Only 90 minutes may remain for Poland at their first UEFA European Championship so it is understandable when forward Marek Saganowski says they are desperate to deliver against Croatia in Klagenfurt.

Motivated
Leo Beenhakker’s side may have topped a qualifying group including Portugal and Serbia but they have struggled to repeat that form in the finals. After losing to Germany and drawing with Austria, the White and Reds go into Monday’s Group B finale needing both a win against the Croatians, and a favourable result in the other match in Vienna, to progress. “We have a hard game ahead but motivation won’t be a problem,” said the 29-year-old. “We play for ourselves, our families and our fans. We play for Poland so motivation is not a problem.

Uncertain fate
“Of course our situation is not great, because even if we win we’re not sure of making the quarter-finals,” he added. “We have to wait for the news from Vienna and that news has to be positive. We will try to play the best we can against Croatia. We want to win for ourselves and for our fans, then we’ll see what happens. But it is not all up to us, not completely in our hands. We accept that the Austria-Germany game will be just as important.

Out to impress
“It’s good for us that Croatia have already qualified,” continued the Southampton FC striker. “Their players know they’ll go into the quarter-finals and they will be a little less motivated. However, the players they bring in will be highly motivated because they will want to impress their coach and make it clear that they are good enough to be in the team for the quarter-finals.”

Form dipped
The question taxing observers in Poland has been why the team’s form, so impressive in qualifying, has dipped in Austria. “I don’t know why we haven’t played as we can,” said Saganowski. “You could say injuries have been a problem, like the one that ruled out [Jakub] ‘Kuba’ Błaszczykowski who had been our right-winger. Also, a lot of our players weren’t playing at the end of the season for their clubs. The fitness wasn’t quite there in our first match. But in the second half of our game against Austria. we showed we can play and deserve to be here.

High standard
“Things would have been different if we’d played as we did in qualifying, especially against Germany. But at the European Championship the best teams are there and the standard is much higher. By Monday night we may be out of the tournament but if that does happen, nothing will change. We’ll continue to work on being better players, on being a better team.”

Poland’s stand-in captain Jacek Bąk has an added incentive to see his nation go all the way to the final of UEFA EURO 2008™, as the veteran defender can make football history by becoming the first Pole to win 100 international caps.

Outside chance
Poland admit that they have only an outside chance of making it out of their group as they need to beat Croatia in Klagenfurt on Monday by at least two clear goals and also hope that Austria can defeat Germany. The Croatia tie is a big one for 35-year-old Bąk as he will win his 97th senior cap, and he knows that further appearances in the quarter-final, semi-final and final would take him to the magic number of 100, something no Polish player has ever done before. Many of the country’s fans believe that legendary duo Kazimierz Deyna (103) and Grzegorz Lato (100) both reached their centuries, but according to official FIFA records a number of their caps were awarded during Olympic tournaments and are therefore not accepted as full internationals.

Magic century
“I never counted on playing so many matches for the Polish team; I’m close to the magic 100,” the FK Austria Wien veteran told euro2008.com. “I had this plan to reach 100 during this championship. It will be tough, no need to beat around the bush. I’m just focusing now on the next match against Croatia in order to do the best we can, me and my team. I have ideas about finishing my international career after EURO. I don’t know for sure, I have a number of ideas. We’ll see; it will also depend on this last match against Croatia. I will make the decision after this match.”

Fans disappointed
Poland go into the Croatia game knowing their fate is not in their own hands, but Bąk, who took over as team captain after Maciej Żurawski’s injury in the first game, says the team have a point to prove – especially to their fans. He stated: “We may have only one game left. I don’t want to say that we have to say goodbye to this tournament. We still have some hope and want to show our best side during this match. Our fans rely very strongly on us. We let them down a bit. We feel a bit silly, but it’s football. That’s life; we wanted to do our best but we didn’t succeed. We have a small chance. We will have to win.

