Austria v. Poland [R]

[Dead Fingers]

Everyone is more than welcome to participate in this thread, though trolling/insults from any point of view are not welcome and will be dealt with infractions/bans.



Game is on Thursday 12.06.08

[Marbur66]

I certainly hope Poland can win this game, hopefully by more than 1 goal. That being said, Poland often plays up or down to their opponent, so I wouldn't rule out an emberrasing 2-0 win for Austria. :mad:

[RibbyBollywood]

I certainly hope Poland can win this game, hopefully by more than 1 goal. That being said, Poland often plays up or down to their opponent, so I wouldn't rule out an emberrasing 2-0 win for Austria. :mad:

Austria won the hearts of a lot of people with their play yesterday, I will be sitting back and fully respecting them. On paper, this game looks much like Austria's best chance to get points.

Also, perhaps after the opening round of games of the past two days, there may be more solid officiating and the atmosphere will have calmed down.

Leo gambled some yesterday and I don't begrudge him, because I think his attitude and coaching is what will help Poland succeed if they do: and if they don't, they did very well getting here. Up until the seventieth minute yesterday, I almost thought, if Poland scores, they will get another. There was an element of attacking; not containing like the game 2 years ago.

Lastly, one last note on officiating, both teams better be careful to pick up yellows and mainly red cards.

If Poland wins and Croatia does not, that sets up some last game for these two teams.

I don't think Poland will play down to their opponents, even in losing, they played an exciting brand of soccer and did not just sit back. They challenged and Germany had to win that game. I think, with Leo, Poland's embarrassments of the last two World Cups are behind them. If Austria wins, they will have to deserve it like Germany.

ZZ, Zidane just visited Poland, http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/sport/?id=84174 : hope that can rub off on the team.

[marek]

things could be worse for Poland

in the last two WC the second game for Poland was always against the group favorites and always after losing the first match

this time (true to form) we lost the first match, but got the game against the favorites out of the way as well

the remaing two games will be hard (Austria being hosts negates somewhat their status as a 'weak' team)

regardless of what happens the game in Vienna will see the biggest influx of Poles into that city since 1683! :-)

[nekkibasara]

regardless of what happens the game in Vienna will see the biggest influx of Poles into that city since 1683! :-)

Lol awesome job on the historical reference there. Too bad Turkey isn't in our group to make it even more poignant.

[Marbur66]

Poland captain Maciej Zurawski is injured and will not participate in the remaining group stage matches, according to uefa.com. I'm personally not overly concerned about that, since I've never been a fan of his. We know that at least one change will have to be made in the starting line-up against Austria.

[marek]

Lol awesome job on the historical reference there. Too bad Turkey isn't in our group to make it even more poignant.

if you wanna continue along that road then we can say that the Poles and the Germans came to Vienna together and that parts of Croatia were then ruled by the Ottoman Empire (but i do not want to suggest that our Croatian brothers were in any way allied or supporting the Turks)

so everybody in the group can be thrown into this little historical exercise

[marek]

Poland captain Maciej Zurawski is injured and will not participate in the remaining group stage matches, according to uefa.com. I'm personally not overly concerned about that, since I've never been a fan of his. We know that at least one change will have to be made in the starting line-up against Austria.


agreed

i'm more concerned with Lewandowski's injury, he's much more important to the team then Zurawski

[nekkibasara]

Zurawski's injury could be a blessing in disguise if it forces Beenhaker to play Guerro from the start. He was extremely dangerous when he came in, and he gave Germany's defense a lot of trouble.

I don't think Austria has the pace or quality in defense to stay with him.

[Marbur66]

Zurawski's injury could be a blessing in disguise if it forces Beenhaker to play Guerro from the start. He was extremely dangerous when he came in, and he gave Germany's defense a lot of trouble.

I don't think Austria has the pace or quality in defense to stay with him.
I completely agree. Roger's creativity gave Poland a boost against the German defence, so he should be even more effective against Austria. Apparently, Beenhakker is expected to start Marek Saganowski in Zurawski's place though....:(

[timotheus]

Rooting for Poland, and knowing their history, I am very, very afraid.

Austria = Ecuador from past WC.

Laughed at, denigrated, "against them we will surely win" in the polish tabloids, and of course the obligatory loss.

Hey, I am pessimistic - have you watched Poland the last few WC?

