UEFA has a nice piece up on the Roger Guerreiro signing.

And the BBC has an article up on the Krisztian Nemeth loan deal with Liverpool.

ESPN says that Everton face a tricky trip to Athens to play us, but the Liverpool Daily Post seems a bit less worried.  We’ll show ‘em.

Finally, Nathan Burns is out on loan as reported here.

Ściągnij siedemdziesiąty szósty odcinek

Złoto wypracowane pod mostem. Przez dziurę w płocie na Mistrzostwa Świata. Technika kontra siła. Rękawica Kamili. Szczęściarz Bednarek. 330 metrowa bieżnia i sławojki. Owens w Berlinie. Wesołek Bolt i rekordy na raty. Supremacja Afryki Zachodniej a zdolności manualne nogi. Kto zagląda w spodnie Caster Semenyi? Jak daleko lata oszczep. Czy Bolt powinien startować w Tour de France? Trener Grembocki uczniem van Gaala. Cudotwórca i jego Matusiak. Poseł Kurski w sektorze przyjezdnych, Roger wśród gospodarzy. Męka Lecha z zespołem którego nazwę wymawia się różnie. Wisła bez Brożka. Wstrząsająca relacja z meczu Polonii Białogon plus parada swojaków. Debiut Obraniaka w kadrze. Mocarstwowe plany Erikssona. Udany powrót Gancarczyka. Przegląd lig europejskich. Superpuchar Hiszapnii. Memoriał Huberta Wagnera. Dziwny puchar i bezimienny bohater.

Ściągnij siedemdziesiąty odcinek

Marcin wrócił z Ringu. O malarzach flamandzkich i hokeju na lodzie. Podwójna radość w Pittsburghu. O zawiłościach przepisów w koszykówce. Pamiątkowe zdjęcie z prezydentem. Barcelona zdobywa kolejne mistrzostwo. Casus sędziego bez włosów. W jakim kierunku kłaniają się piłkarze Egiptu? Dyplomacja a la Grzegorz Lato. Nieustający kącik lingwistyczny. Kibicowanie w RPA. Perez się nie uczy. Valdes z nowym kontraktem, czyli zmiany w Barcelonie. Transfery i Ribéry. Miasto Warszawa i Polonia. Baraże odwołane. Obiecanki pana Kuchara. Aspiracje Tarasiewicza. Oresta Lenczyka w Zagłębiu przypadki. Kariera Błażeja Augustyna. Sprzedajemy Rogera. Polska gromi Czarnogórę. Paweł Abramow uczy się po polsku. Warszawa – Odessa. Belgrad i Final Six. Formuła nie wiadomo która, czyli o niewidzialnej ręce rynku. Przed Wimbledonem. Komórki PZPN walka o polonusów. Podolski w Kolonii. O Copa Libertadores rozmawiać nie będziemy.

Ściągnij pięćdziesiąty szósty odcinek

Mecz z Walią i Skra w Moskwie. Roger udowadnia, że jest Brazylijczykiem. Sędzia Webb znów daje o sobie znać, a dziennikarze Wyborczej potrzebują fryzjera. Prywatna rozmowa prezesa z trenerem. Hiddink w Chelsea, Adams bez pracy, Scolari na lodzie. Narowisty bramkarz Celticu. Palacz z nadwagą debiutuje w Realu. Rekordzista Edwin van der Sar. Ranking najbardziej irytujących sportowców świata, Bond na nartach, czyli mistrzostwa świata w narciarstwie alpejskim. Mówimy po arabsku. Kolejny odcinek piłkarskiego kryminału plus rys historyczny. Lato chce palić Obraniaka. Boniek w wyścigu kłusaków.

Ściągnij czterdziesty drugi odcinek

Czarny koń z betonu. Czy Kasperczak to trener z osiągnięciami? Szamotulski nie chce do Transylwanii. Nasi w pucharze UEFA – nadzieja umiera ostatnia. Lider ligi bez bazy. Legia wygrywa w Krakowie a Odra rządzi u siebie. Smolarek w Boltonie. Los Strielcowa, Escobara i Jaszyna. Smutny koniec przygody Lozano. Niemczyka niechęć do Świderka.

