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Austria-Poland 1:1. Howard Webb Steals The Show.

June 13th, 2008 | By: tomasz | 49 Comments »

In a game where Howard Webb managed to outshine even Artur Boruc Poland drew with Austria 1:1. A fair result, if only decided on the pitch and not in the referee’s head. First, we score from what looked like an offside. Then, in the last minute of the match, Howard Webb awards a penalty which was the softest you can imagine.

Austria-Poland 1:1 (Vastic 90+3 (pen)-Guerreiro 30)
Poland: Boruc-Wasilewski, Jop(46′ Golanski), Bak, Zewlakow-Saganowski(83′ Lobodzinski), Dudka, Lewandowski, Krzynowek-Roger(84′ Murawski)-Smolarek.

The Germany-Croatia match put us in a must win situation. Therefore, I expected our boys to tackle every ball from the first minute. I was in for a huge surprise. It was Austrians who controlled the game from the first whistle. Our players looked scared and unorganized. We were outran in every situation, we lost every tackle, once again we were unable to use an offside trap well. Mariusz Jop looked like a turtle racing with cheetahs every time he tried to stop Austrian attackers. Wasyl was losing his head every time he was near the ball. Apart from Roger, there was no player able to keep the ball for more than 5 seconds. I think it was the worse 25-30 minutes shown by any team in these Euros. Fortunately, we’ve got a world class keeper in our goal. Unbelievable saves from our Holy Goalie, three one on one situations, corners, free kicks; every ball was his. He was growing and growing with every minute. Artur Boruc kept us in the game for the first half an hour and I’m not ashamed to admit that. Then, all of a sudden, a proof that football is one of the most bizarre and inexplicable sports in the world. Completely against the run of play, we score a goal. What’s more, the goal is scored by Roger, who was considered a Brazilian just half a year ago. A great play from Sagan, whose initial shot was deflected. At the same time, the goal could have easily been disallowed as Roger was offside when Sagan shot. Unbelievable luck, Austrians can’t cope with the situation. Poles, as always, suddenly start performing after taking the lead. End of first half. I’m at the same time happy because of the result and pissed off because of the way we play.

Second half starts great even before players touch the ball. Jop is taken off, the anti-hero of the Germany game, Pawel Golanski, enters the field. This gives us a lot more confidence at the back. Finally, we start playing as we should from the first minute. Lewandowski is patient on the ball, Dudka drives our play forward. Krzynowek asks for the ball and doesn’t lose it with every touch (as was the case in the first half). Sagan, as always, makes up for what he lacks in football skills with enormous ambition. Roger gives us this extra touch of creativity. It is after his pass that Ebi Smolarek got his first genuine chance at Euros. Unfortunately, he wasn’t fast enough to run at defenders and shot straight at Macho. Good shots from Lewy and Bak after a corner. Powerful shot from Krzyniu from a free kick. That’s how this game should’ve looked like throughout 90 minutes. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalize on our chances. Howard Webb starts giving away free kicks for every little touch. Austrians lost their idea of play, they’re playing long balls upfront. Their only chance seems to be the dead ball situations. And Howard Webb is providing them with some. A free kick in the 93rd minute. Some shoving in the box between Bak and Kienast. Boruc catches the ball, we’re safe now. No wait, the free kick is to be retaken. Why? Ask Mr Webb. Second free kick, I hear a whistle. Great, he awarded a free kick for us. No wait, why are our players holding their heads in disbeleief? A penalty! For what? Lewandowski held Proedl’s shirt. Proedl who wasn’t even close to the ball. Proedl who was looking at the referee all the time, like he wanted to hypnotize him. Give us a penalty, give us a penalty, give us a penalty. And Webb gave it. If he was consistent throughout the game, we’d witness at least 20 penalties. A great present for Austrian fans and a punch in a gut for Polish fans. Can’t believe this happenned. I feel robbed, I feel cheated. I feel like having a drink….

