Radzikowski: Bear to the best of our capabilities

My observations show that in 2 areas Poles are real experts – in football and politics. Since the planet football championship is presently held in Qatar – let us leave politics for a while and focus on the mundial.

After gaining promotion to the planet Cup in Qatar – the main goal of our squad was to leave the group. It should be recalled that this was the last time we made it to the Mexican compound in 1986, erstwhile we defeated Portugal after a goal scored by the unforgettable Vladimir Smolark. In the 1/8 finals, however, we suffered a severe defeat with Brazil 0:4, and our football adventure in Mexico ended. After the championship, coach Antoni Piechnik and Zbigniew Boniek – in consequence to the dissatisfaction of fans and journalists – they wished their successors akin achievements, which was considered to be a circumstantial “currency” due to the fact that for the next 36 years, either we did not participate in the mundial, or we did not leave the group.

In the current championships, our group rivals to the easiest opponents did not belong. We have come to play with the representation of Argentina for many years as a planet leader, as well as the Mexican team, a solid squad with rich football traditions. On this background, Saudi Arabia seemed to be the weakest link, but as it turned out, it was not so obvious. The inaugural gathering of Poland's representation with Mexico was an highly weak spectacle, where both goals and emotions were missing. At the same time, all attentive observer could announcement crucial differences in both motor preparation and the culture of the game itself between our representation and the Mexicans. I leave out here the question of the unused punishment kick by Robert LewandowskiBecause specified events are someway inscribed in the essence of football, and mistakes can happen best. Our next match against Saudi Arabia looked much better, although the triumph we had won did not warrant anything. And the last group match with Argentina, that is, desperate goal masonry, rachitic actions, and counting on a happy consequence in Mexico's match against Saudi Arabia.

However, our luck was good due to the fact that we were promoted from the group thanks to a more favourable goal difference than Mexico. The match with France dispelled the illusions of those fewer who counted for Poland's promotion to the quarterfinals. Failure was to be expected, and fewer expected a miracle.. The representation of France was at least a class better than white and red. We brought out any interesting actions, and the players did not deficiency ambition, but it was not adequate to meet their rivals. The last game was better than Mexico and Argentina, but for purely football reasons the gathering had to end with our failure. Polish squad lacked tailor-made individuality Kyliana Mbappe, Olivier Gioruda, or Antoine GriezmannWho, even under unfavorable circumstances, can turn the game around and tip the triumph scales to their squad side.

How, then, do you measure the game of Poland's representation in the community and the results obtained?

I think grades should be balanced. It's not like the malcontents say that we're a weak team, and leaving the group was just a happy coincidence. However, we cannot be considered to belong to the “world elite” as he optimistically stated red David Berezicki in the text ‘Back to the planet elite” (myślpolska.info). Success could be said if we were a representation without major achievements and football traditions, specified as representations of Morocco, Australia, Japan, Senegal or South Korea. In the light of past white and red successes, specified as the 3rd place at the 1974 and 1982 planet Championships, the 1972 Olympic championship, or the 1976 and 1992 Olympic runner-up championships, the consequence on the current mundial could at most be considered to be an average success. A clear deficiency is the quality of the Polish game. Although I am aware that football does not have the meaning of "artificial currencies", football does not trust on the chaotic knocking of the ball forward, or in the stands, which is very frequently the case with our team.

When assessing the game of Poles, definitely passed the test defensive formation. However, the problem was already the second line, where there was no leader to order the team's game. This function has long not been fulfilled by Grzegorz Krychowiak, who is far from the class of late deceased Janusz Kupcewicz, directing the mediate of a field on a mundial in Spain in 1982. Piotr Zieliński is in turn a more offensive helper than a typical quarterback, though he did not delight. Robert Lewandowski remains alone in the attack, who, without the support of his colleagues, wanders around the field like a proverbial “child in the fog”. That's the secret to why our best player is much more effective in club games. It's only a pity Coach Michniewicz didn't put up for the game earlier. Kamila GrosickiWho had specified a successful end to the match with France. To sum up, you gotta accept reality.. We have the representation we presently can afford – repeating behind Bareya: it is simply a "bear" to the degree of our current capabilities.

Michał Radzikowski

Photo: wikipedia commons