June 8, 2008, 8.30pm Central European Time. Location: Klagenfurt. Favorites Germany are taking on an ambitious Polish squad in the teams’ highly anticipated opening match in the Euro 2008. The stadium is filled with supporters on both sides, Poland seems ready to take on soccer-powerhouse Germany in their first ever match at a European Championship. In fact, things look promising, for the first 20 minutes that is, until of all people polish-born striker Lukas Podolski puts Germany on the path to victory. The rest is of course history. Germany mercilessly takes full advantage of Poland’s disorganization, with 18 minutes left Podolski scores a second, superb volley goal sealing Germany’s deserved 2-0 win over a disappointing Polish team. Poland’s first-ever appearance at the tournament ends in the group stages with one draw and two losses. Well, this was then.
The question for Polish football now is, will the red-and-white squad perform better at home in 2012 when Europe will be looking at the host countries a bit more closely. I’m confident they will. Of course, there is still a World Cup to be played in 2010 and after all should that turn out to be disastrous, we don’t have to worry about qualifying for the 2012 event, being one of the host countries. But four years should give the team and the Polish Soccer Federation enough time to make the necessary adjustments and to synergize as old players retire and new talents emerge.
The question for Polish football now is, will the red-and-white squad perform better at home in 2012 when Europe will be looking at the host countries a bit more closely. I’m confident they will. Of course, there is still a World Cup to be played in 2010 and after all should that turn out to be disastrous, we don’t have to worry about qualifying for the 2012 event, being one of the host countries. But four years should give the team and the Polish Soccer Federation enough time to make the necessary adjustments and to synergize as old players retire and new talents emerge.
Such is not the case with the country’s infrastructure, however. Four years to build new stadiums, roads, accommodations, training facilities, and public transportation – basically all from scratch - seems not a lot of time at all. Poland did not even have anything close to a world-class stadium until just two years ago when the new stadium in Kielce was inaugurated. Sure, a lot of things have changed since I left Europe 7 years ago. It’s truly shocking to read that real estate prices in major metropolitan areas now come close to what somebody would have to pay for a single family house in California. Salaries often times nearly doubled. People seem confident about the future. But in order to be able to host the half-a-million visitors associated with the Euro-event more things have to get done faster. According to most observers, cities are not prepared to accommodate the huge number of guests required by Uefa guidelines yet. There is especially a lack in high-end lodging. Stadium construction is moving so slowly that Uefa president Michael Platini had to travel to Poland in person to ensure things will be ready in 2012. He will decide later this month whether or not Poland’s co-host, the Ukraine, will be able to host the games at all. Of course, the Polish government will by all means try to prevent that the tournament will be taken away from them. If necessary they will take Ukraine’s part as well.
Showing the world that you are able to stage a Euro-tournament is naturally not just about the love for soccer. Poland is finally ready to show the rest of Europe that they can stand on their own feet. If South Africa can pull off the World Cup in 2010 why shouldn’t Poland be able to get things straight for 2012, right? A country that is trying so hard to emerge from its position in the shadows of Germany and Russia as yet another political and economic power in Europe. Take for instance last week’s announcement made by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk who surprised financial markets by setting a new early target date in 2011 for adopting the euro currency – a goal most economists describe as very ambitious. And then let’s not forget about the strategic partnership between the United States and Poland to build a missile defense system in Europe. A move that ties the two countries closer together at a time when the relations between the US and other European countries -- although improving -- have been, mhh, difficult to say the least.
My two-cents: it is unlikely Poland will pull-off a tournament that will match the organization and infrastructure of a, for instance, 2006-Germany. But who cares. Even the Poland I grew up in – I’m talking pre EU-membership and prior to the improvements of the past several years – already was great. Yes, things were a bit simpler, people did not have a lot of money, and public infrastructure was poor. However, it was always good times. Already back then, Poland had lots to offer: a fantastic nightlife, friendly and good-looking people, excellent food, a great environment for outdoor activities, beautiful historic city-centers. It was a place where I never got bored, a place where you could do a lot of different things without the regulations and restrictions someone might find in more developed countries.
Poland has come a long way and deserves the tournament (I cannot speak for the Ukraine). It’s a tremendous opportunity for the country to draw in more tourists and to open its doors to new foreign investors to continue developing. I know one thing for sure, if nothing goes wrong and Poland remains host-country for the 2012 tournament, I will not miss out on this historic event. Poland is going to be a lot of fun, I guarantee.
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