Under pressure
“It will be a very difficult match for us. Croatia will play a bit more laid-back and if you’re laid-back you can actually show more because there’s less pressure. We are under a lot of pressure, and with a shadow of a chance of qualifying. It will be very difficult to play against them. Croatia have played and won against Germany in style, the same with the Austrians, so it will be very hard for us. But I believe in our team, that we’ll pull ourselves together, be mobilised, play good football and win a game during these championships.”

Coach Leo Beenhakker is hoping Poland can sneak into the UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-finals “through the back door” as he prepares his players for Monday’s critical Group B clash with Croatia in Klagenfurt.

Tough predicament
The stakes for Poland could scarcely be higher when they take on Slaven Bilić’s men at the Wörthersee Stadion. While Croatia are already through to the quarter-finals as group winners, Beenhakker’s men lie fourth in the section after taking one point from their first two games. Their campaign will be over regardless of Monday’s result, however, should Germany beat Austria in Vienna in the other match. Beenhakker was philosophical, though, when asked to sum up his team’s predicament. “We have to put our effort into what we have in our hands,” said the Dutchman. “We can’t control events in Vienna. All I can do is plan with my players to try and get the win over Croatia. We are focusing on our task and then we have to hope things elsewhere go our way to qualify through the back door.”

Changes expected
Beenhakker said he expects his opposite number Bilić to rest some players for what is the first competitive international between the sides, but the 65-year-old insists that will not make his team’s task easier. “Croatia have a certain philosophy of playing and that will not change very much, no matter who is playing,” he said. “Positions and styles are more or less fixed, so it’s just a case of different players doing the jobs. I’m confident we have done our homework on every player in the squad of 23.” Regarding his own personnel, Beenhakker will again have do without captain Maciej Żurawski, who strained a thigh against Germany. Marek Saganowski should deputise in attack.

‘Strong desire’
Croatia are enjoying this competition so far, building on the 1-0 opening win against Austria with a stunning 2-1 victory over Germany – results which have left them with six points, three clear at the top of the group and assured of first place. Bilić confirmed that changes will be made to his lineup but maintains his players are fully motivated. “We can’t wait for the match to start. Our opponents are a great side but we have a strong desire to continue playing well and achieving good results,” said the 39-year-old. The Croatia players will wear black armbands out of respect for a 19-year-old Croatian fan who died tragically before the Germany game.

Croatian confidence
Bilić dismisses the notion that he will be fielding a weakened team, with one eye on the quarter-finals, adding that he has belief in his entire squad. “This will not be a reserve side,” he commented. “We have 23 players in all and there is no first team, second team or reserve team. I have no doubt whatsoever that my team can beat Poland, whatever team I put out. I have total respect for Poland but I also have confidence in my players.”

Striker Marek Saganowski says coach Leo Beenhakker has a battle on his hands to raise Poland’s players for their Group B finale against Croatia after a disappointing finish against Austria.

Bleak
Poland endured serious pressure from Austria in the first 20 minutes in Vienna, with goalkeeper Artur Boruc making a number of saves to deny Josef Hickersberger’s side, before the game turned in Poland’s favour when Roger Guerreiro scored on 30 minutes. However, a stoppage-time penalty from Ivica Vastic earned the co-hosts a 1-1 draw and Poland now have a major battle on their hands to make the last 16. Leo Beenhakker’s team have one group match left, against Croatia in Klagenfurt on Monday, but Southampton FC forward Saganowski admits the mood in the camp is bleak.

Low morale
“It will be very hard to lift morale and confidence after what’s happened,” Saganowski told euro2008.com. “It will be difficult to make the quarter-finals now. We have to play Croatia and they will be high on confidence after beating Germany [2-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners]. It should be a good game but a very hard game for us. It is difficult to accept drawing a game this way. The UEFA European Championship is a big moment for the Polish nation and for the players who are here, and it’s a pity to finish the game with a penalty so late in the match. If Austria had scored in the first half when they had chances, it would have been fair enough, but it is hard to take when they score a goal in the way and at the time they did.”

