Poland v. Croatia [R]

[unclesox]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080616/capt.ed9f879062ed4f428047f4eaeef42791.soccer_euro_2008_poland_croatia_eur123.jpg

Halftime

Poland 0:0 Croatia

[ReMad]

Another chance for Klasnic 45+2
Click Here for Video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=2054452)

[stiffmeister]

Well, this second string Croatia is slowly wearing Poland down. 1 "1on1" chance and handful of good ones. Rakitic is playing amazing.

[timotheus]

Croatia goal!!!!

Germany also scored, and leads AUT 1:0 also.

Poland, true to form, sucks.

[Albirrojo]

Croatia goal!!!!

Germany also scored, and leads AUT 1:0 also.

Poland, true to form, sucks.


Strong words, how about "are just happy to be there!"

"This will not be a reserve side," he added. "We have 23 players in all and there is no first team, second team or reserve team. I have no doubt whatsoever that my team can beat Poland, whatever team I put out. I have total respect for Poland but I also have confidence in my players." - Bilic- http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/Euro_2008_match_preview__Croatia_v_Poland_news_258760.html


IMHO as well, Poland, some of their fans maybe not the team need to work on sportsmanship a bit, be good sports and crash out of a tournament.

Boruc is total class and took hold of the players who wanted to quarrel about the penalty given and he was the one who had to take the shot and he's saved them before, faded the wrong way.

[ReMad]

1st Goal for Croatia - Klasnic 53'
Click Here for Video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=2054505)

[timotheus]

"
Strong words, how about "are just happy to be there!"


No.

After 2 WC appearances and 1 Euro (just ending), I see no progress. Flashy qualifying games, decent technique, passing, shooting.

But when during a tourney game, they go into a shell, become literally school boys, they are afraid, you can see the fear in their eyes.


After 2 WC and 1 Euro, I do not think that the polish teams were THIS bad.

The problem is psychological, with the lack of belief and, yes, FEAR.

It's pretty strange and the polish Brazilian, Roger (sp?) nailed it when he said something like "I dont understand it, I go out there and have fun, and they are scared".

The polish team does not need a coach - it needs a psychologist.

[ReMad]

Shot beside the post by Guerreiro 63'
Click Here for Video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=2054538)

[unclesox]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080616/capt.52bdfd97a8d14d918aa8abdc1ada6ece.soccer_euro_2008_poland_croatia_eur163.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080616/capt.fbae23259e614b12b20535f5f81c17b5.soccer_euro_2008_poland_croatia_eur162.jpg

Fulltime

Poland 0:1 Croatia
0:1 - Klasnić 52'

BOOKINGS:
39' Lewandowski (unsporting conduct) 2nd = suspension
45' Vejić (foul on Guerreiro) 1st
84' Zahorski (foul on Pokrivač) 1st
85' Vukojević (foul on Guerreiro) 1st

[RibbyBollywood]

"
Strong words, how about "are just happy to be there!"


No.

After 2 WC appearances and 1 Euro (just ending), I see no progress. Flashy qualifying games, decent technique, passing, shooting.

But when during a tourney game, they go into a shell, become literally school boys, they are afraid, you can see the fear in their eyes.


After 2 WC and 1 Euro, I do not think that the polish teams were THIS bad.

The problem is psychological, with the lack of belief and, yes, FEAR.

It's pretty strange and the polish Brazilian, Roger (sp?) nailed it when he said something like "I dont understand it, I go out there and have fun, and they are scared".

The polish team does not need a coach - it needs a psychologist.

Poland have had problems that are a bit similar to the kinds England and African Powerhouse Nigeria have who have stuttered, Poland seems to freeze up on the big stage. I guess, even if Poland had won, now that the Germans did take Austria, Poland would not have advanced anyway if they had hung on versus host nation Austria.

And I hope that Portugal wins against Germany but it may be tough.

[BMike86]

The polish team does not need a coach - it needs a psychologist.

that pretty much sums it all up :(

[stiffmeister]

You Polish fans have to explain how did you end up ahead of Portugal in the qualifications.

[timotheus]

it's simple.

poland plays decent during qualifications, and chokes when they actually play in a tourney.

the funny thing is, poland is not a world beater but they are not THAT bad.

this has happened the past 2 WC also...

[el_urchinio]

The Klasnic story is probably one of the best ones of the tournament. He had a complete kidney failure a year and a half ago, one unsuccessful and one successful transplant, and he scores today in a European Championship game.

[stiffmeister]

The Klasnic story is probably one of the best ones of the tournament. He had a complete kidney failure a year and a half ago, one unsuccessful and one successful transplant, and he scores today in a European Championship game.
Completly agree. He more than deserverd it. That man has been through hell and back in the past year and best of luck to him.

[BMike86]

it's simple.

poland plays decent during qualifications, and chokes when they actually play in a tourney.

the funny thing is, poland is not a world beater but they are not THAT bad.

this has happened the past 2 WC also...

exactly... for some reason they are all nerves except for Boruc... Roger said it best, they turn off that fun switch when they lace up the boots on matchday in the big tournaments :(

[Smoga]

I know why we sucked at this tournament:

"because only sport and good time counts".

Our bus slogan didn't do anything to help us with our psychological issues, to the contrary, it messed us up even more...

[BMike86]

I know why we sucked at this tournament:

"because only sport and good time counts".

Our bus slogan didn't do anything to help us with our psychological issues, to the contrary, it messed us up even more...

lol :p

[RibbyBollywood]

Poland won a group not only with Portugal but Serbia who went to the World Cup and Belgium who have a long tradition of fine soccer play and some big wins in the World and Euro Cups even if right now, they've been playing poorly. Belgium played Brazil well in '02 and maybe even were on the end of a bad call. Finland was also in that group and though haven't done much internationally, did fairly well. Portugal did just get by and here, now Portugal are obviously one of the top picks to win it all. It is puzzling why Poland would falter and I guess, by goal differential the 4th place team.

Perhaps the qualifying campaign has set up this dissapointment.

In some ways, it is like the Polish team took a tumble since the qualifiers, US whipped them well 3-0 (I think without looking it up) and I don't think their other friendlies were great results either for whatever the friendlies are worth. They definitely stepped down since the qualifiers.

[BMike86]

Perhaps the qualifying campaign has set up this dissapointment.

In some ways, it is like the Polish team took a tumble since the qualifiers, US whipped them well 3-0 (I think without looking it up) and I don't think their other friendlies were great results either for whatever the friendlies are worth. They definitely stepped down since the qualifiers.

it has nothing to do with losing 3-0 to the USA or any of those friendlies... if you have followed Polish football over the years or for that matter ANY history of Polish football you would know that the same shite has happened to us in the World Cup 2002, World Cup 2006, and now this Euro 2008 where the qualifying has been extraordinary and then the tournament is all for none... Polish fans and supporters have been seeing this for the better part of 8 years now. just because you looked at the Euro 2008 qualifying table and the recent results of the friendlies DOES NOT mean you have made a break through in thought. are you going to claim you invented the internet while you are at it? because Poland's problem isn't the manager, it is their confidence. in qualifiers they play care free with nothing to lose. but in the big tournament they go all mental and think they are lessers to everyone. it is sickening seeing this happen over and over again. they have the ability and the quality to give the good sides a run for their money. BUT when it comes times to the matches that mean the most in the tournaments. the guys that need to step up, decide to take a step back and hope someone else carries them. :(