Here is how I judge players’ individual performances:
Artur Boruc 10: absolutely world class. He’s born to play in big games. Kept our hopes alive for the first 30 minutes.
Marcin Wasilewski 3: extremely unconfident. Couldn’t pass a single ball well. Outran by Korkmaz far too many times. Didn’t pose a threat during corners. Horrible backpass to Jop.
Jacek Bak 5: should’ve organized the defence better in the first half. Lack of communication with Jop. A good performance in the second half when he didn’t have to cover for Jop’s mistakes.
Mariusz Jop 1: looked like a 3rd division player in a World Cup final. Too slow; he ‘took part’ in almost every Austrian offensive play.
Michal Zewlakow 5: didn’t feel well as a left back. A lot better when playing in the centre, should always start there.
Mariusz Lewandowski 5: where was he in the first 30 minutes? Gained confidence along with the whole team. A lot of good passes to the wings, but he wasn’t to be seen in offensive play.
Dariusz Dudka 6: played closer to the Austrian goal than expected. Even though he is certainly not an offensive midfielder, he managed to put in a good performance. Physically, he looked best in the whole team.
Jacek Krzynowek 5: definetely not in good form. Lost the ball far too often, unable to dribble past defenders. For me, his shots were a sign of his lack of belief that he can outrun defenders. Enormous ambition and involvement in the game in the second half.
Marek Saganowski 6: for a player who last time played on a right side for LKS’ youth team it was a good performance. Gave his all, I didn’t expect him to do better. Provided Roger with our goal.
Roger 8: the only Pole that showed true, football skills. Kept the ball well, dribbled, played opening passes. The only player able to surprise the opponent.
Ebi Smolarek 3: the biggest disappointment. Once again ran along with defenders without any effect. I think he should swap positions with Sagan from time to time.
Pawel Golanski 5: his entering the field provided confidence for our defence. The fastest of our full backs, he didn’t allow crosses in the box.
Rafal Murawski and Wojciech Lobodzinski: went on the pitch in order to keep the ball and did their best to do that.

Conclusions:
- I don’t want to believe in any conspiracy theories, but it’s hard to imagine that a ref can give away such penalty unintentionally.
- where was our mental preparation? Why, once again, we enter the pitch scared shitless?
- we’re out of the tournament. I don’t want even to count what results do we need because I find it meaningless at this point.
- Ebi Smolarek should come to the wing more. He’s also too slow in the Euros.
- we shouldn’t see Mariusz Jop in an important game anytime soon.
- Roger looks miles away better than other players. And he didn’t even play in the qualifiers. Hell, he doesn’t even look like from another planet in the Polish league.
- Artur Boruc proved he’s a world class keeper.
- we didn’t manage to perform above our abilities; abilities that don’t enable us to win matches in tournaments like Euro Championships.

It’s a bit too early to write a summary note on what we did well and what we did wrong, but I’ll surely write it after the Croatia game. What is your opinion on the game?

Tags: Austria, Bak, Beenhakker, boruc, Dudka, Golanski, Group A, Howard Webb, Jop, Krzynowek, Lewandowski, Poland, Roger, Saganowski, Smolarek, Wasilewski, Zewlakow

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 49 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By Observer | June 13th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

on Polish websites, there are many arogance and angry commenct about Webb (for instance look at Polish yotube) . He have to know that Euro 2012 will be in Poland, so good luck cockhead ref!! lucker if u survive that..

Posted from Poland

By jack | June 13th, 2008 at 5:53 pm

Polishprincess you were moaning last night and wanted more I remember.

Poland were not losing because Austria is crap at scoring. Boruc was excellent yet it was the Brazilian naturalised in Avril who scored a offside goal. Now talk about unfair? And the Podolski nonesense! What a bunch of hypocrites you all are, yall didn even want him on your team. It is what you deserve. My place tonight.

Posted from United States

By Polish-American Rich | June 13th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

jack, relax, dont be an idiot. obviously polish fans will be upset given the way they lost/drew both of the games so far. 1st one due to 2 great goals by a player who by all means could have been on the team if not for a bonehead prior coach (hindsight is great isn’t it? fyi, the polish media and fans wanted him on the team, but it’s the coach that makes the final decision) and the 2nd game ending like that will upset any fan. both scenarios are more of a blow than just a loss, but that’s sports and life. let people vent.

as for roger, polands just trying to compete. 11 of the other teams in this tourney have foreign born players. and 3 other teams have the token brazilian guy, including germany. shit, portugal has 2. one they naturalized just in time for the qualifying rounds (pepe). and they were in the same group as poland. yeah, naturalizing a player is shady, and i dont like it either but what can you do. it’s 2008 and with the EU structure it’s pretty much the United States of Europe now. things are different, i mean germany’s got 5 foreign born players on their team, hows that for a national team? and who are you or I to judge? our own team USA has used plenty of foreign players over the years.

Posted from United States

By jack | June 13th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

Well I am just sick of the groaning about Podolski when in fact Poland have Roger. The Germans have some obvious foreigners too (Odonkor come on), but all naturalized by birthright or since childhood. Nonetheless, integration is good, though the Germans do have that useless piece of crap Kuryani.

Now as for our team. They are all pretty much useless save the goalkeeper.