Rieccomi qui: noto con inquietudine che il mio ultimo post l’ho scritto da teen-ager, quindi è necessario un aggiornamento del blog! Il fatto è che tra esami ed Europei il tempo a disposizione è sempre poco (è una scusa ridicola, ma accettatela).

Gli Europei in particolare colpiscono sempre di più per la loro…mondialità. Un tempo le nazionali erano sacre: per essere convocati bisognava essere della tua nazione da almeno venti generazioni. Ora invece, l’incredibile: nella Francia ci sono più africani che nel Camerun (tanto che a breve istituiranno “Ramaja” come inno nazionale); la Germania gioca con due attaccanti polacchi (Klose e Podolski); nella Polonia stessa, tra tanti giganti biondi, ha giocato un esile brasiliano dribblomane (Roger Guerreiro, nella foto); la Svizzera è una multinazionale (turchi, capoverdiani, spagnoli, colombiani, kosovari…) mentre anche l’Italia ha il suo “oriundo” (Camoranesi). E non si tratta di casi isolati, anche se sicuramente quello di Roger Guerreiro è il più “clamoroso”, dato che al giocatore è stata conferita la cittadinanza polacca praticamente ad honorem ad aprile, per farlo partecipare agli imminenti Europei.

La situazione secondo me è un po’ ridicola, e forse la UEFA dovrebbe regolamentare meglio queste faccende. Troppi giocatori ripudiano le loro “modeste origini” per giocare in una nazionale più forte; ma avviene sovente anche il contrario, specialmente nel caso dei giocatori sudamericani. In questo modo paradossalmente alcune nazioni continuano a sfruttare le loro colonie (Francia e Olanda su tutte), mentre altre hanno guadagnato parecchi fuoriclasse attingendo dai loro immigrati (Svizzera docet). Nell’atletica è ancora peggio: ormai gli atleti africani sono letteralmente “comprati” dalle nazioni, e quindi aspettatevi di vedere alle olimpiadi danesi di colore e giapponesi con i rasta ai nastri di partenza delle maratone.

Insomma: i tempi di certo sono cambiati, e non ci sarebbe da stupirsi se un giorno nell’Italia venisse convocato un rom: ma sicuramente qualcuno sta abusando della possibilità di concedere la nazionalità al primo che passa. O meglio, al primo che tira e segna!

Croatia rested a host of players yet still proved too strong for Poland as they won 1-0 in Klagenfurt to finish on maximum points in Group B and confirm their opponents’ early exit.

Klasnić winner
Ivan Klasnić scored the winner early in the second half at the Wörthersee Stadion to end another defiant show from goalkeeper Artur Boruc and further boost Croatia’s confidence before they tackle Turkey in the quarter-finals on Friday. Poland’s slim qualifying hopes rested on at least a two-goal victory here and a win for Austria over Germany, and neither came off as Michael Ballack struck the only goal in Vienna.

Duo retained
Poland needed goals so it was something of a surprise that Leo Beenhakker chose to omit Euzebiusz Smolarek, whose marksmanship played a big part in securing qualification to UEFA EURO 2008™ as group winners ahead of Portugal. The coach also left out defender Jacek Bąk who had been hoping to make his 97th appearance. As expected, Slaven Bilić made wholesale changes to the Croatia team with only two players retained from the starting XI who had conjured the famous victory over Germany.

Knežević injury
One of those was left-back Danijel Pranjić and when he made an early forward raid it left a gap which Poland were quick to exploit. Marek Saganowski headed on for Wojciech Łobodziński whose cross brought goalkeeper Vedran Runje out to clear, injuring Dario Knežević in the process. Although the right-back played on after treatment, he was eventually forced off in the 27th minute. By that stage Croatia were taking a firm grip on proceedings and only the brilliance of Boruc kept the score at 0-0. Mladen Petrić played Klasnić in but out came the Poland No1 to make another of those blocks that so frustrated Austria four days ago. From a difficult angle, Ivan Rakitić then found Boruc in the way as he attempted to clip the ball across into the area.

