Unfortunately, I wasn't able yet to return from Poland, due to my aunt's hospitalization and slow recovery from a heart attack. Hopefully, I will make it back to New York before the year's end. In the meantime, my thoughts are continuously with my clients. Wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Janusz Andrzejewski, a lawyer based in New York City, writes here on various community-important topics. Best way to get in touch with him at present is by e-mail, at the following addresses: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com or at jwandrzejewski@gmail.com or at the tel. (212) 634-4250
All about legal aspects of life in the United States, as well as about other topics of the daily life, in all its shades. This is an attorney advertising in compliance with NYS Ethical Rules. The website is meant for general information and not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcome. No attorney-client relationship exists by viewing this website or submitting an e-mail. I cannot gurantee a privacy of any e-mail on the web.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Saturday, June 3, 2017
EXTREMELY WELL BALANCED REAL MADRID WINS BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLES
Real Madrid has made the history today, yet again. As the first team at a club level, the "merengues" were able today to repeat, back-to-back, as the winners of UEFA Champions League, by beating Italian champion Juventus Turin, by the score of 4:1. In the old formula of the competition, called the European Cup of Champions, the "merengues" have won it six times, out of which five times in a row (1956-1960); yet since the enactment of the new formula of UEFA Champions League in 1992, no team, including Messi's Barcelona, was able to win two back-to-back titles. Altogether, the "merengues" have now won record 12 European Champion League titles - the same amount as won by all English club teams! The Real Madrid charismatic coach, and one of the greatest players in soccer history, Zinedine Zidane, was able to give the "merengues" the necessary balance and cohesion which the team was lacking under the previous coaches. Throughout this season, Real had the key players in Marcelo, Modric, Isco, Kross and Ramos, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo, although lacking in dribbling skills and vision to be considered a player on the level of Lionel Messi, is truly now a veritable poacher of goals, even though he disappears for the long intervals of the game. Juventus exhibited throughout this season a formidable defense, yet somehow, due to scintillating Real Madrid midfield, and below par performance of Pijanic and Khedira, the "merengues" were able in the second half to assert the control of the midfield, and to create more scoring opportunities which were converted twice by Ronaldo, in addition to Casemiro and Asensio. Juventus' goalkeeper, Gigi Buffon, who was looking to collect the only missing title in his career, has to hope that 2017/2018 season, apparently the last in his career, will be the lucky one. On the other hand, Paulo Dybala, the formidable dribbler of Juventus, might want to join Barcelona this summer, as Juventus seems to lack quality in the midfield in order to have a shot at winning the next edition of the Champions League.
Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney who writes on legal or other community important topics. You can contact him by telephone at (212) 634-4250, or, through email: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com or jwandrzejewski@gmail.com.
Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney who writes on legal or other community important topics. You can contact him by telephone at (212) 634-4250, or, through email: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com or jwandrzejewski@gmail.com.
Friday, January 23, 2015
TO FIX ITS LAGGING EDUCATION, THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT POLAND'S SUCCESFUL FORMULA
Poland remains a success story not only with its economy, but even more so, with its educational system, which in the past decade has moved sharply forward from the rear of international pack, and beats now the U.S. on most performance measures. Poland's success has not only been noticed by international educational organizations, but also by American newspapers, i.e. by USA Today, which took a close look last August at Polish education's reform. Apparently, Poland has now the fourth-highest number of higher education students in Europe, only behind the U.K., Germany and France. In reading, Poland is ahead of the U.K., Germany or France, and far ahead of the U.S.. Poland surpassed the U.S. even in math, by placing 19th on a survey by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) whereas the U.S. was ranked at 27th place, well below average.
Pursuant to last year's Pearson's Global Education Index, the U.S. is ranked in 14th place globally in cognitive skills and educational attainment, whereas Poland, which surpassed the U.S., leaped to 10th place in the world. Following are the top 10 countries in the Pearson's ranking: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and Poland (Germany, Denmark and Russia are ahead of the U.S., too).
