B1: Germany 2 - 0 Poland - 08/06/08 - Page 2 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 06-06-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Ballack Caught Up In Row, Beenhakker Apologises

Poland coach Leo Beenhakker has apologised to Michael Ballack after a Polish newspaper depicted him holding up the decapitated heads of Germany coach Joachim Löw and Ballack himself...

Polish daily Super Express photoshopped the image in the build-up to the two sides' meeting on Sunday in Klagenfurt.

They still carry a sense of rivalry since World War II and have never beaten the Germans before. Despite Beenhakker himself branding the "bring us their heads" captioned feature as "sick", UEFA have also attempted to placate the controversy.

A spokesman declared: "We are aware of the pictures. It's not something we should condone, people should be talking about the football.

"There is a healthy rivalry but there is a limit. We are hopeful the talking will be done on the pitch."

Sick People

Beenhakker, who himself is Dutch, spoke to Bild about the images: "That is rubbish. It shows that all over the world there are sick people. I distance myself from it totally.

"I hope I can speak in the name of many Polish people, but at least I speak in the name of the Polish team and everybody around it.

"We want to say that we apologize to the German people for what was yesterday on the front page of a certain paper in Poland.

"It was an awful thing, and we want to totally distance ourselves from these, let me say, weird and dirty and sick people who think they have to represent Poland this way in relation to Euro 2008.

"But I have said from the first day that we knew our opponents, that we have to separate and stay totally away from these emotions and sentimental things and within the team just focus on the game ... I don't lose any time on this emotional and, as we have seen, sometimes dirty occasions."

The chairman of Bundestag's sport committee, Peter Danckert, slammed the daily for the publication: "This photo-montage is a scandal. I hope that the Polish government reacts appropriately to it."

Germany coach Löw did his utmost to ignore the paper, declaring: "What was in one newspaper is not representative ... Polish and German fans were together celebrating the match at the World Cup two years ago

"I have a very high opinion of Beenhakker and he is very humane and very open."

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Ballack Caught Up In Row, Beenhakker Apologises

**Trim** · 06-06-2008, 11:46 AM

According to Bild's sources, Germany's starting line-up against Poland on Sunday will feature Bastian Schweinsteiger (who was reported to be in bench for the match, because of not being full fit) and Lukas Podolski (who is expected to play in left midfield).

Complete line-up:

Lehmann - Lahm, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Jansen - Frings, Ballack - Schweinsteiger, Podolski - Klose, Gomez

Fußball - EM2008 - Deutsche Elf gegen Polen - Schweinsteiger spielt doch - SPORT BILD

BlackNess · 06-06-2008, 03:51 PM

On paper it's our best XI.

**Trim** · 06-06-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Germany v Poland
Clash with extra spice for Klose and Podolski

Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose will need to confine themselves to the German tongue on Sunday, as calls such as “lewo“ (left), “prawo“ (right) or “dawaj“ (pass) will be all too intelligible to the defenders when Germany meet Poland in the countries’ Euro 2008 opener. “I have a Polish heart,” admitted Podolski, like Klose a frequent visitor to relatives in eastern Europe. The Bayern pair and former Munich man Piotr Trochowski were all born in Poland, so the clash at the Wörtherseestadion in Klagenfurt has very special significance for the Germany trio.

However, during Sunday’s crucial encounter, family ties will count for nothing. “Once it starts, I’ll be desperate to win,” declared Podolski, who frequently communicates with Klose in Polish. Hamburg midfielder Trochowski is almost certain to be named among the subs, but the Munich pair are likely starters.

Imported strike force

There is no doubting the strike duo’s credentials: Klose has scored 39 goals in 75 international appearances, while Podolski has 25 in just 48 matches. However, neither has scored against the country of his birth, as (Swiss-born) Oliver Neuville struck the only goal of the game when the countries crossed swords at the 2006 World Cup, the only meeting between the sides to feature the Bayern pair to date.

Although the Germany trio’s footballing allegiance was established when they were still practically kids, many Polish fans would rather see the men born in Oppeln (Klose), Gleiwitz (Podolski) and Tczew (Trochowski) plying their trade in red rather than white shirts. Poland coach Leo Beenhakker remains a realist. “It would obviously be tremendous to have them in the Polish national team, but we have to accept the situation,” the respected Dutchman advised.

Play, then party

Poldi, a close follower of the Polish football scene via satellite TV who turned 23 this week, has said victory on Sunday would be the best possible late present. Klose is also hoping for a three-point celebration: on board the Germany charter flight from Klagenfurt back to the Ascona tournament base, he is hoping to start his 30th birthday as a goal-scoring winner. He marked his 28th birthday two years ago with a brace in the World Cup opening match – possibly a very good omen for Sunday.

Clash with extra spice for Klose and Podolski

__-SNAKE-__ · 07-06-2008, 12:06 PM

This game defenitley wont be a walk in a park, Poland isnt the same team of 2 years ago, Hope Lahm, Jansen and of course Mertesacker help that useless keeper of theirs.

**Trim** · 07-06-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Löw Impressed By Poland

Germany boss Joachim Löw has admitted that he is a fan of his side’s Group B opponents Poland.

Löw's team, who are amongst the favourites for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, face the Poles on Sunday in their opening match of the tournament.

And Löw, who will be looking to guide the Germans to their first European triumph since 1996, admits that Poland are stern opponents for his players.

"They have a much stronger team (than when the sides met in 2006)," Löw said to BBC Sport.

"When I watched videos of their matches the team appeared very compact and it looks like the Dutch style of attacking football has left its mark on them.

"They have improved enormously and had an excellent qualifying run. I was surprised by their strength. Now we know about the Poles."

Germany snatched a late goal through substitute Oliver Neuville to record a 1-0 victory over the Poles in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup.

But Germany have alarmingly not won a game at the European Championship finals their 1996 triumph in England.

"We want to change that as quickly as possible," added Low. "I think we have a team that can do it.

"We have a team that can dictate the rhythm and the pace. We will go into tomorrow's [Sunday’s] game in Klagenfurt with self-confidence and a certain daring."

Goal.com - Germany - Löw Impressed By Poland

**Trim** · 08-06-2008, 09:41 AM

The expected line-up, according to Bundesliga.de :

1 Lehmann - 16 Lahm, 17 Mertesacker, 21 Metzelder, 2 Jansen - 4 Fritz, 13 Ballack, 8 Frings, 7 Schweinsteiger (20 Podolski) - 11 Klose, 20 Podolski (9 Gomez)

**Trim** · 08-06-2008, 06:03 PM

Confirmed starting line-ups:

Germany:

Klose - Gomez
Podolski - Ballack (C) - Frings - Fritz
Jansen - Mertesacker - Metzelder - Lahm
Lehmann

Poland:

Smolarek
Zurawski (C)
Krzynowek - Lewandowski - Dudka - Lobodzisnki
Golanski - Bak - Zewlakow - Wasilewski
Boruc

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches