Now the 28-year-old Parkhead keeper will seek to shut out the co-hosts as a special celebration for his new addition to the family.

Former Celtic striker Dariusz Dziekanowski has told Poland's under-pressure players they can beat Austria and Croatia in their remaining matches - but only if they win their mind games first.

The former Celtic striker is now right-hand man to coach Beenhakker, the veteran Dutchman.

He watched his countrymen extend their winless run against arch-rivals Germany to 16 matches on Sunday and lose captain Maciej Zurawski ahead of today's crucial game.

Yet with so much riding on the result, Dziekanowski knows the size of the task in hand.

"It is hard for players when they are away at a tournament because the emotion builds up and comes into the head during games," he said.

"Emotion is the most difficult thing. Sometimes you get angry with a referee or an opponent for a foul. You need to keep your mind clear and focus on winning the games.

"You know millions of people are watching you play for your country and that it is a big step. For some guys, it becomes too much of a problem.

"But if we can beat the Austrians, we will have a real chance again of making the quarter-finals."

Both sides face a must-win situation. For the vanquished, it will be the ignominy of joining Switzerland as one of the first teams eliminated from this year's competition.

Austria coach Josef Hickersberger said: "It is all or nothing. We need a victory and so do Poland."

The Austrians were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Croatia in their opening game.

"We are still optimistic. I see no team-mates who are down and out," Austria defender Martin Stranzl added. "We need these three points against Poland now and every one of us is fully aware of that."