Poland's curriculum is mostly based on the effects of the education - not just what the students know but what they can do, and how they can use their knowledge practically. Poland started the revamping of its educational system only in 1998, approximately 10 years after the fall of communism, when the country already was flying in the aftermath of market reforms, and deregulation and privatization made Poland's economy one of Europe's fastest growing. But Poland's schools in that period of revamping of its economy still continued to rely on old course materials, with education putting emphasis on producing technicians and vocational workers for heavy industries. Miroslaw Handke, then Minister of Education, got a green light, and with remarkable speed, in a year, academia in Poland was unrecognizable. Poland switched its educational system to a new form of general education that resisted specialization. A year later, in 2000, Poland began leap to the international league tables. By 2012, the last time OECD conducted its survey, Poland was one of the best teaching countries in the world. In fact, its the only one to have gone from below average in the charts, to above average, with its GDP ranking only 46th globally. On key indicators - math, science and reading, it came from behind to rank well ahead of the United States. How did Poland manage to do so? Well, under the revamped system, primary school lasts six years, followed by three years of a new comprehensive lower secondary school, before a decision is made on whether to send a student to vocational training. Knowledge - reading, writing, arithmetic - is valued above technical skill. Foreign language, especially English - became a key component. In 2000 only 1 percent of kids received four hours or more of language classes. By 2006 that figure jumped to 76 percent.
Notwithstanding the success in education, Poland spends only around $5,000 per student annually from primary to tertiary education, but outperforms the United States, which spends three times more than Poland on education of one student. Of course, a part of the educational success is based in the socialist past, when Poland's education system went through its first wide and deep modernization.
The economy in Poland continues to be strong. In fact, Poland was the only European country which did not succumb to 2009 recession (in fact, it registered, as the only country in Europe, a 1.6% growth in 2009). January, 2015 indicators show a booming economy, with over 8 percent growth. However, Poland still remains a low payer for teachers, approximately $650 per month, compared with the national average of all workers of $945 per month (of course, one has to remember that education, healthcare and the rest of social safety net are still provided in Poland free of charge). Obviously, Poland will have to upgrade the salaries of their teachers rather sooner than later. There are also some unexpected sides to the educational success of Poland, i.e. Poland's rapid development of foreign language training has a negative side effect. Many Poles are leaving home to gain skills abroad. While it generally helps the technology sector, if they return, many of them never do, preferring to stay in the U.K., Norway, Germany, Netherlands, France or Austria, where they can count on higher wages. But despite the negative effect of losing so many of creative and energetic young people to economies of Western Europe, Poland's educational system is an example to the whole world, and a stellar proof that its not just the money that makes good students.
Janusz Andrzejewski, a New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or, through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com or jwandrzejewski@gmail.com
Pursuant to last year's Pearson's Global Education Index, the U.S. is ranked in 14th place globally in cognitive skills and educational attainment, whereas Poland, which surpassed the U.S., leaped to 10th place in the world. Following are the top 10 countries in the Pearson's ranking: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and Poland (Germany, Denmark and Russia are ahead of the U.S., too).
Poland's curriculum is mostly based on the effects of the education - not just what the students know but what they can do, and how they can use their knowledge practically. Poland started the revamping of its educational system only in 1998, approximately 10 years after the fall of communism, when the country already was flying in the aftermath of market reforms, and deregulation and privatization made Poland's economy one of Europe's fastest growing. But Poland's schools in that period of revamping of its economy still continued to rely on old course materials, with education putting emphasis on producing technicians and vocational workers for heavy industries. Miroslaw Handke, then Minister of Education, got a green light, and with remarkable speed, in a year, academia in Poland was unrecognizable. Poland switched its educational system to a new form of general education that resisted specialization. A year later, in 2000, Poland began leap to the international league tables. By 2012, the last time OECD conducted its survey, Poland was one of the best teaching countries in the world. In fact, its the only one to have gone from below average in the charts, to above average, with its GDP ranking only 46th globally. On key indicators - math, science and reading, it came from behind to rank well ahead of the United States. How did Poland manage to do so? Well, under the revamped system, primary school lasts six years, followed by three years of a new comprehensive lower secondary school, before a decision is made on whether to send a student to vocational training. Knowledge - reading, writing, arithmetic - is valued above technical skill. Foreign language, especially English - became a key component. In 2000 only 1 percent of kids received four hours or more of language classes. By 2006 that figure jumped to 76 percent.
