Poland v. Croatia [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.





http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/2017/flagofpolandsq0.gif

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/9572/800pxcroatiaflaglargeeh7.gif

[code1390]

Just doing the math here and I'm guessing the referees for the two group B matches will be Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain) and Massimo Busacca (Switzerland). MMG is basically a guarantee to do one of the matches as he will be on his seventh day of rest with most refs getting five or six. Busacca will be on his sixth day.

[Borussia]

Poland has to rely on an Austrian victory over Germany and itself needs a higher win against Croatia's B team (what should be very possible).

So all Poles will be Austria fans on Monday! :-)

[RibbyBollywood]

Fifa match base.

1996 Croatia 2 Poland 1
1998 Croatia 4 Poland 1
2003 Croatia 0 Poland 0
2006 Croatia 0 Poland 1

Maybe Croatia's B team, but they've got to be competitive because it can effect everyone.

Though I'm for Poland, if Austria could defeat Germany, they'd sure deserve to go on and advance. It wouldn't seem right for Poland to advance, if the 98th ranked team Austria defeated the 4th or 5th Fifa ranked team.

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Virtual replay of Guerreiro's goal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7444407.stm?goalid=502035

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I mentioned it beforehand, I was honestly afraid that Germany might have embarrassed the Poles, with some big scoreline, as they have ripped some teams in the past in tournaments, but that did not happen. If anything, some sloppy play by the defence aided Germany's play. The same sloppy play on display in the opening of yesterday's game.

[D0M0]

I believe Croatia will win against Poland. Poland is not bad team, but Croatia is better. Croatia may start with B team, but if something goes wrong Bilic will put his best players on the field.

[TariboWest33]

I believe Croatia will win against Poland. Poland is not bad team, but Croatia is better. Croatia may start with B team, but if something goes wrong Bilic will put his best players on the field.
Result for Croatia isn't imortant, IMO Bilic wouldnt put his best players on the field in any scenario
Prediction draw or Poland victory

[Borussia]

Poland will win this game ... unless Croatia wants to do a favour to Austria.

[fh 1]

Bilić claims that he wants a victory and I believe him but there are two problems:
1) He'll probably bench the carded players and those who ran most the last two matches: This is Olić, Modrić, Srna, Kovač-brothers, Šimunić, which is at least half of the team. So, Croatia will IMO indeed play with a B-team.
2) The motivation of the Croats vs Poland is low and our team needs a lot of motivation to play good, otherwise they are capable to lose even to Malta, that's our mentality, nothing to do against that.

So, it may not be a bad idea to put a so called B-team onto the pitch: The players are motivated to show their class, eventually to get even into the first team, if in superior shape and the most important players take a pause, regenerate and don't get the second yellow until quarters.

Polish will be more motivated, but will also depend on the other match: If Germany gets an early lead and the result at half time is already clearly in favor of Germany, the Polish will lose a lot of motivation.
But don't forget, there is also 1 Mio Euros worth a victory, this may also help to motivate oneselves - on both sides.

And I think that Poland is a team which would make also the best Croatian team much problems, so maybe the "B-team" which is technically not so skilled but physically top, may have even better chances to get a good result against Poland, who will eventually underestimate them.

[BMike86]

all i can do now is hope for the best, prepare for the worst

polacy do boju!

[DannyCro]

We will play with:

Pletikosa - Simic, Knezevic, Vejic, Pranjic - Leko, Pokrivac, Vukojevic, Rakitic - Klasnic, Petric

So Corluka, Srna, Kovac brothers, Olic, Kranjcar, Modric on bench.

But that is still quality side and should be able to win against Poland.

[fh 1]

Absolutely, Rakitić, Petrić, Klasnić are a Bundesliga offense. They're by no means worse than Klose, Podolsky, Schweinsteiger, for example.

The main difference to A-team is that they never played together (especially the defense) and that there is missing some creativity in the midfield (Modrić, Kranjčar, Srna).

But the team is OK. IMO, won't be easy for Poland to beat them.