In vain
The 29-year-old English-based attacker was one of three changes to the starting XI from Poland’s 2-0 opening defeat by Germany, and Saganowski contributed with the cross that set up Roger’s goal. “It was nice to play a part in the goal but it means nothing as we did not win,” he added. Poland captain Jacek Bąk sounded similarly disconsolate: “We drew the game and got a point but it feels like a defeat. We were in the lead for so long and were on our way to winning the game and giving ourselves a good chance of making the next stage, but now it’s going to be very difficult. We had a big chance to do well and go into the Croatia game with confidence, but now our confidence will be low and we have to work hard in training to get ready for Croatia.”

Poland have waited more than 40 years to make it to the finals of the UEFA European Championship but the mood in Leo Beenhakker’s camp now suggests that their campaign is over after only two matches.

Beenhakker bemused
The Biało-czerwoni were shattered by an equalising goal in injury time during Thursday’s Group B meeting with Austria in Vienna and, although they can still qualify for the quarter-finals if they win their final group game against Croatia, coach Beenhakker has effectively conceded that his side are going out.

Boruc depressed
The squad are also in a depressed mood. “We have a small chance now but it’s only a small chance,” said goalkeeper Artur Boruc. “It’s going to be very difficult in the final group game as Croatia have won both of their games and we have to go and play them. It’s a chance, but a very, very small one and it’s hard to raise ourselves after what happened in Vienna.”

Poland goalscorer Roger Guerreiro took the Carlsberg Man of the Match award in the face of “very strong competition” from goalkeeper Artur Boruc after tonight’s 1-1 draw with co-hosts Austria in Vienna. In the final reckoning, the fact the midfielder was heavily involved in the action for 85 minutes, while Boruc’s contribution was largely confined to a magnificent 20-minute spell, swung the vote Roger’s way.

‘Next game a final’
It seemed for a long time that Roger would win the day for Poland, having scored, against the run of play, at the far post on the half-hour. Then Austria’s equaliser from a penalty in the third minute of added time left Leo Beenhakker’s team dispirited. Roger said: “We are all surprised by this final result. We thought we were going to end the game with a victory. Austria played better than us in the first half, whereas the second half was ours. But this match is now in the past and now we can only think about the next game [against Croatia]. Needless to say that it will be like a final for us.”

Caught the eye
The Carlsberg Man of the Match award was decided by the UEFA Technical Team, and one of its members, Fulham FC manager Roy Hodgson, explained why the Legia Warszawa player had caught their eye. “His attacking play throughout the game was very good, he was a constant thorn in the side of the Austria defence,” said the former Switzerland and Finland coach. “Of course, he scored the goal – finding the time and space to profit at the far post – and until the end that looked to be the decisive moment in the game. But the award was for his all-round contribution. He showed the necessary flair that helped Poland take a grip on the game.”

‘Good technician’
It was only the Brazilian-born player’s fourth cap after he recently obtained Polish citizenship. Commenting on the assurance the 26-year-old displayed before being substituted in the 85th minute, Hodgson added: “He’s a very good technician at this level of football and good technicians have that assurance. They are not afraid to try things out and to try to beat a man.” However, Hodgson was keen to stress that Roger had faced a challenge from Boruc for the award following a string of fine first-half saves by the goalkeeper when Austria dominated. “The difference was that Boruc did all his best work in the first 20 minutes,” Hodgson said. “After that Poland took a strong grip on the game and Guerreiro was able to impress in the second half as well as the first.”

Legend has it that Ernst Happel, after whom the magnificent stadium in Vienna was renamed in 1992, was a man of few words. Very few when it came to the final gee-up from the legendary Netherlands coach before his teams left the dressing-room. “Gentlemen, two points” was the gist of it.

Superfluous oratory
The two coaches involved here, Josef Hickersberger and Leo Beenhakker, would not have employed those exact words. After all it is three points that they play for these days. But the same sense that great oratory was superfluous held true. Neither set of players needed stoking up for this one. They had each lost their opening game and a second defeat was something they dared not contemplate.