Notwithstanding the success in education, Poland spends only around $5,000 per student annually from primary to tertiary education, but outperforms the United States, which spends three times more than Poland on education of one student. Of course, a part of the educational success is based in the socialist past, when Poland's education system went through its first wide and deep modernization.
The economy in Poland continues to be strong. In fact, Poland was the only European country which did not succumb to 2009 recession (in fact, it registered, as the only country in Europe, a 1.6% growth in 2009). January, 2015 indicators show a booming economy, with over 8 percent growth. However, Poland still remains a low payer for teachers, approximately $650 per month, compared with the national average of all workers of $945 per month (of course, one has to remember that education, healthcare and the rest of social safety net are still provided in Poland free of charge). Obviously, Poland will have to upgrade the salaries of their teachers rather sooner than later. There are also some unexpected sides to the educational success of Poland, i.e. Poland's rapid development of foreign language training has a negative side effect. Many Poles are leaving home to gain skills abroad. While it generally helps the technology sector, if they return, many of them never do, preferring to stay in the U.K., Norway, Germany, Netherlands, France or Austria, where they can count on higher wages. But despite the negative effect of losing so many of creative and energetic young people to economies of Western Europe, Poland's educational system is an example to the whole world, and a stellar proof that its not just the money that makes good students.
Janusz Andrzejewski, a New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or, through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com or jwandrzejewski@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
CREDO
Na material poluje.
Taki prosty, szczery, szorstki...
Niegarbowany i niemalowany,
Najlepiej swojski.
Szukam o zyciu opowiesci,
Ktoras takze Twa historie zmiesci.
Tylko otworz sie na promien lsnienia,
I przeczytaj zakurzone strzepy ody do marzenia,
Szkicowane kiedys lotem dzikich gesi.
Alchemia slowa, esencja zycia,
Kobieta do odkrycia.
Ot, i caly moj interes...
Opowiadaj wiec, opowiadaj, dziewcze hoze,
Twa historie w zbior mych bajek dla doroslych wloze.
Opowiadaj wiec gestami, usmiechami,
Twoich oczu odcieniami.
Mozesz tez slowami, pisanymi, szeptanymi...
Glosem aksamitnym, chropowatym...
Potem utnij wszystko, tym spojrzeniem lodowatym...
Szukam momentow zapomnienia,
Odcieni Twojego spojrzenia,
Zawislego na galeziach Plant.
Szukam krakowskiego wrzesnia, co sie juz nie wroci,
I po nocach w Nowym Jorku ciagle smuci...
Szukam Ciebie, szukam siebie,
Na bazarze wystrzepionych wspomnien,
Cerowanych pajeczyna zapomnienia.
J. Andre Jeski
Nowy Jork, wrzesien, 2011 r.
Nieupowaznione uzycie powyzszego materialu stanowi naruszenie praw autorskich i moze byc scigane sadownie.
Taki prosty, szczery, szorstki...
Niegarbowany i niemalowany,
Najlepiej swojski.
Szukam o zyciu opowiesci,
Ktoras takze Twa historie zmiesci.
Tylko otworz sie na promien lsnienia,
I przeczytaj zakurzone strzepy ody do marzenia,
Szkicowane kiedys lotem dzikich gesi.
Alchemia slowa, esencja zycia,
Kobieta do odkrycia.
Ot, i caly moj interes...
Opowiadaj wiec, opowiadaj, dziewcze hoze,
Twa historie w zbior mych bajek dla doroslych wloze.
Opowiadaj wiec gestami, usmiechami,
Twoich oczu odcieniami.
Mozesz tez slowami, pisanymi, szeptanymi...
Glosem aksamitnym, chropowatym...
Potem utnij wszystko, tym spojrzeniem lodowatym...
Szukam momentow zapomnienia,
Odcieni Twojego spojrzenia,
Zawislego na galeziach Plant.
Szukam krakowskiego wrzesnia, co sie juz nie wroci,
I po nocach w Nowym Jorku ciagle smuci...
