A month marked by draws

Many things happened from my last post. Most of them were… draws. Unfortunately that’s all we can say bout our football right now.

First draw

It was the second leg of the tie between Lech and Dnipr Dnepropetrovsk. After one goal win away Polish club needed a drew and achieve it. Ukrainians were slightly better but what counts it’s a final result and it was goalless. After so many complains directed to Polish football even so small step further had been taken as big success.

Second draw

Two weeks later there was another draw also against Ukrainians but this time it was a clash between two host nations of the next European Championships. It’s hard to say that we were better team but we have created more clear occasions to score and the result 1:0 that during long time had appeared on a scoreboard was a deserved result. But during injury time a striker from Dnipr scored an equalizing goal. Seleznov was criticized after matches against Lech and that revenge was vital for him and sad for us.

I wouldn’t say that this match was a total washout for Poland as there were some signs of a better disposition. One of the best at the pitch it was Boenisch who before was a big hope for us and he presented himself as a very good sideback and from big hope he became a big asset. Three days later against Aussies he was a real star, but despite a crushing superiority we’ve lost that match 1:2. We need more efficiency from players like Jelen, Smolarek or Lewandowski who scored an only goals but he also missed a penalty.

Third draw

After a group draw nobody in Poland believed that Lech have any chance to pass a group phase of UEFA Europa League. Juventus, Manchester City and Salzburg are the rivals. Already a first match have reasonably changed that belief. Lech needed just little more than 20 minutes to score two goals playing in Turin against famous Juve. Italians have shown a great self-believe and 20 minutes before the end they were leading the scoreline.

What was a major surprise even for Polish fans it was that from that moment Lech have overtaken an initiative and stated to do closing Juve down on their half playing with three strikers together on the pitch. The result have came in the second minute of the injury time. Totally unknown Artioms Rudnevs scored a hat-trick in Turin and modest Polish team stopped Juventus in the very first group match.

Would it be a beginning of better times for Polish football? It’s hard to say but it has to be said that it was the first time when any Polish club has avoid a loose in Turin. It means something, especially after previous humiliating moments in our football.

Not a happy ending

The ending is not so optimistic. Poland is on 66^th position in the FIFA ranking. Another six and it will be a Satan sign in the Catholic country. Fortunately this rank ends on something about 200 place.