[BMike86]

But the team is OK. IMO, won't be easy for Poland to beat them.

if we couldn't beat Austria... i'm pretty sure it won't be easy for us to beat Croatia :(

it'll give us a better chance to beat Croatia like some of you said for various reasons... but it will still be difficult to win none the less

[WhiteStar Warriors]

At least Poland is not the worst team we still have a chance, slim but we do. Switzerland and Greece are already out. Poland at least have a point, but if they beat Croatia and they don't advance. The team has to regroup and start thinking about WC 2010. The thing about WC qualifiers if I'm not mistaking the team in first place qualifies and the team in 2nd place plays playoffs. It will probably be a battle between Poland and Czech Republic

[BMike86]

It will probably be a battle between Poland and Czech Republic

obviously... Northern Ireland might be competitive, and Slovakia is no slouch. BUT we shouldn't have a problem with Slovenia or San Marino.

I put Slovakia on the same level as Serbia from this past Euro qualifying, personally i think Serbia is a bit better. I put Northern Ireland in the same light as Belgium. And well San Marino was destroyed by Germany 13-0 not to long ago and Slovenia shouldn't be so tough as well. the Czech Republic i obviously rate a lot lower than Portugal (1-- because Portugal handled them, and 2-- because Czech Republic isn't getting any younger)

we made it to the last World Cup (2006) when we had sides like England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Austria... we should be able to make it to World Cup 2010

[Albirrojo]

obviously... Northern Ireland might be competitive, and Slovakia is no slouch. BUT we shouldn't have a problem with Slovenia or San Marino.

I put Slovakia on the same level as Serbia from this past Euro qualifying, personally i think Serbia is a bit better. I put Northern Ireland in the same light as Belgium. And well San Marino was destroyed by Germany 13-0 not to long ago and Slovenia shouldn't be so tough as well. the Czech Republic i obviously rate a lot lower than Portugal (1-- because Portugal handled them, and 2-- because Czech Republic isn't getting any younger)

we made it to the last World Cup (2006) when we had sides like England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Austria... we should be able to make it to World Cup 2010

Slovenia made the Euro and World Cup '00 and '02.

No one to take lightly.

I think they have had impressive wins before as defeating Italy in qualifications for the '06 World Cup: so they may have some capabilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia_national_football_team

[BMike86]

Slovenia made the Euro and World Cup '00 and '02.

No one to take lightly.

I think they have had impressive wins before as defeating Italy in qualifications for the '06 World Cup: so they may have some capabilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia_national_football_team

yea, but most of those players aren't even around anymore... thats like me bringing up Polish players that played during the late 90's as well, fact is they are practically all retired.

lately... Slovenia did this for the Euro 2008 qualifiers

1--Romania
2--Netherlands
3--Bulgaria
4--Belarus
5--Albania
6--SLOVENIA
7--Luxembourg

three wins being against: Belarus in Slovenia... and the 2 others were home and away both against Luxembourg... not impressive to say the least

THEN... for the World Cup 2006 qualifying you have

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)

1--Italy
2--Norway
3--Scotland
4--SLOVENIA
5--Belarus
6--Moldova

three wins again being against: both home and away against Moldova... and then the one you've noted in 2004 about Italy in Slovenia

so they don't have the most impressive resume unless you count that match 4 years ago

[Albirrojo]

But as a rule of thumb, most of FYR, Former Yugoslavia can play competent soccer and are not to be taken lightly, Serbia and Croatia of course, but also Macedonia, Bosnia and Slovenia and maybe Montenegro.

Sure Slovenia is weaker than Slovakia and Northern Ireland in general, but against those two teams, they might be able to do something.

[BMike86]

Sure Slovenia is weaker than Slovakia and Northern Ireland in general, but against those two teams, they might be able to do something.

of course, thats why the matches are played :cool:

[nido33]

We will play with:

Pletikosa - Simic, Knezevic, Vejic, Pranjic - Leko, Pokrivac, Vukojevic, Rakitic - Klasnic, Petric

So Corluka, Srna, Kovac brothers, Olic, Kranjcar, Modric on bench.

But that is still quality side and should be able to win against Poland.

i think we'll strugle a lot with that team vs poland,mostly becouse of the lack of creativity of central midfielders(pokrivac,vukojevic) who are only good for defence.

also petric is out of form and klasnic...well he was never in form when playing for croatia,i hope bilic will put young kalinic in 2nd half!
also i would give budan one,two maybe three minutes of plying time.

i'm very interested to see how will leko play on the wing and knezevic(future first team player) in defence.

[Hrvat]

We definitely won't impress tomorrow but I don't think we'll lose either. This is a solid team, not very creative though. Rakitić will probably have a lot of freedom and I believe he'll give a good performance.