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We’re not dead yet!

June 12th, 2006 | By: Os Davis | 25 Comments »

This albatross is never going to die until it’s taken by the horns.

Or something like that.

Of course, i’m talking about the Dude(k). I feel a rant coming on…

I saw the news today (o boy) with Dude lamenting Team Poland’s loss to Ecuador, but i wasn’t going to comment on it. Heck, i’m sure my attitude-boy rants turn one or two of you off…but Trent over at WorldCupBlog Ecuador has the link to the Taipei Times story posted.

One bothersome thing about the Cup hype is the constant referencing of the past. Once every four years (and most likely far far longer for the Trinidad and Tobagos out there), these guys get a chance the strut their stuff on the world stage. It’s time for today’s players. Dredging up the ghosts of glories past is annoying to fans (okay, me at least. Who’s with me?) and downright disrespectful to the players on the pitch in 2006.

Dude is a ghost. He’s gone. He had his chance. He got a cap for Team Poland in 2002, in which he allowed two goals in each of the first two games. Anyone remember that? Is anyone in Liverpool (where Dude is riding the bench) standing up for the man, saying “gosh darn it he should be an active member of the team”?

The decision not to include the Dude is over and done with as well. Jerzy was excised like a polyp before the tournament started, before the ridiculous Colombia game, and — lest anyone forget — the win against Croatia.

Then there’s 1974 Team Poland striker Andrzej Szarmach throwing in his two zlotys, stating that Maciej Zurawski should be dropped for the next game while dissing Coach Janas for good measure. One wonders why Szarmach wasn’t given the coaching job in the first place.

Here’s another reason i hope the Bialo-czerwoni digs their way out: To watch everyone line right up behind Janas, proclaiming they were with him all the time, never doubted him for a second, no sirree bob.

Meanwhile, those that aren’t lovingly gazed at the time behind are skin-crawlingly irritating in proclaiming Ecuador the go-through team. Ecuador Trent’s got this one linked as well. Now, look, i realize that Germany is the home team. I realize that Ecuador looked damn fine against our guys, and i realize that Group A is no “Group Of Death.”

So, come on, guys, why do you have to piss on my parade?

“It ain’t over ’til it’s over,” et cetera et cetera. Where there’s a will, blah blah blah. Hope springs eternal and all that. Teams have been harder pressed against the wall harder than Team Poland currently is. (With Germany upcoming, though, i admit i can think of few.)

And doesn’t Ecuador also have an automatic loss upcoming when they play Germany? That’s written in stone, as well, isn’t it, all you proclaiming this group settled and done with? One low-scoring hard-fought tie against Costa Rica and suddenly Ecuador is 1-1-1 and praying the goal counts all work out okay.

And since we’re fond of archaeology here, digging up the numbers from the last World Cup alone shows that four teams with a loss advanced to the knockout round: Italia, Paraguay, Turkey and the United States. Team USA was final eight. Turkey’s eleven were final four. True, only Turkey opened with a loss, but who would have foretold a final four appearance based on a 2-1 loss to Brazil and the subsequent limp 1-1 tie with Costa Rica?

I’d like to say kudos to Ecuador Trent as well for adding that the speculation regarding England’s upcoming match against Ecuador is “too early for my taste.” Yes, far too early.

Until Wednesday at least.

Tags: Ecuador, Germany, Jerzy Dudek, Poland, szarmach

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Comments

By VooDoo | June 13th, 2006 at 12:45 am

Magic is all over the World Cup 2006!
Because of some strangeness in game results – this site becomes more and more famous http://www.voodoo4football.com
Is it possible – that synchronous desire of a lot of fans concentrates and affects on the results of the football game?

Posted from Ukraine

By melissa walek | June 13th, 2006 at 2:57 am

GO POLSKA
GO POLSKA
GO POLSKA
GO POLSKA
GO POLSKA
GO POLSKA

LETS WILL THIS WORLD CUP AND GET OUR COUNTRY THE CUP. DO IT THE POLISH PEOPLE.

Posted from Australia

By paulina | June 13th, 2006 at 3:30 am

Poland is gonna win da world cup

Go poland!!!!
Go poland!!!!
Go poland!!!!
Go poland!!!!
Go poland!!!!
Go poland!!!!
Go poland!!!!
Poland is gonna win
Poland vs. Germany poland is gonna win!!!!!!!!!

Posted from Canada

By OS_Davis | June 13th, 2006 at 8:27 am

Melissa and Paulina,

Thank you, you gorgeous women, for some support!

As i haven’t posted any pictures of Polish beauties in this blog, please accept these lovely ladies as Polska’s contribution to World Cup babes.

XXXXXXX

Posted from Hungary

By Tom Smolarek | June 13th, 2006 at 9:40 am

I’m with OS Davis.

It ain’t over till its over.

However, I stayed up till 5am to see Poland play good football and they didn’t.

It a steep hill for Poland to qualify now but reguardless of the result as long as they play good football I will be happy.

Why wait till its all over to adopt that we have nothing to lose attitude, ala WC 2002 vs USA.

