WORLD CUP 2006
Poland Interview Coach - Pawel Janas
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There was real euphoria in Poland after the draw, but you immediately tried to dampen it down. Why?
We cannot underestimate Ecuador just because we beat them last year. In the World Cup it will be a totally different game. We also must realise, and quickly, that Costa Rica have recently had a higher FIFA ranking position than us. My assistants have watched them and know how good they are. Germany will be as strong as ever. If we make it to the next round that will tell you whether we were good enough or not.
Is it significant that Poland have never beaten Germany?
That statistic is correct, but the difference between the two sides is not so big now. They are even quite similar. And we are able to fight with them.
One German website claimed Poland have only one real star – Jerzy Dudek.
Poland have no real stars. We are strong as a team. If one or two players are out injured or out of form, I have
a big problem. For example, Jacek Krzynowek was my key man last year. Now, he does not play regularly for Bayer Leverkusen. The same with Dudek, who after a fantastic Champions League Final was not in Liverpool’s starting XI.
It seems to be a real problem that many Poles are not regular players at their clubs.
Only a few are starters every week but despite this the squad must be perfectly physically prepared for the tournament. There is not enough time for me to do it in the few days just before the World Cup. I can only work with them on tactical issues or on speed training. I keep regular contact with the players and know everything about all their training sessions and all their reserve games. But it would be much better to see them playing first-team football, even if only one or two games a month.
What are the strengths of your team?
We scored in all 10 qualifiers, 27 goals in total. That is our biggest advantage. And a couple of players showed their class, Ebi Smolarek and Maciej Zurawski. I have been especially pleased by Smolarek’s recent progress.
You do not like interviews and media interest. So is the World Cup a special pressure?
I played in the World Cup and I will be there again for the first time as a coach. The team’s results will be a testimony to my coaching skills. But it is not the end of the world. Seven years ago I overcame lymph gland cancer. Can you imagine a bigger pressure? I have already won the most important battle in my life.
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