I personally think this match will decide the second team to reach the quarters together with Russia. If they draw the decision will be postponed, but in this case I would see Greece as slight favorites, because they play (maybe already qualified?) Russia on the last match day.
Poland's revamped FA badge surely must be among the coolest. Shame Polish fans revolted over the traditional coat-of-arms being replaced by this. Having both this modern and the heraldic eagle on the shirt rather clutters it.
I'm thinking a 1-1 tie, but a Poland win. It won't be easy, but I think they have to pull out something big in the first game, otherwise, maybe a couple losses and a tie.
An easy win for Poland. History strongly favours a Polish win and Greece is in a downward spiral. Poland - Greece 2:0
The old FA badge was never present on Polish NT shirts, the Polish eagle always was, whether they redesigned it or not. By switching the Polish crest to a PZPN badge, new or old, (and PZPN is hated in Poland) was sure to get panned.
I suppose. Not being a Pole, I'm approaching this purely from an aesthetic angle. Love the new PZPN badge. But from the few news snippets I recall having picked up about the PZPN, I easily see that the organisation doesn't have a lot of credit with the home crowd.
Just curious: How has the integration of those players worked out, who were raised in Germany or France and at times have tenuous links to Poland. Checked the squad list. French contingent: Damien Perquis Ludovic Obraniak German contingent: Sebastian Boenisch Adam Matuschyk Eugen Polanski How's their Polish? I heard Obraniak didn't speak a word. Any progress? And "Damien Perquis" sure sounds as French as French gets. Must have taken some digging to find out Perquis had a Polish grandmother! So how do their language skills shape up? Does Poland need a translator for these guys? What about interviews? I take the German contingent are all Silesian "Spätaussiedler" - like Podolski and Klose. I trust they grew up bilingually? I suppose all of these players would have preferred playing for France/Germany had they had the chance. Correct? How does the Polish public regard hunting down such "foreign" talent? Particularly in the case of Obraniak and Perquis? Is there the expectation that they strongly identify with Poland, sing the national anthem and speak Polish fluently? Just curious how all of this works out in terms of group dynamics and how the country reacts to this. As for myself, I personally think too many people live in the past and have problems with people having multiple identities. All these guys have enough of a Polish connection for their nomination to be justified. Ain't like say Qatar, which games the FIFA rules and naturalise many players merely for them to play for the national team.
Checked up the German-Polish guys: Sebastian Boenisch seems to have been born in Poland and his father tried to raise him both cultures. Apparently was eager to join the Polish national team. Adam Matuszczyk was born to Polish parents in Poland and raised as a Pole. Apparently unlike Boenisch and Polanski his first choice was always Poland, so despite being double nationality I don't think there was a nationality issue with this one. A case of someone who was raised in one country but has a national identity of another. Eugen Polanski was also born in Poland to Polish parents and raised in a Polish home in Germany. Nonetheless I understand he preferred to play for Germany, but decided for Poland only because of not being called up. So in the case of the German contingent there isn't much controversy, just a question of preference and options available.
all players have integrated well...ludo spoke Polish early this week at his press conference denouncing the french press claims of not adjusting to this NT teammates one big happy family
Kudos for him learning Polish well enough to face the media and speaking Polish. I've spent some effort in the past learning Polish. Bloody tough (and sadly I've forgotten most by now).