Posted from Australia

By kammilka | June 13th, 2006 at 2:57 pm

Poland will win …
….maybe in the next fifa world cup =)))))

Posted from Poland

By Maks | June 13th, 2006 at 9:51 pm

Guys! Have some faith in your home country! Don’t underestimate Janas. He has one of the best records a coach ever had on the polish team! Weds Poland will be playing not only to qualify but to become heroes of their country. They never won in 13 years against them so if they win this match, it will mean more than qualifying. Changes will surely be made in the lineup. Lets just see if the players play with some vivacity and pride for their country!

Posted from United States

By BartFromPoland | June 13th, 2006 at 10:24 pm

Don’t say nothing about Janas I don’t under this guy he leave the best goalkeeper and ofensive player in our national team becouse they say too much but this is quiet opinion and no one say this in media. Another part of my post i my national team i love my country and i love my team not guys but team and tomorow i stay in home for the game whit germany why? becouse i may cry and i won’t show this moment too eny one. I belive in my boys but i have strengt feeling they not. German’s play in mother country and it’s very strong oponent, hope not too strong. We will see but if Poland win this will be story like movie “from ZERO to HERO”.

Posted from Poland

By Freddie | June 13th, 2006 at 11:14 pm

Either Poland wins or the Germans lose.

Posted from Poland

By Martin | June 14th, 2006 at 2:01 am

Go Poland!

Polska! Bialo-czerwoni!!!

Posted from United States

By Jenna | June 14th, 2006 at 3:34 am

PoLskA is goning to win!!!! TAK TAK !!!!! Go Polska GO!!!!
Germany is a very competative team, but I think Poland’s got what it takes !!!!

POLSKA
POLSKA
POLSKA

By PJ | June 14th, 2006 at 4:09 am

Let’s go Poland !!! You can do it…..you gotta believe. Make us proud.

Posted from United States

By Justyna | June 14th, 2006 at 4:25 am

GO Polska! You can do it. WE have faith in you!!!

Posted from United States

By Aureliusz | June 14th, 2006 at 7:10 am

I had a dream last night, all I can say is if you’re Polish open those Wyborowa Bottles as i speak, because we will win. And the Goals will be sweet like candy. ))

God as you wake up and smell the air isn’t great to be Polish Ahhhhh.

GO POLAND your playing like true knights, germany is as good as their Beer….yak!!! )

POLSKA POLSKA POLSKA all the way!!!

Posted from Australia

By john | June 14th, 2006 at 10:31 am

funny how all these polish “fans” live elsewhere but poland. So proud of your country, yet so far away.

sad…

Posted from Ireland

By Aureliusz | June 14th, 2006 at 11:37 am

Hey Irish, shouldn’t you be looking for that bloody pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, you Irish sad case.

Let’s not forget every time a Potato famine occurs in Ireland you run to Australia or the US, in plague proportions.

Check out St Patrick’s day in any Australian city…so green and proud and so many, but yet so far from Ireland…. how sad.

Posted from Australia

By Tom Smolarek | June 14th, 2006 at 6:07 pm

Remember Poland has not always been a free country, many Poles moved to escape oppression. Its a similar situation to many Irish.

This does not mean however we are any less patriotic, we still love our country!

Posted from Australia

By Damian | June 14th, 2006 at 6:16 pm

Germans forward are our players Podolski and Kloss, Born in Poland. Its time to show Germany what we can do. do or die. No more post’s GO POLSKA DESTROY THEM!!!!!!!!!

Posted from Canada

By ferniegc | June 15th, 2006 at 12:37 am

IM sorry guys …they just lost

Posted from United States

By Anna | June 15th, 2006 at 3:55 am

Yeah Polska Lost.

By Aureliusz | June 15th, 2006 at 7:28 am

Tomek very nicely said. comments like that from John get up my ….let’s say nose!

Tell me guys how unlucky…I I’m still having a bad day. But I must admit for most of the match our boys played with style. Until the Red Card.

Posted from Australia

By - FIFA World Cup 2006 - Poland World Cup Team Blog | June 15th, 2006 at 8:17 am

[...] We’re not dead yet! [...]

Posted from United States

By Boskis | June 15th, 2006 at 2:17 pm

Let’s face facts Poland were poor (apart from the keeper and Bak). Germany aren’t a strong team and we couldn’t get near them but we should have fought harder. Just not good enough.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Tom Smolarek | June 16th, 2006 at 10:25 am

There were some positives out of the game.

Like Boskis said Bak was a stand out in defense and boruc pulled out some great saves.

But I would also like to point out Jelen who started off the bench in the first game, he never said die and wasn’t afraid to take the game to the Germans.

I was laughing when just after the commentator had finished complimenting the German substitute Odonkor for his pace ‘ he can sprint 100m in 10.9 sec,’ Jelen deispossessed him and then left him for dead down the wing, Odonkor had to grab his shirt to stop him and pull him back. That’s what we need!

Also, although I am biased I think Smolarek has played well both matches, he’s just not got enough ball or support to be effective, and some brilliant last defender tackles from the German defense denied him on 2 occasions.

Posted from Australia

By Corey | June 16th, 2006 at 11:57 am

Poland was doing well until that card happy ref crippled them at such important time!! if they would leave game alone Poland at least would tie!!! Goalie played well no doubt! GO POLSKA!!

Posted from Canada

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