Polish soccer coach says he's been fired after poor World Cup

Updated: Friday June 21, 2002 09:52 a.m. ET

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- The coach of Poland's national soccer team said Friday he has been fired after a dismal World Cup campaign that saw his side crash out of the tournament in the first round.

"I lost against people who have never achieved anything in their lives," Jerzy Engel told Polish radio. "The decision was taken by people nobody has ever heard of. It was sad and unpleasant."

Poland's national soccer association was expected to announce its decision later Friday.

Poland sailed through its World Cup qualifying campaign but lost 2-0 to co-host South Korea and 4-0 to Portugal in its first two matches at the finals, making it one of the first teams to be eliminated.

A face-saving 3-1 win over the United States, which came only after Engel made substantial changes to the lineup, came too late to rescue Poland's campaign.

Engel has conceded he should have had the "courage" to make major changes for the Portugal match but maintained that Polish soccer has improved during his tenure.

Engel was hired in 2000 and had a record of 11 wins, eight defeats and nine draws as coach.

Poland 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.

(bp-gm)