On the day of the Croatia (eek!) friendly

June 3rd, 2006 | by: Os Davis |

Okay, no trash talking, no predictions, no whinging…just a little straight blogging reportage on the day of the Croatia friendly. After all, this isn’t mighty Lithuania or that Colombia squad with that goal-scoring machine known as Luis Martinez. This is Croatia, an honest-to-Puskas Cup contender which isn’t about to let up on lackluster uninspired play. Hell, they won’t need to, as evidenced by the Colombia “match.”

Plus, i’ve got a bet on this one with “Kaiser” Soze. I’ve got a sick feeling he’s about to earn a nice bottle of that uniquely Hungarian herb liqueur, Unicum. I’m not generally superstitious, but i am starting to belief in the jinx.

The espn.com report on the Colombia game contained a few comedic quotes from that well-known funny man Pawel Janas. To the suddenly lynch mob-like Polish fans through a throng of ambulance-chasing sports journalists, Janas stated “It’s not yet time to talk about a crisis because we are still at the preparation stage.” Hmmm…when exactly will it be time to talk about a crisis? During the Costa Rica match?

Showing excellent form in understatement ability, Janas went on to say that “This match was not a success and I do feel some concern. There were moments [when] we did not control the situation on the pitch and we did not carry out the tactics we had set ourselves.”

Of this, there is little doubt. The moments in which Team Poland did not control the situation consisted of the time between the opening kickoff and Ireneusz Jelen’s goal in the ninetieth minute.

“The players lack dynamism and pace [and nothing else, Coach?] but we have another nine days until the finals and we will work on this in Germany,” Janas said before presumably feeling a barrage of produce hurled in his direction.

Janas has spoken to the press, Polish-language or otherwise, little since then, and any adjustments and/or plans are to be made for the match today. One wonders what sort of dressing down Ebi Smolarek received, and Polish backers have got to be dreading any playing time given Tomasz Kuszczak. Or Artur Boruc for that matter. (And yes, everyone is sick of hearing about the Dudek, so all that silliness can end now.)

Meanwhile, congratulations to Team Lithuania, which jumped six places to #93 in the FIFA world rankings, thanks to their win over Poland at the beginning of the month.

A personal reminiscence, if you will allow me such. Happily, i was in Korcula, Croatia, for the finals rounds of World Cup 1998, a tournament in which “SukorMan” brought home the Golden Boot. Fantastic place, fantastic country, fantastic beer, and you gotta love any city during championship time…maybe we’ll experience this again in Hungary someday…

And now, i ask to be excused. I need my fingers for crossing.

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Comments

By beatroot | June 3rd, 2006 at 7:07 am

If they screw this one up there is going to be a riot in the press!

Excellent blogging. Should be great during the World Cup.

Posted from Poland

By Your Saturday World Cup Friendlies Online Viewing Guide - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog | June 3rd, 2006 at 7:38 am

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Posted from United States

By Adaś | June 3rd, 2006 at 9:28 am

Anything but a win today = Exit during group stage IMHO

By PJ | June 3rd, 2006 at 1:58 pm

HEY, POLAND FINALLY WON ONE. 1-0 AGAINST CROATIA. MIRACLES DO HAPPEN. JPII INTERVENED ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU PAPA WOJTYLA !!!

Posted from United States

By David | June 3rd, 2006 at 2:26 pm

The miracle was that it was only 1:0 ….

Posted from Canada

By Martin | June 3rd, 2006 at 4:09 pm

Yuppieeee! 1-0 for Poland! I believe in this team! =)))

Posted from United States

By soccerd1 | June 3rd, 2006 at 9:01 pm

I didnt see the game but i know at least 5 major players including prso had food poisioning, its no excuse but it must b noted.

Posted from Canada

By David | June 3rd, 2006 at 11:27 pm

Smolarek who scored also recently receovered recently from food poisoning…

Posted from Canada

By Poland 1, Croatia 0: Ah, sports. - FIFA World Cup 2006 - Poland World Cup Team Blog | June 4th, 2006 at 3:12 am

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By Croatia 0: 1 Poland - FIFA World Cup 2006 - Croatia World Cup Team Blog | June 5th, 2006 at 10:42 am

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By Aureliusz | June 11th, 2006 at 10:06 am

We did it in 1974 and in 1982, we can do it again…..whatever the outcome…. isn’t it great to wear our white and red colours, no matter what country you find yourself in and support the players as one united family. Less pessimism and more optimism. After all we never gave up during the war against Germany and we sure aren’t going to give up to them this game, no matter what the result will be.

Posted from Australia