Poles eye progress

'White Eagles' hungry for success on World Cup return

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Heading for the World Cup finals for the first time in 16 years, Poland is hungry for success.

Coached by Jerzy Engel, Poland took experts and fans by surprise when it became the first European team to clinch a berth in the May 31-June 30 tournament.

Leaving behind Norway, which the Poles trounced 3-2 and 3-0, Ukraine, Belarus, Wales and Armenia, the White Eagles will take on Portugal, the United States and South Korea in Group D.

Portugal is one of the tournament's favorites, but the United States and South Korea seem to be roughly in the same league with the Poles, who boast a solid defense and fast forwards, led by Nigerian-born Emmanuel Olisadebe, but often suffer from the lack of concentration in games against weaker opponents.

After beating Norway and qualifying for the finals, the triumphant Poles traveled to Belarus only to lose 4-1, their lone defeat in 10 qualifiers.

Preparing for the finals, Poles beat Northern Ireland 4-1 and the Faroe Islands 2-1 in warmup games before losing to Japan 2-0, the first defeat on home ground since Engel took over as coach in November 1999, and going down to Romania 2-1.

Engel called the loss to Japan a "good lesson" and said the match gave Poles a firsthand experience in playing against Asian teams with their trademark fast play and constant pressing.

In its World Cup opener June 4, Poland faces co-host South Korea, which hopes for its first victory in its fifth appearance in World Cup finals.

"On June 4, we will be prepared in the same way as the Japanese, as far as concentration, speed and power are concerned," Engel said.

The core of the team consists of international players, such as Liverpool's goalie Jerzy Dudek, Panathinaikos striker Olisadebe, Schalke 04 captain Tomasz Waldoch and his teammate Tomasz Hajto.

Poland-based players include defender Jacek Zielinski and striker Bartosz Karwan, both of Warsaw's Legia, and goalkeeper Adam Matysek, who left Bayer Leverkusen, where he was on the bench, for a little-known first division team RKS Radomsko.

Poland may not have great international stars, except perhaps for Olisadebe, who scored eight goals in World Cup qualifiers, but it can rely on a strong team spirit.

"We have a good team in which every player is aware of our common goals. We are like a family. We will try to achieve as much as possible," says Olisadebe, the first African-born player on Poland's national soccer team.

Poland's brilliant showing in World Cup qualifying has triggered talk about the renaissance of Polish soccer -- the team won the Olympic gold in 1972 and finished third at the 1974 and 1982 World Cups, but hasn't been a contender since mid-80s.

Poland last appeared in the World Cup in Mexico, 1986, when it was eliminated by Brazil in the second round.

Some officials warn against excessive enthusiasm and hint that those who qualified first could be among the first ones to pack their bags and return home.

"Poland's group is very difficult and it will be a success if we advance," said Jacek Gmoch, who coached Poland in the 1978 World Cup.

 

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