Szukam Ciebie, szukam siebie,
Na bazarze wystrzepionych wspomnien,
Cerowanych pajeczyna zapomnienia.
J. Andre Jeski
Nowy Jork, wrzesien, 2011 r.
Nieupowaznione uzycie powyzszego materialu stanowi naruszenie praw autorskich i moze byc scigane sadownie.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY...
Your eyes, my mysterious and beautiful, are quite haunting.
But mileage, between the two of us, spectacularly daunting.
Perhaps, my dear, we can at least converse right now a bit,
To simply decide who at the other shall spring a sudden hit.
And those mesmerizing and green eyes are truly riveting.
Prolonged looking at you is to me a constant bloodletting.
The thought of seeing you dancing is always spellbinding.
Not having you here with me is to craziness mind driving.
I love your ever present blackness, it reminds me a little bit
Of some dark things, when still young, I lackadaisically did.
I'm kind of, well, enamored, by your every daylight docility,
Even though, I am always scared of your emotional fragility.
J. Andre Jeski,
New York City, November 7, 2014
Warning: Unauthorized use of this material, without consent of the author, constitutes a violation of the author's copyrights and might trigger a legal action.
But mileage, between the two of us, spectacularly daunting.
Perhaps, my dear, we can at least converse right now a bit,
To simply decide who at the other shall spring a sudden hit.
And those mesmerizing and green eyes are truly riveting.
Prolonged looking at you is to me a constant bloodletting.
The thought of seeing you dancing is always spellbinding.
Not having you here with me is to craziness mind driving.
I love your ever present blackness, it reminds me a little bit
Of some dark things, when still young, I lackadaisically did.
I'm kind of, well, enamored, by your every daylight docility,
Even though, I am always scared of your emotional fragility.
J. Andre Jeski,
New York City, November 7, 2014
Warning: Unauthorized use of this material, without consent of the author, constitutes a violation of the author's copyrights and might trigger a legal action.
Friday, October 17, 2014
BLOW TO ZIONISM: YOUNG ISRAELIS EMIGRATE TO BERLIN, OF ALL PLACES IN THE WORLD
Even The New York Times could not stay away this time from reporting on the strange phenomena of emigration of talented young Israelis to Berlin. Of all the places in the world, the capital of Germany appears to be a favorite destination city of the young professional and artistic elite of Israel. Apparently, Berlin's cosmopolitan flair, vibrant arts scene and advanced public transportation are huge draws to the young Israelis, faced with higher and higher costs of living in Israel and no prospects for decent middle class life. In many circles in Tel Aviv the fact of young Israelis happily emigrating to Berlin, the place in which Adolf Hitler designed the final solution of Jews, is met with horror and considered the ultimate failure of Zionism. The Israeli hipsters in Tel Aviv sport now T-shirts with inscriptions: "I love Berlin" or "I also want to go to Germany". While Berlin's Israeli community grows in numbers, in Israel grows the demand for teachers of German language... Strange times, indeed!
Janusz Andrzejewski, New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other community important topics. You can contact him by telephone (212-634-4250), or, through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com
Janusz Andrzejewski, New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other community important topics. You can contact him by telephone (212-634-4250), or, through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com
Monday, October 13, 2014
POLAND STUNNED WORLD CHAMPIONS GERMANY WITH A 2:0 VICTORY
National team of Poland finally managed to beat Germany on a football pitch. Saturday's 2:0 win at the beautiful National Stadium in Warsaw, in the qualifications to EURO 2016, was long overdue. Poland played Germany 18 times before, and never was able to record a win, even though all the football matches played between these two nations, except for one or two, were always evenly fought ferocious battles. Because of the history of German invasions of Poland and infliction of death and destructions of Polish cities and towns throughout the centuries, any encounter between the national teams from these nations always brings Poland to a stop during the game (same story as with respect to matches against Russia, another of our invading tormentors).
