The lack of any big name players compiled with the lack of strength of our domestic league will make anyone a little concerned. Our FA is still stuck in the middle ages with no positive changes on the horizon. And if you add the corruption of the domestic league, it leaves the state of Polish football very gloomy. But I guess Tomasz is right with what he said. Lech Poznan is the perfect example of things getting better.

A lot of our fans are overly optimistic at times and those are the same ones that are the most angry and disappointed when reality sets in. Its that old school way of thinking. The older fans remember the good old days and expect the same today. I blame the old farts that ran the Polish FA back then. They should have taken advantage of their success and worked to build the game on a solid foundation.

I would love to be able to watch games live online…legally. I wouldn’t even mind paying like $10-15 a month to have access to all the games live online. I think Setanta broadband and espn have something similar.

I’ll continue my comment in the next article.

@paradowski

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how to watch the Ekstraklasa games online. In Poland, Canal Plus has the rights to the games and four matches a year are broadcasted by the public television, open for everybody. There are highlights magazines both in Canal Plus and TVP. I know that you can install Polish digital tv in Europe (I watched the games in Scotland or Belgium), but I don’t think the case is the same in the USA. Fortunately, all the highlights are free on the Ekstraklasa webpage.

@zaraza

We’ll certainly play against the South Africa. I remember that initially we were to play against Spain too, but later Iraq came into picture. I don’t know if it’s a confirmed date, but Polish newspapers are writing about it as such. I haven’t got any new info about Obraniak, I only read that if his father (or grandfather) didn’t resign from the Polish citizenship he’s automatically elligible for it. Dawid Nowak may get a call up this time, Ulatowski is lobbing strongly for him.

@goose

From the perspective of an outsider our qualifications are a great achievement, no doubt. However, sometimes Polish fans think more of their players than they really are. As a result, we’re often disappointed with the results, even though the level of our players shouldn’t permit us to expect too much. We’ve got tradition, there are 40 million people living in our country, football is the most popular sport, still we fail to “produce” international level players. As for Poles in Holland, we’ve got youngsters like Janota in Feyenoord, Wojciechowski in Heerenveen or Pacuszka in Heracles. They are yet to resurface to play in the first teams. I haven’t heard of any offers for the national team players, though it may change with Leo advicing Feyenoord.

The nationalism is really missing in this country (many people don’t even know the national anthem, and they’re always getting worked up about the “From German blood” line. Yes, we are from German blood, that’s how it went, we can’t change it. However, the current prince of Oranje (Who’ll soon become king) IS half-German, but no one seems to care about that. Hypocrite much?). Also today’s Queen’s day, but no one cares: No one hangs out the flags, or even think about their Queen or country, they’re only interested in having a free day.

And this whole mentality really reflects on the Dutch national team: Amazing players, who don’t care enough to win something.

BTW, I’m missing Polish players in the Eredevisie, what happened? I liked them a lot, since they were mostly honest and hard working.
I still remember Ebi Smolarek well, who while not being the most talented player, compensated that with hard work and dedication. Feyenoord were amazingly stupid selling him. This is also why Dirk Kuyt is my favorite player in the national team: Not the most technical, but with his hard work and willpower he ALWAYS delivered, and ALWAYS gave it all for Orange.

As far as the Polish league,it is great to see the race going to the wire.

Go Polska