Klasnić goal
After a promising start in which Dariusz Dudka got up well to meet a corner only to place his header wide, Poland were largely on the back foot. On the stroke of half-time Boruc came to the rescue again after Klasnić had skilfully worked an opening. In the 53rd minute Klasnić at last got the better of him. The architect was Pranjić and when he picked out the striker in the penalty area, Klasnić stylishly whipped the ball back across Boruc and into the far corner. Despite the introduction of Smolarek, things remained relatively easy for Croatia’s defence with Dario Šimić, winning his 99th cap, also looking to attack from right-back when the opportunity presented itself.

Poland chances
A smart turn from Roger Guerreiro almost brought Poland back into the contest but he was narrowly wide of the mark. It was a rare moment of hope for the massed ranks of their supporters seated behind the Croatia goal, though another arrived soon after when Marcin Wasilewski’s header forced Runje to stretch. Bilić could afford to give Nikola Kalinić his first run-out at the tournament and only his second cap late on, although Poland did threaten parity when Smolarek fired just wide and substitute Tomasz Zahorski saw a great opening closed by the diving Runje.

Ściągnij dziewiętnasty odcinek

Na sędziego nie ma siły, czyli mistrzostwa w drukowaniu. Roger z innej planety.
Golański gra po rumuńsku a Jop po golańsku. Chorwaci przyjechali na sześć spotkań. Z Anglikami przegrywamy nawet jak ich nie ma na Euro.

That’ll teach me for losing the faith. I’d thought before the tournament that Croatia would make the semis and now it looks like they probably will. Beating Germany 2-0 makes them group winners courtesy of the Austria 1 – 1 Poland result, so they will face either the Czech Republic or Turkey in the quarters – two teams that on this evidence they should beat well. Croatia were absolutely first-class against Germany yesterday, showing the discipline and organisation that was lacking from their second half against Austria. The switch to 4-5-1 definitely helped, though I was slightly disappointed by Niko Krancjar in the playmaker role – normally reliable in front of goal, he missed two relatively easy chances, which would have put the Germans out of sight. He worked hard though, as did every Croatian on the pitch, who in the end thoroughly deserved the win.

For me, actually, this was the perfect result. My Croatia prediction looks much better, and now the Germans can take a morale-boosting win over Austria in the final game (don’t pretend it won’t happen) and then beat Portugal in the quarters. They’re too good not to come back from this, and happily, the Prancing Prat will be the one to suffer for it. Then Croatia can beat them again in the semis and half of the table will be as I have foreseen.

A quick word on the Austria-Poland game – neither team played particularly well. Artur Boruc, who I’ve always thought of as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, played outstandingly well, but even accounting for his heroics the Austrian finishing was abysmal. They should have been 3-0 up within 15 minutes and Boruc should have been given no chance at all to deny them that. Instead, Christian Leitgeb and Martin Harnik (twice) made tame efforts and were punished for it by Roger Guerreiro’s goal. OK, it was marginally offside, but it was exactly what they deserved for being so impotent at the other end of the pitch. Three cheers for Southampton’s Marek Saganowski for getting the assist, carrying the torch for the mighty Saints at these championships while Rudi Skacel rots on the Czech bench.

I was glad to see Howard Webb give the Austrian penalty at the end of the game – it was a clear foul, but the kind that gets flagged up so rarely that it looks controversial. If more refs gave those decisions the game would be better for it.

Everything is falling into place. See you tomorrow.

Poland goalscorer Roger Guerreiro took the Carlsberg Man of the Match award in the face of “very strong competition” from goalkeeper Artur Boruc after tonight’s 1-1 draw with co-hosts Austria in Vienna. In the final reckoning, the fact the midfielder was heavily involved in the action for 85 minutes, while Boruc’s contribution was largely confined to a magnificent 20-minute spell, swung the vote Roger’s way.

‘Next game a final’
It seemed for a long time that Roger would win the day for Poland, having scored, against the run of play, at the far post on the half-hour. Then Austria’s equaliser from a penalty in the third minute of added time left Leo Beenhakker’s team dispirited. Roger said: “We are all surprised by this final result. We thought we were going to end the game with a victory. Austria played better than us in the first half, whereas the second half was ours. But this match is now in the past and now we can only think about the next game [against Croatia]. Needless to say that it will be like a final for us.”

