POLITICS

A new republic?

Gaining EU membership in May 2004 wasn't just an important political step for Poland. The largest economy in the new EU countries of Eastern Europe grew by more than 5 percent when trade barriers were removed. Now growth has slowed again. The conservative Law and Justice Party, headed by twin brothers Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, surprisingly garnered the most parliamentary seats in the September 2005 elections. Campaigning with anti-European slogans and promising a better "Fourth Polish Republic," the party received considerable support from voters who had lost out in the recent economic upheavals. Poland's main challenge remains an unemployment rate approaching 20 percent. In the foreign policy arena, the country's selfconfidence is growing. At the request of the U.S., it assumed command of a military zone in Iraq.

THE SPORT

Empty stands

Following Poland's last-sixteen exit at the 1986 World Cup, the country's footballing legend Zbigniew Boniek found sobering words: "The truth may hurt, but the reality is that we won't reach the finals again for another 20 years." Poland's soccer heyday was over. With players like Boniek, Grzegorz Lato and Wlodzimierz Smolarek gracing the stage, Poland's greatest sporting generation ever finished third at both the 1974 and 1982 World Cups. The country did, in fact, qualify for the World Cup finals in 2002, four years earlier than Boniek had prophesied. Yet following defeats by South Korea and Portugal, they were soon packing their bags. The current squad has failed to raise expectations, while Poland's domestic league has fallen on hard times. Tempted by higher salaries, talented players are increasingly heading abroad; match-fixing scandals have further undermined the credibility of the domestic game. Hooliganism is more widespread and violent than in most European countries and - given atten- dances of below 4,000 even at major stadiums - the rioters scarcely get lost in the crowd.

TEAM AND TACTICS

Goals aplenty

After eight wins and two losses, the White Eagles qualified directly for Germany as the second-placed team in their group. The national team is studded with players who have sought their fortune abroad. However, with so many warming the benches at their foreign clubs, they are happy to take the field for the national team. The strength of this squad lies in its attack. A strike force comprising Maciej Zurawski of Celtic and Tomasz Frankowski of England's Wolverhampton Wanderers scored 14 of the team's 27 qualifying goals - frequently supplied by wingers Kamil Kosowski and Jaek Krzynowek. Dortmund goalgetter Ebi Smolarek, the son of former World Cup hero Wlodzimierz Smolarek and one of the season's discoveries in Germany's top flight, is increasingly challenging for Frankowski's place in the starting lineup. The intelligent Miroslaw Szymkowiak pulls the strings in midfield. The team's defense, though, remains its Achilles heel. Whenever Poland plays, expect the goals to flow - at both ends of the pitch.