Posted from United States

By devore | June 13th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

“Still whinging? Is it unrealistic to expect you to a) learn the Laws b) watch the game and c) accept it when decisions go against you. It was a penalty. About as nailed-on as you can possibly get. Watch the video, for goodness sake. He’s got his arms WRAPPED AROUND the Austrian striker and has a BIG HANDFUL of his shirt. That’s a foul. It’s always been a foul, always will be a foul. It’s a penalty - the clearest penalty imaginable.”

are you fuckin blind? 99,9% of situations in the air look exactly like that one. Players struggle to reach the ball, hang on each other. there was no way that player could’ve reached that pass, no reason to hold him down.
no opportunity + normal air struggle = no foul.

if you look at replays you will see that austrian players do the exact same thing during that pass to polish players.

so kindly - shut the fuck up you dumb shit.

Posted from Poland

By MVPolish | June 13th, 2008 at 11:17 pm

I am a huge fan of the Polish squad. Polish-ancestry and all…
Unfortunately, in each and every event, they just break my heart.
There’s always something, whether it’s Euro, World Cup, Olympics …
They qualify, and then choke under the spotlight.
When are they going to wake up? No excuses.. Poland should have
had a penalty shot against earlier in the game when they did the same ‘poop’ that they did in extra time. I am sure that the ref saw the replay, during half-time. When he saw it again in extra time, there was no
question he was going to call it. Man … I don’t know why I get sooo excited when Poland qualifies. They just end up putting me on a downer.

Posted from Canada

By Arminius | June 14th, 2008 at 8:47 am

Paranoia is Poles’ popular pleasure.

By steve pratt | June 14th, 2008 at 2:48 pm

Any intelligent person who saw the incident in the 93rd Minute shurly can understand that if a player pulls a shirt of his opponant any where on the Pitch it must be a foul accordingly and sutiable punished

Its not that I am english but I have seen the incident many times and the Austrian was clearly fouled. Howard Webb showed great courage and has estabilished himself as master of his craft . His integrity can be believed and he is on Par with Colina in his consistant performances

I have many polish friends , unfortuatly they will have to look somewhere else for an excuse

Posted from United Kingdom

By Paul | June 14th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

@ steve
Only problem is that he wasn’t pulling on the shirt until Proedl started falling. Unless he tripped him, it’s a terrible terrible call.

By nicer | June 14th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Poles in UK will find him ;))

Posted from Poland

By ccc | June 14th, 2008 at 8:55 pm

Jim,

which game did you watch? Definitely Lewandowski didn’t have “arms all over the forward”.
Why referree didn’t call for foul on Bak - polish defender, the same time when penalty was called, also in first free kick attempt?
why exactly from 20 chances of such “foul”, the last one was punished with penalty, not any of those which happened before? You can call it coincidence, you can call it conspiracy. As you like.
Today in match Spain vs. Sweden there was much bigger, totally visible for everybody foul in penalty area which was not called. In 1st half. Sorry, if you expect in such situation that Poles will take it without any anger and frustration you’re wrong.

Posted from Ireland

By ccc | June 14th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

@steve:

“Any intelligent person who saw the incident in the 93rd Minute shurly can understand that if a player pulls a shirt of his opponant any where on the Pitch it must be a foul accordingly and sutiable punished ”

Bullshit. Today in Spain vs. Sweden there was much more brutal foul in area, no penalty. In 1st half. You really expect that now Poles will accept decision in 93 minute?? While 2m from the action second polish defender is pushed down?? Ridiculous.

“Its not that I am english but I have seen the incident many times and the Austrian was clearly fouled.”

No pasaran! There were plenty of chances for such penalty coming with every corner/free kick before. Why he didn’t give it that time?

“Howard Webb showed great courage and has estabilished himself as master of his craft.”

Do you really believe that in the mirror situation (Austria - Poland 1:0) in 93 minute he calls penalty for Poland?… I do not. All about his “courage”. There was offside when Poles scored, there was offside when Austria had 1-1 chance, there were free kicks for Austria without any reason… yaa, I suppose it’s all the “courage”?

“His integrity can be believed and he is on Par with Colina in his consistant performances”

Ya, consistant my ass.

Posted from Ireland

By JMH | June 15th, 2008 at 2:48 am

I understand that penalty calls will be inconsistant. The problem is that too often inconsistancies from individual refs consistantly favor or disfavor the same teams. If the mistakes balance then I accept human error. Did Webb have an agenda? Yes, he clearly took issue with Lewy i Bak.

Posted from United States

By al | June 15th, 2008 at 5:17 am

the poles in the uk will find him! have you seen you tube.good god what does this say about these people.any fool can criticize,condemn and complain- and most fools do (dale carnegie)stop crying over spilt milk and try and win the next game.