Caught the eye
The Carlsberg Man of the Match award was decided by the UEFA Technical Team, and one of its members, Fulham FC manager Roy Hodgson, explained why the Legia Warszawa player had caught their eye. “His attacking play throughout the game was very good, he was a constant thorn in the side of the Austria defence,” said the former Switzerland and Finland coach. “Of course, he scored the goal – finding the time and space to profit at the far post – and until the end that looked to be the decisive moment in the game. But the award was for his all-round contribution. He showed the necessary flair that helped Poland take a grip on the game.”

‘Good technician’
It was only the Brazilian-born player’s fourth cap after he recently obtained Polish citizenship. Commenting on the assurance the 26-year-old displayed before being substituted in the 85th minute, Hodgson added: “He’s a very good technician at this level of football and good technicians have that assurance. They are not afraid to try things out and to try to beat a man.” However, Hodgson was keen to stress that Roger had faced a challenge from Boruc for the award following a string of fine first-half saves by the goalkeeper when Austria dominated. “The difference was that Boruc did all his best work in the first 20 minutes,” Hodgson said. “After that Poland took a strong grip on the game and Guerreiro was able to impress in the second half as well as the first.”

Germany’s performance made me almost have to retire CH12.  The crystal ball was looking very opaque.  Football reiterated to me – “CH12, you think you know me but you don’t.”  Or to paraphrase  Biggie, “If you don’t know, now you know”… that you don’t know as much as you think. 

Croatia did improve their performance as I anticipated, and Olic and company did give Mertesacker and Metzelder problems.  However, the first goal was Jansen’s fault, not the central defenders’, while the second Croatian goal was lucky but the two M’s didn’t react as quickly as Olic.  Modric was great in the first 20 minutes, the last 20 minutes and skated through the time in between.  However, Kovac and Pranjic picked up the slack during that period, the defense was solid and, if not for Kranjcar’s profligacy, the game should have been over in the first half and the result could have resembled Spain’s scoreline against Russia.  Coach Loew, Fritz is not working out.  Start Schweinsteiger – Podolski and he were the only ones who showed a sense of urgency.  Too bad you won’t be able to yell Bastian till the quarters at the earliest given his silly red card, but something needs to change on the wing.  Odonkor is not really the answer either.  Maybe Hitzlsperger.  Super Mario – you are killing me.  It may be time for Kuranyi to start.  He’s good in the air and better on the ground than Mario has shown himself to be in this tournament. 

Having said all that, I give Bilic credit.  They played well and didn’t let the Germans play their game.  I have to also give them credit on the set up work on the first goal.  The pass into the box sucked the right back into the striker, but instead of turning or laying it off to his teammate in the center of the park, he sent it back to the passer who had all the time and space to make the telling cross.  It was very much like an inbounds play in basketball where the ball goes back to the inbounding player and no one is there to pick him up.  And of course, they needed Jansen to be asleep on the back post, but that’s already been picked up in the earlier rant.  

Man of the match for Croatia was Modric for asking for, and taking care of, the ball when he needed to; Rakitic was also brilliant in spots. For Germany, Podolski again was their best player on the pitch.

Pre-game prediction: Germany 2 Croatia 0

Result: Germany 1 Croatia 2

Scorers: Darijo Srna, Ivica Olic (Croatia) Lukas Podolski (Germany) 

The second game gets going, gets toward the end and I am starting to have confidence in the crystal ball again… and then injury time happens.  That’s two picks that have been blown after the 90 minute mark.  Not that I am keeping score or anything but I am now at 50% at 6 and 6. Good thing I don’t bet on games.   

