Roger not so jolly as Poland draw
June 13, 2008 at 7:02 am | In Poland | Leave a CommentTags: Poland, Roger Guerreiro
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.”
Brilliant Boruc foiled at the last
June 13, 2008 at 6:23 am | In Poland | Leave a CommentTags: Poland
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.
Late blow strikes Saganowski hard
June 13, 2008 at 6:17 am | In Croatia | Leave a CommentTags: Marek Saganowski, Poland
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.
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