By ac | June 15th, 2008 at 6:30 am

Webb clearly sucks. Enough said.

By Rob | June 15th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

@ al
how you can defend such a call. if it happenned to your nationality were ever your from, you’d be writiing a threatening letter to Webb right now. I don’t know if you watched the game or not but when you call a penalty shot in the last play of the game it should be an obvious foul. The polish player did not even grab the austrian’s shirt until he began to dive down, the hand was flat on the jersey. besides webb gave a free kick to austria to set up this excuse for a penalty shot which definitely should not have gone their way.
I’ll admit that by the way the game played out it was evened out and should be a tie but boruc was outstanding and there was some luck on poland’s goal. Austria should not got that free bee. bullshit call for the home team.
All polaks are mad about a stupid call the most likely shattered their euro 2008 chances. Soccer is a huge evenn in europe and we have a right to be angry.
You don’t have much of an argument al and i guarentee you would be singing a diffrent song if you were on the recieving end so maybe you should keep quiet.

Posted from Canada

By Rob | June 15th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

steve pratt shut up, like i said to al if it happened to your country (however they were to weak to even make the euro this year) you would be all over the ref especially if he did not british.
let the polish greive over a stupid call, common pulling the jersey. If the player did not dive there would be no call, the play would go completely unnoticed.

Posted from Canada

By al | June 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

so rob you think its ok to issue death threats?check your FOOTBALL rules (not soccer) and where does it say that pulling shirts is allowed. and i did watch the match.by the book a foul but a harsh DECISION (not call its not nfl,nhl,nba)so perhaps it is you who should your piehole.

By Rob | June 15th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

al, stop focusing on the rule book because thats all it seems your doing use common sense. Review the play and you’ll see the Austrian fell not because of a tug on the shirt but by his own will. He knew that he was in the box and made a stab at getting away with it. If use common sense then you would not justify a call like that on the last play, its simply unfair to the winning team to have lost the game like that. And if you want to start looking so carefully at the rules, go look over the play and you’ll see Bak got foul on the same play and he was acually close to the ball with the player that fouled him. So stop judging with what a book tells you and think about common sense:
is it right to call such a weak foul in the box in the last minute of the game which could determine the winning teams chances at going farther in the euro? The answer is plain and simple, no.
If someone gets fouled in the box it should be very clear and evident or else it should not be called and if you start looking at these little details then soccer is going to go to shits.
Before you reply don’t judge by the book, it was simply a bad call.
Sorry about being harsh before but i still can’t believe that poland got kicked out of the euro over that call. Now i have to wait another 2 years for the world cup.
If you think soccer should be like that, a slight touch when the balls not even close to the player and the victimized player obviously dives then i feel that this arguement will go nowhere.

Posted from Canada

By adas | June 16th, 2008 at 12:12 am

What about the fact that Poland was whistled for 25 fouls and Austria only 12? In a game that was played hard by both sides, you mean to tell me that Poland was the more physical of the two? Austria played most of the game trying to come back and tie it. Its not possible that Poland would have committed double the amount of fouls. As for the “shirt pull”, that incident couldn’t have been one of the first in the game. If the ref is to control the match, he must do so at the start of the match, not in the 93rd minute of the match. That’s what the error is. Inconsistancy in such a big game is awful. How would the Champions League Final be perceived if it ended in the same way, with an iffy shirt pull in the box leading to a penalty kick.

By al | June 16th, 2008 at 6:59 am

howard webb a traffic light engineer from rotherham whos home address,telephone number and works e mail (which has since been closed due to the number of threats)was given out on the net has been offered police protection for him and his family due to death threats.the serving prime minister of a christian country says he wanted to kill.shame on you poland shame on you.

By Rob | June 16th, 2008 at 8:14 pm

he should expect a bit of harassment from a country that has such a great passion for soccer. He made a stupid call, his mistake.

Posted from Canada

By Ash | June 17th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Poland are out because they can’t put the ball in the net - their only player that did was Brazilian AND it should’ve been offside! They should stop having a go at the ref and concentrate on their performances. I’m glad they’re out the tournament is better for it.

By al | June 17th, 2008 at 1:37 pm

a bit of harassment.these are death threats. and the guy mentioned above is just someone who shares the same name, not even the guy in question.how is it rob you are such a polish expert?i bet you dont know were it is on the map?let alone have been there.

By Schlesier | June 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

What a lot of polish rubbish. So good we got rid of them.

Hope to NOT see you in South Africa.
Chances are good, judging from your team’s performance.

Phhhhheeeew !!!!

Comments are closed