The most famous match between Germany (then West Germany) and Poland was played in Stuttgart, during the 1974 World Cup. Poland was the sensation of the tournament, to which they qualified by beating England 2:0 and then drawing at Wembley 1:1. During the World Cup itself, Poland was unstoppable by beating Argentina, Haiti, Italy, Sweden and Yugoslavia. The match in Stuttgart was to decide who would meet Holland in the big final in Munich. The Poles were the highest scoring team of the tournament, with Grzegorz Lato (7) and Andrzej Szarmach (5) being two leading scorers in the World Cup 1974. The unstoppable in his dribblings winger Robert Gadocha created 9 goals himself, whereas legendary playmaker Kazimierz Deyna, was voted one of the top 3 players of that world cup, together with such greats of the game as Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer. Germans, on the other hand, boasted - besides Beckenbauer - such stars as Meier, Breitner, Overath, Netzer and Gerd Muller. Had the match been played on a normal pitch, Poland would have likely won with their brand of quick-lightning football, and deadly forwards. Unfortunately, an hour before the match the pitch was flooded by heavy rains, and in current football the match would have to be postponed. However, the Germans pressed the officials to play the game as they realized that speed of Polish players would be neutralized by the puddles of water on the pitch. Since Poland then was subjugated by the Soviets and had no clout whatsoever with FIFA, the officials sided with West Germany, and the game was allowed to proceed. Notwithstanding the conditions, the match was dominated by Poland who created multitude of scoring opportunities, yet the ball would not cross the line, either because it would stop in the puddles of water, or in the arms of Sepp Meier, German goalkeeper playing the match of his life. On the other end, Jan Tomaszewski palmed away Uli Hoeness's penalty shot, but he was unable to stop a low shot by Gerd Muller. In the next match, the final against Holland, Germany beat the latter 2:1 and bagged their second world championship, whereas Poland went on to beat Brazil for the 3rd place in the world.
The German approach to the matches against Poland was summarized by coach Jurgen Klinsmann who in 2006 World Cup famously motivated the German national team ahead of the match against Poland, by saying something to the effect: "We can lose against anybody, but never can we allow to be beaten by Poland, never...". That game was also ferociously fought and the score stood at 0:0 until the last minute, when Oliver Neuville managed to somehow beat Artur Boruc, by sliding his body to push the ball through the goal line.
In 2011, in a friendly preparation game to Euro 2012, Poland was leading 2:1 in the last minute, yet the Germans equalized in the last gasp of the match through naturalized Brazilian, Cacau, and denied the Poles the elusive victory. Before Saturday's match, theses teams met the last time in May, 2014 in Hamburg, both in depleted squads, and the game ended again in a 0:0 draw, exactly as in 1971 in the same Hamburg stadium, during qualifications to EURO 1972, incidentally won by West Germany.
Last Saturday, the conditions were favorable to Poland, as Germany is currently in transition, after retirement of Lahm, Klose and Mertesaker, and injuries of Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Ozil and Reuss
had an impact on the Germans. Poland was also missing its best technical and creative player, Jakub Blaszczykowski, known by fans all over the world as Kuba. Yet Adam Nawalka, one of the young stars of 1978 World Cup, whose career was quickly finished by injuries, is rather a smart coach, and he knows Germany as he played against them himself. He improved dramatically Polish defense, and decided to surrender the midfield whereas he concentrated on quick transition from defense to attack. Poland did not have many breaks, perhaps 5 or 6, and ended up with 3 shots on target, yet 2 of them reached home. Clinical! Our best centre-half, Kamil Glik, finally showed why in Serie A he is known as the Wall, and whatever he could not stop, was stopped but our young goalkeeper Wojtek Szczesny (he earns his living at Arsenal London) who smartly positioned himself on all German scoring opportunities, and probably had a better game than Jan Tomaszewski had at Wembley in 1973. The most decisive was though the role of Robert Lewandowski, who played huge role in diverting the attention of German defenders from Arkadiusz Milik and, after his substitution, from Sebastian Mila. On the first goal, Piszczek crossed toward Lewandowski and Milik, however, German defenders paid attention only to deeper placed Lewandowski, what allowed Milik to attack the ball freely, ahead of Neuer, the German goalkeeper, who attempted to correct his defenders' mistake, and Milik's glancing header ended up in the German's net. On the second goal, the ball was thrown to Lewandowski, who controlled it in the right corner of German penalty area, and cleverly shook off Durm, then seeing the other German defenders converging on him, Lewandowski passed the ball calmly to arriving in Sebastian Mila, who struck it immediately home with his left foot. Apparently, Neuer did not know that Mila is a left-footed player, for he expected Mila to control the ball with left foot and to strike it with his right foot. Immediately, the National Stadium went in delirium for it became apparent that the first victory over Germany in football was in the bag. The vodka must have been streaming in Poland all night, as online readers of Guardian commented on. So, finally we took that monkey of our back, and future matches against the Germans would be from now on a less tense affair for the Poles.
