Poland -2 Germany -0
Poland -2 Germany -0
Poland -2 Germany -0
Just let it sink in for a minute. :) Well like most people living in Poland I was shocked and pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the game yesterday. I bet someone playing the odds of the game also came out ahead with a nice return on the match. Germany having recently become FIFA World Cup Champions in Brazil, were probably also not expecting to lose a friendly match to Poland because they haven't done so in the past, or at least not in an European Championship Qualifying round. Poland has the ability to take the European Championship, it just has to limit mistakes and make the plays as they come along. Germany and Poland both had shots on goal blocked but Polish people are the ones holding their heads high in victory today.
Poland has a lot of great athletes across the country but there just aren't enough good opportunities for the athletes to encourage them to stay in this country when they get good. I would like to see this country spend some money supporting the athletes, helping them to become the best in the world, and encourage them to be happy staying here. If that is still too distant of a possibility then what about spending some money to get some of the good retired Polish athletes in the world to come back home and be the next generation of coaches? I know this is often a difficult discussion, when I talk to the people of Poland they are very confused with the United States approach of putting celebrities and athletes on the same pedestal. As an American I am often confused with the lack of Business interest in advertising and branding in respect to sponsoring teams and athletes in Poland. The Polish people also have the disadvantage or lack of big college rivalries in sports and lack of sports promotion to students going through the educational system. Sports can lead to personal success but I would argue that they are much more important that just entertainment. Sports are a great system of bringing people together from diverse backgrounds to reach a common goal of winning. Sports teach young people and adults how to work together, how to push themselves, and how to pick themselves up off of the ground when the fall down. The great thing about losing is you get to learn from your mistakes. I hear people sometimes complain that they lost because the other team is bigger or stronger but that is something that you can work on. Most high schools in the US have a weight-room and even if the equipment is old it gives the students an opportunity to make themselves bigger, faster and stronger. I was also very sad to see Poland withdraw its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics due to a poor result in a local referendum. I remain hopeful that Poland will submit a future bid to host the games, summer or winter would be fine :) Well I'm done ranting for now, GO POLAND!
