Socceroos ready for Poland

[the_gun]

Australia is chasing a more polished performance in front of goal in Tuesday evening's (Wednesday morning AEST) friendly against Poland after arriving in Krakow.

The Socceroos showed some positive signs in attack in its opening game under new boss Holger Osieck but failed to convert in a 0-0 draw against Switzerland in St Gallen.

Socceroos spearhead Tim Cahill says the goals will come for the national team if it keeps on creating the same number of opportunities.

"Scotty (McDonald) missed chances, I missed chances, Bretto (Holman) missed chances but the main thing is we are backing each other and trying to make sure we create more chances and really penetrate teams," Cahill said.

Socceroos stalwart Brett Emerton said he enjoyed his first start in some time, having spent most of the opening three rounds of the English Premier League parked on Blackburn Rovers' bench.

The 31-year-old veteran of 76 internationals used all of his tricks to set up several of Australia's attacking raids at the AFG Arena.

"I think I am still enjoying my football and I love playing for the Aussie team," he said.

"To go out there and play with a smile on your face is not too difficult.

"I think there is both positives and a few negatives," he said.

"I think first half we created numerous chances but did not finish them but second half they probably had the better of the game and a we were a little bit suspect defensively.

"That is something we can work on."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/102 ... for-Poland

[Bomber]

1-1

[the_gun]

i watched poland play last night against ukraine. poland looks very fresh. i few new faces in the squad and quite a few younger players. the player to look out for is blaszczykowski out on the right... very good player attacking player. if carney plays at left back he is going to be in some trouble. also jelen, their striker is a tricky customer. cant wait for this game... not sure who to route for hopefully it will be a good game.

1-1 draw is my tip also

[Red-4-Life]

play well...thats the main thing!!

2-1 loss

[DOC]

i watched poland play last night against ukraine. poland looks very fresh. i few new faces in the squad and quite a few younger players. the player to look out for is blaszczykowski out on the right... very good player attacking player. if carney plays at left back he is going to be in some trouble. also jelen, their striker is a tricky customer. cant wait for this game... not sure who to route for hopefully it will be a good game.

1-1 draw is my tip also

great player, very big talent at dortmund in an up and coming side

[the_gun]

1 - 2 @ HT good match so far. goals from holman and wilkshire.

[Bomber]

Final score 1-2 and I hear Federici saved a penalty.

[BADA BING]

did Ronald McDonald play?

[the_gun]

yes. he was crap

[Zurawski]

yes. he was crap

the usual...

[BADA BING]

yes. he was crap

THIS BLOKE, when will he break his duck

[Red-4-Life]

Good result, Holman has really stepped up since the WC

[BADA BING]

Brett Emerton must have felt like a dick to get sent of for what he did

[Con]

Bomber, wot the fcuk? This wouldn't have happened in the ol' days of Lubanski, Deyna n Lato... Is Polska sinking to the lows of present-day Hungary? And how many chances did Smolarek want?

As for Oz, I reckon Mc is a goner. And Emerton? Is he making a habit of this? Was suspended v. Italy in '06 when we needed him, and was sent off as Olyroos captain when we crashed out of the home Olympics.

[Zurawski]

it's nothing new, poland have been shite for 10+ years now. the day's of 3rd place world cup finishes will sadly never be realised again. shame

[Bomber]

Bomber, wot the shiraz? This wouldn't have happened in the ol' days of Lubanski, Deyna n Lato... Is Polska sinking to the lows of present-day Hungary? And how many chances did Smolarek want?

As for Oz, I reckon Mc is a goner. And Emerton? Is he making a habit of this? Was suspended v. Italy in '06 when we needed him, and was sent off as Olyroos captain when we crashed out of the home Olympics.

Polska have been pretty inconsistent to say the least. Mind you, they should have beat Australia. Their only hope is to get some decent games under their belt before 2012 Euros and hopefully they can have a good showing. Peaks and troughs but it has been 25-30 years since they were what you would consider a "power".
The country has gone through massive change in that time both politically and economically and many of their would be stars have gone abroad, some seemingly never returning. Pity about Podolski & Klose being "German"!
But over time, hopefully the tide will turn. However, I feel that co-hosting Euro 2012 will give them another chance to impress and regain some credibility. We shall see.

[the_gun]

they have some good young players at the moment but i dont see them improving as a side much from the quality that ive seen in recent years. i hope im wrong. poland is a lot like england in some ways... the public has massive expectations for the team and puts huge pressure on the team to perform... i dont think this helps either. when they loose people start to almost boycott their own national side. thats the impression i get anyway from my time spent in poland and from the polish public living in adelaide.

[Con]

Zurawski, is that you (Alex of Polonia, circa 1972)? The one that used to go to the Old Lion on Sunday nights with some of us Budapest crew like Geza Farkas and the Booth twins? If so, what memories! Those days you could only get a drink if you bought the chicken basket. We used to get around scrounging the sheilas' chickens, and if that's you Alex, I recall you got up to special shenanigans with the young ladies....

[Zurawski]

haha it's not unfortunately Con, I'm from the recent Polish-Australian generation.

Bomber, TBH though if either Klose or Podolski were schooled in Poland rather than Germany, they wouldn't be half the players they are today. That's the sad truth really, long gone are the days of good technical footballers. The standard and technique is way behind other countries and this shows as you only get roughly 5k to league games in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

[Bomber]

haha it's not unfortunately Con, I'm from the recent Polish-Australian generation.

Bomber, TBH though if either Klose or Podolski were schooled in Poland rather than Germany, they wouldn't be half the players they are today. That's the sad truth really, long gone are the days of good technical footballers. The standard and technique is way behind other countries and this shows as you only get roughly 5k to league games in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

I hear ya. Major overhaul needed? How would they best go about it (to improve) do you think? I have been out of the loop in Polski football lately.

[Željko Jurin]

haha it's not unfortunately Con, I'm from the recent Polish-Australian generation.

Bomber, TBH though if either Klose or Podolski were schooled in Poland rather than Germany, they wouldn't be half the players they are today. That's the sad truth really, long gone are the days of good technical footballers. The standard and technique is way behind other countries and this shows as you only get roughly 5k to league games in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

5000 is killer, in Croatia if Dinamo or Hajduk arent playing, they struggle to get 1000

[the_gun]

haha it's not unfortunately Con, I'm from the recent Polish-Australian generation.

Bomber, TBH though if either Klose or Podolski were schooled in Poland rather than Germany, they wouldn't be half the players they are today. That's the sad truth really, long gone are the days of good technical footballers. The standard and technique is way behind other countries and this shows as you only get roughly 5k to league games in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

5000 is killer, in Croatia if Dinamo or Hajduk arent playing, they struggle to get 1000

wow! is that all? im surprised.

[Bomber]

haha it's not unfortunately Con, I'm from the recent Polish-Australian generation.

Bomber, TBH though if either Klose or Podolski were schooled in Poland rather than Germany, they wouldn't be half the players they are today. That's the sad truth really, long gone are the days of good technical footballers. The standard and technique is way behind other countries and this shows as you only get roughly 5k to league games in the Polish Ekstraklasa.

5000 is killer, in Croatia if Dinamo or Hajduk arent playing, they struggle to get 1000

They are all in the surrounding bars taste testing the local Rakija product, methinks.