The Warsaw victory is one of the string of recent successes by Polish sport, which is somehow catching up with Poland's economic success and is the next sign of normalcy of life in Poland. Three weeks ago, Poland's volleyball team won the men world championships and two weeks ago young Michal Kwiatkowski won the world championship in road cycling, whereas another young cyclist, Rafal Majka was the revelation in Tour de France, where he won the best climber jersey. Poland was recently also successful in track and field, speedway, team handball and tennis, and improved considerably in basketball, in addition to recording best ever medal catch in the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
Tomorrow comes match against Scotland, even more difficult than the one against Germany, as Scotland will likely "park the bus", leaving the attacking to Poland, who is not used to positional football, particularly without injured Kuba Blaszczykowski, the most creative Polish midfielder. As I am certain that counterattacking Polish team will handily beat Scotland in Glasgow, I am not so sure about the game played in Warsaw, notwithstanding the higher technical level of Polish team. The Scots are technically limited and although they can play quick physical football, they are predictable in their usual automatic schemes of play. I believe, though, thanks to the huge motivational kick in the form of victory over Germany, that we will prevail over Scotland, after all. Godspeed, Poland! Naprzod, Polska!
Janusz Andrzejewski, a New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other important community topics. You can reach him by telephone (212-634-4250),
The most famous match between Germany (then West Germany) and Poland was played in Stuttgart, during the 1974 World Cup. Poland was the sensation of the tournament, to which they qualified by beating England 2:0 and then drawing at Wembley 1:1. During the World Cup itself, Poland was unstoppable by beating Argentina, Haiti, Italy, Sweden and Yugoslavia. The match in Stuttgart was to decide who would meet Holland in the big final in Munich. The Poles were the highest scoring team of the tournament, with Grzegorz Lato (7) and Andrzej Szarmach (5) being two leading scorers in the World Cup 1974. The unstoppable in his dribblings winger Robert Gadocha created 9 goals himself, whereas legendary playmaker Kazimierz Deyna, was voted one of the top 3 players of that world cup, together with such greats of the game as Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer. Germans, on the other hand, boasted - besides Beckenbauer - such stars as Meier, Breitner, Overath, Netzer and Gerd Muller. Had the match been played on a normal pitch, Poland would have likely won with their brand of quick-lightning football, and deadly forwards. Unfortunately, an hour before the match the pitch was flooded by heavy rains, and in current football the match would have to be postponed. However, the Germans pressed the officials to play the game as they realized that speed of Polish players would be neutralized by the puddles of water on the pitch. Since Poland then was subjugated by the Soviets and had no clout whatsoever with FIFA, the officials sided with West Germany, and the game was allowed to proceed. Notwithstanding the conditions, the match was dominated by Poland who created multitude of scoring opportunities, yet the ball would not cross the line, either because it would stop in the puddles of water, or in the arms of Sepp Meier, German goalkeeper playing the match of his life. On the other end, Jan Tomaszewski palmed away Uli Hoeness's penalty shot, but he was unable to stop a low shot by Gerd Muller. In the next match, the final against Holland, Germany beat the latter 2:1 and bagged their second world championship, whereas Poland went on to beat Brazil for the 3rd place in the world.
The German approach to the matches against Poland was summarized by coach Jurgen Klinsmann who in 2006 World Cup famously motivated the German national team ahead of the match against Poland, by saying something to the effect: "We can lose against anybody, but never can we allow to be beaten by Poland, never...". That game was also ferociously fought and the score stood at 0:0 until the last minute, when Oliver Neuville managed to somehow beat Artur Boruc, by sliding his body to push the ball through the goal line.