Lifeline
It had been billed as a ‘do-or-die’ clash in advance – winner stays in, loser goes out. Yet, intriguingly, Germany’s defeat by Croatia had offered a lifeline to the co-host nation. It meant that if Austria were to lose they could still dream of going through to the next round, albeit with a remarkable pair of results on Monday. Not that Hickersberger would have been bothering to explain the maths to his team as the minutes ticked down to the 20.45 start. “Gentlemen, three points” would have been much more appropriate.

Boruc brilliance
The way Poland’s luck has been going, no one would have been surprised had they been consulting airline timetables on the team bus as it weaved through the Vienna suburbs. A succession of injuries has dogged their hopes and even a last-minute replacement, Łukasz Piszczek, was cursed, picking up an injury in training the previous night to rule himself out of contention. Thankfully for Poland’s prospects, Artur Boruc remained in good health. His spirits had been buoyed by the arrival of his first child, a boy, the day before the game and how it showed. For the first 20 minutes, as Austria raided and raided again, the goalkeeper gave a performance of such brilliance that young Alex will be told all about it when he is a little older.

Macho beaten
How Austrian hearts sank as the Celtic FC keeper denied a succession of would-be scorers. Martin Harnik was the unluckiest, thwarted twice in quick succession. At the other end Jürgen Macho remained largely unemployed. Poland had been consigned to defensive duties in the main. Yet when he was called upon seriously for the first time, the AEK Athens FC man could not find any Boruc-like inspiration. Macho was unable to get much in the way of Marek Saganowski’s shot across goal, allowing Roger Guerreiro to tuck the ball away at the far post.

Losing faith
Poland had got away with their defensive mistakes, not so Austria. Now Beenhakker’s men took control of the game while the home nation began to lose faith. Macho pulled off a tremendous double save but then, in added time, a penalty was awarded at the other end. Ivica Vastic – 38 and lauded before the game by his captain Andreas Ivanschitz for his abilty to make an impact off the bench – smashed it home. It had been dramatic right to the end. And both teams can still dream of going through to the last eight.

Striker Marek Saganowski says coach Leo Beenhakker has a battle on his hands to raise Poland’s players for their Group B finale against Croatia after a disappointing finish against Austria.

Bleak
Poland endured serious pressure from Austria in the first 20 minutes in Vienna, with goalkeeper Artur Boruc making a number of saves to deny Josef Hickersberger’s side, before the game turned in Poland’s favour when Roger Guerreiro scored on 30 minutes. However, a stoppage-time penalty from Ivica Vastic earned the co-hosts a 1-1 draw and Poland now have a major battle on their hands to make the last 16. Leo Beenhakker’s team have one group match left, against Croatia in Klagenfurt on Monday, but Southampton FC forward Saganowski admits the mood in the camp is bleak.

Low morale
“It will be very hard to lift morale and confidence after what’s happened,” Saganowski told euro2008.com. “It will be difficult to make the quarter-finals now. We have to play Croatia and they will be high on confidence after beating Germany [2-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners]. It should be a good game but a very hard game for us. It is difficult to accept drawing a game this way. The UEFA European Championship is a big moment for the Polish nation and for the players who are here, and it’s a pity to finish the game with a penalty so late in the match. If Austria had scored in the first half when they had chances, it would have been fair enough, but it is hard to take when they score a goal in the way and at the time they did.”

In vain
The 29-year-old English-based attacker was one of three changes to the starting XI from Poland’s 2-0 opening defeat by Germany, and Saganowski contributed with the cross that set up Roger’s goal. “It was nice to play a part in the goal but it means nothing as we did not win,” he added. Poland captain Jacek Bąk sounded similarly disconsolate: “We drew the game and got a point but it feels like a defeat. We were in the lead for so long and were on our way to winning the game and giving ourselves a good chance of making the next stage, but now it’s going to be very difficult. We had a big chance to do well and go into the Croatia game with confidence, but now our confidence will be low and we have to work hard in training to get ready for Croatia.”