Only now did the verification take place

There goes the beautiful dream. We again blew up the bubble about the "quarters of the finals of the European cup", forgetting that it was only there that serious playing began and provided us with a serious comparative material that our "progress" could actually measure.

Well, it could be understood that we are hungry for success in Europe. This hunger has led to a lowering of the bar in our minds. With the aid of UEFA, who felt it was worth reorganising so that virtually all country would have individual in the group phase. Today, however, not about whether it's good or bad, but alternatively about that... besides why we had this level for Polish bands.

We forget that Jagiellonia Białystok as the Polish champion played in the Champions League eliminations. due to the fact that she did not pass them, she had a chance to win the League of Europe, and due to the fact that she fell out, she was in the League of Conference. So, twice in the trophy system, she died in the runoffs, but that UEFA "gives a chance", she played where she played. The Champions League has been out of our league for years. The Legion of Warsaw entered it... with a origin that allowed it to draw in the final circular of elimination (yet before the current reform) Irish Dundalk. Jagiellonia this year fell from the Norwegian Bodo / Glimt. In the League of Europe with a weakened but yet Ajax Amsterdam, a serious European team. And so much would be from truly demanding rivals to Betis Seville. In the Champions League, Slovan Bratislava played, who had to break through it through another rung more than Jaga. And that means something?

How about the Legion? On the way to the Conference League stood her Broendby Copenhagen, but that is besides hard to call present a serious team. In the group the Legion faced only... the mentioned Betis Seville. And she won. Let's note. It's just that it was all about serious acting, too. Until the quarter-finals with Chelsea.

To be honest, this text was intended to be much sharper for Polish teams and their hungry acolytes. But it's not due to the fact that they both fought. The Legion in a rematch at Stamford Bridge won, though not even approaching the real anticipation of eliminating The Blues, but the fact alone is simply a blow to Chelsea's prestige. Bravo. Jagiellonia truly fought with this Betis and as if there were a small bit more luck, who knows. Nevertheless, the Polish teams left this period only erstwhile to win. Just this legic match with Betis in the Conference League group. I don't think that's adequate to throw triumph parades.

And 1 more thing: The Conference League is now weaker than a year ago. due to the fact that there are 8 more teams in the Champions League and the League of Europe, and there are 4 more in the League of Conference. That's a certain difference to the negative. Let us besides look at the group phase of the Conference League in search of solid teams from strong European leagues. too Chelsea and Betis, it's just Italian Fiorentina. From the middles we would name fast Vienna, Istanbul Basaksehir, Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen, possibly Molde FK. But the remainder is jam. Meanwhile, we launch a communicative of success, due to the fact that we have played cucumbers from Kosovo or Slovenia “in the group phase”, as if it were the Champions League. It's not. The quarter-finals of all 3 European games included teams not only from England, Spain, Italy and France, but besides from Sweden, Austria, Scotland and Norway (the second 2 even in the League of Europe!) and this is another measurement of the success of Polish teams.

Yes, in 2 years we will have a champion and runner-up of Poland in the Champions League eliminations. 1 more squad in Europe at all. That's nice. Let us just be aware that this is to a tiny degree the effect of our large game, or alternatively to choice us rivals on the rule of “let each 1 have his group phase”. And yes, congratulations are due to Jaga and Military footballers, but surely not laurels and delights. due to the fact that nothing groundbreaking truly happened.

Tomasz Jankowski

Think Poland, No. 17-18 (27.04-4.05.2025)