In 2011, in a friendly preparation game to Euro 2012, Poland was leading 2:1 in the last minute, yet the Germans equalized in the last gasp of the match through naturalized Brazilian, Cacau, and denied the Poles the elusive victory. Before Saturday's match, theses teams met the last time in May, 2014 in Hamburg, both in depleted squads, and the game ended again in a 0:0 draw, exactly as in 1971 in the same Hamburg stadium, during qualifications to EURO 1972, incidentally won by West Germany.
Last Saturday, the conditions were favorable to Poland, as Germany is currently in transition, after retirement of Lahm, Klose and Mertesaker, and injuries of Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Ozil and Reuss
had an impact on the Germans. Poland was also missing its best technical and creative player, Jakub Blaszczykowski, known by fans all over the world as Kuba. Yet Adam Nawalka, one of the young stars of 1978 World Cup, whose career was quickly finished by injuries, is rather a smart coach, and he knows Germany as he played against them himself. He improved dramatically Polish defense, and decided to surrender the midfield whereas he concentrated on quick transition from defense to attack. Poland did not have many breaks, perhaps 5 or 6, and ended up with 3 shots on target, yet 2 of them reached home. Clinical! Our best centre-half, Kamil Glik, finally showed why in Serie A he is known as the Wall, and whatever he could not stop, was stopped but our young goalkeeper Wojtek Szczesny (he earns his living at Arsenal London) who smartly positioned himself on all German scoring opportunities, and probably had a better game than Jan Tomaszewski had at Wembley in 1973. The most decisive was though the role of Robert Lewandowski, who played huge role in diverting the attention of German defenders from Arkadiusz Milik and, after his substitution, from Sebastian Mila. On the first goal, Piszczek crossed toward Lewandowski and Milik, however, German defenders paid attention only to deeper placed Lewandowski, what allowed Milik to attack the ball freely, ahead of Neuer, the German goalkeeper, who attempted to correct his defenders' mistake, and Milik's glancing header ended up in the German's net. On the second goal, the ball was thrown to Lewandowski, who controlled it in the right corner of German penalty area, and cleverly shook off Durm, then seeing the other German defenders converging on him, Lewandowski passed the ball calmly to arriving in Sebastian Mila, who struck it immediately home with his left foot. Apparently, Neuer did not know that Mila is a left-footed player, for he expected Mila to control the ball with left foot and to strike it with his right foot. Immediately, the National Stadium went in delirium for it became apparent that the first victory over Germany in football was in the bag. The vodka must have been streaming in Poland all night, as online readers of Guardian commented on. So, finally we took that monkey of our back, and future matches against the Germans would be from now on a less tense affair for the Poles.
The Warsaw victory is one of the string of recent successes by Polish sport, which is somehow catching up with Poland's economic success and is the next sign of normalcy of life in Poland. Three weeks ago, Poland's volleyball team won the men world championships and two weeks ago young Michal Kwiatkowski won the world championship in road cycling, whereas another young cyclist, Rafal Majka was the revelation in Tour de France, where he won the best climber jersey. Poland was recently also successful in track and field, speedway, team handball and tennis, and improved considerably in basketball, in addition to recording best ever medal catch in the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
Tomorrow comes match against Scotland, even more difficult than the one against Germany, as Scotland will likely "park the bus", leaving the attacking to Poland, who is not used to positional football, particularly without injured Kuba Blaszczykowski, the most creative Polish midfielder. As I am certain that counterattacking Polish team will handily beat Scotland in Glasgow, I am not so sure about the game played in Warsaw, notwithstanding the higher technical level of Polish team. The Scots are technically limited and although they can play quick physical football, they are predictable in their usual automatic schemes of play. I believe, though, thanks to the huge motivational kick in the form of victory over Germany, that we will prevail over Scotland, after all. Godspeed, Poland! Naprzod, Polska!
Janusz Andrzejewski, a New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other important community topics. You can reach him by telephone (212-634-4250),
or, through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com
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