[marcin79]

I know that statistics aren't the most reliable source for football predictions always, but it is just the sample of what UEFA.com published (about first games of Austria and Poland, against Croatia and Germany respectively):

Shots on goal: Austria 6, Poland 5
Posession: Austria 52%, Poland 48%
Fouls committed: Poland 18, Austria 17
Fouls suffered: Austria 15, Poland 13
Total passes: Austria 450, Poland 432
Passes completion: Poland 75%, Austria 72%
Long passes completion: Austria 71%, Poland 53%
Short passes completion: Poland 74%, Austria 70%

And also from Castrolindex.com

Total distance: Poland 108426 m, Austria 107858 m
Longest distance: Dariusz Dudka POL 11538 m, Joachim Standfest AUT 11226 m
Top speed: Roger Guerreiro POL 29,29 km/h, Martin Stranzl AUT 27,12 km/h

So, statistics seem to confirm us what we already know that it is going be a tough, even game for both sides.

[marcin79]

Rooting for Poland, and knowing their history, I am very, very afraid.

Austria = Ecuador from past WC.

Laughed at, denigrated, "against them we will surely win" in the polish tabloids, and of course the obligatory loss.

Hey, I am pessimistic - have you watched Poland the last few WC?

This is something in it, still I'd rather compare Austria not to Ecuador 2006 but to South Korea 2002. I don't expect them to get to semifinals to be honest, although back then Polish media and fans treated Koreans like an easy game to win 3 points.

[Tuco]

For luck's sake, I hope Manninger doesn't start in goal. Austria should stick with Macho man and avoid a repeat of what happened last time they played Poland at home.

[timotheus]

"
although back then Polish media and fans treated Koreans like an easy game to win 3 points."


to be honest..., the polish sports media is TERRIBLE.

and the fans I see mouthing off on the forums bring religion and politics into the forii, heh :p


Poles always, always always made the following mistakes: they looked at the 3 opponents, said "well, this one is a favorite, we'll never win vs them", then "well, these guys just suck" and "haha, easy win number 2 for us!"...

Instead of treating each match as a "do or die" effort, no matter WHOM they are playing.

They still do it now in the media, not realizing that this is the first matches - Croatia can tie Germany, Austria may just tie Germany, who knows?


Lets hope for this not being the usual "lose 1, lose 2, play for honor 3rd match and win in a spectacular style" :D

[RibbyBollywood]

This however, does smack of a qualifier: the tough team out of the way, they need to get business done, the one risk can be like Greece in '04: that Austria is an unknown quantity, maybe even moreso than Greece, because they don't have qualifier films to review.

Beenhaaker knows the terrain, that was somewhat of a decent showing against Germany, Austria is a neighbor too and like Holland, all of those countries speak a Germanic type of language.

What I fear, is what if Poland wins it's last two, is able to defeat Croatia after defeating Austria.. and Croatia somehows defeats the Germans and the Germans win their last game.

Could all three teams be tied at six points and Poland not be the one to advance? I guess that is where goal differential will come in.

I know, not many think Croatia will upend Germany, but I don't think it is out of the question if Croatia gets its' act together.

[BMike86]

Beenhakker is expected to start Marek Saganowski in Zurawski's place though....:(

you can't be focking serious!?!?!?! :eek: :mad:

[Sevryn45]

Beenhakker is expected to start Marek Saganowski in Zurawski's place though....

Sagan is a joke, worse then Zurawski ever was I rather see Zahorski or Piszczek take Zurawski's place.

We should win this game, but then again nothing is certain anymore we did terribly the past 2 turnaments in 2002 and 2006 I guess the only bright side I see that during the game against Germany we played well and we had a few chances that we missed.

Austria is at home, not a team to be taken litely they can play decent footie and they will be looking to run us off the field.

[MicFW]

For luck's sake, I hope Manninger doesn't start in goal. Austria should stick with Macho man and avoid a repeat of what happened last time they played Poland at home.

Did Hickersberger hint at changing the keeper? During the tournament? :confused:

[marcin79]

I expect Poland to start in 4-2-3-1 formation: Boruc - Wasilewski, Bak, Jop, Zewlakow - Dudka, Lewandowski - Smolarek, Guerreiro, Krzynowek - Saganowski. I hope Lewandowski will be fit.