Watching Austria blow two one on ones – too bad Harnik’s not an out and out striker – and one point blank shot, I had no doubt that it was going to come back to bite them.  It’s the same as when the shooter doesn’t throw the dice hard enough to hit the back wall – you almost always seven out.  Boruc kept Poland in the game and, sure enough, Roger scored a goal – offside though it was.  Poland actually played well thereafter, with Roger and Krzynowek (that man has a harder left foot than Jon Arne Riise, and that’s saying something) creating options every time they came down the field.  It was probably a just result that Austria pulled a goal back but it’s ridiculous that they called that a penalty after all the tugging and pulling that has gone on, and will continue to go on, unpunished in dead ball situations.  Great penalty.  Anelka, that’s how you strike it.  Man of the match for Poland was Boruc, though Roger ran him a close second; for Austria, I was digging Korkmaz.   

Pre-game prediction: Poland 2 Austria 1

Result: Poland 1 Austria 1

Scorers: Roger Guerreiro (Poland) Ivica Vastic (Austria) 

Now we will hear about all the permutations that can occur to determine who goes through from this group.

On to the game of the tournament.  I can’t wait.  Italy vs Romania…  Okay, so that’s a close second to the other game – Holland (that’s what you call them when they play fantasy football.  If they lose, they are back to Netherlands IMB… In My Book for you non literary 18 year olds) vs France.  Hup Oranje, Allez Francaise… Forza Italia?? 

It’s hard when you’re from a small country.

You know, small in self-worth. Like Poland. Or Austria. Or Switzerland.

It’s something of a secret, but the Presidents of many Unselfconfident Football Federations have been regular visitors at the shrink in recent years.

The shrinks thought they were used to seeing people who loathed themselves.

Then they met these football administrators.

We are losing, they said, sniffling into their Federation ties. Our players aren’t good enough. They lose themselves at vital moments. They don’t have skill. They have no balls. Many of them have syphilis. There are strange growths on their private parts.

Oh, you know how you can go overboard when it’s just you and a nice woman with a new box of tissues.

All around the World of Self-Doubt, the shrinks came up with the same solution: if your nation does not have the requisite talent, you must be good capitalists. You must import the talent, use their skills and feed them over time with the beauties of your country.

So it came to pass that today, Austria played Poland to a draw. Helped by the beatific generosity of a bald-headed and bald-faced English referee who gave the hosts a penalty within seconds of the game’s end.

Yes, Poland drew with Austria. And the goals were scored by a Croatian and a Brazilian

The Poles, who managed to slip the Brazilian some citizenship just a couple of months ago, are splendidly used to the phenomenon of utilitarian nationality.

After all, they lost to Germany last weekend, the two German strikers being, well, Poles.

In fact, Lukasz Podolski and Miroslav Klose actually talk to each other in Polish on the field. Little wonder that Polish defense looked as confused as Kim Jong Il when someone told him that Elvis was actually dead.

Yesterday, we had the very entertaining sight of Switzerland playing Turkey. Entertaining because the Swiss side included three Turks. And the last time these two teams played they kicked the living cobwebs off each other. On and off the field.

Of course, not all of these foreigners are mercenaries. Sometimes, their families emigrated when they were children.

But if you’re Roger Guerreiro, you have made a simple calculation: I won’t make the Brazilian team, so I’ll play for some other country. Hey, let’s see what’s going on in Poland.

That way, not only do you get to play international football. But you also get citizenship conferred on you by the President himself.

In one moment, your career changed from rocky to Rocky.

There is one country that has so far resisted in importing players to make its woeful team better. That country is England.

Even though English clubs are now so replete with foreign players that some teams in the Premier League field no Englishmen at all. Take Arsenal, full of the most skillful Frenchmen, Catalans and Latvians.

I have a theory as to why England refuses to import foreigners.

Well, yes, there is the arrogance associated with, yawn, having invented football, yawn, and won the World Cup in 1966, yawn.

There is also the simple fact that the majority of English footballers simple cannot be understood by anyone from a foreign country. Even if that person speaks perfect English, which many of them do.

To understand Wayne Rooney, for example, you need to speak Duck.

So the England players, having failed to qualify, spend the summer getting married and drunk, while Croats scored for Croatia and Austria.

Croatia has a population of four million.

The Pond thanks Howdy, I’m J. Michael Karshis for his version of Camus’ L’Etranger.