Fan of the Day: Lukasc looks for sense from Poland

By Andres Burgo Jul 1, 2006, 19:09 GMT

Supporters of the Team from Poland cheer prior to the group A preliminary match of 2006 FIFA World Cup between Costa Rica and Poland in Hanover, on Tuesday, 20 June 2006. EPA/KAY NIETFELD

Berlin - 'Poland must be one of the most incalculable countries in the world. We go from one extreme to the other with very little in between,' offers Lukasz, whose emotions appear to have been affected by the national team's disappointing showing at the World Cup.

'It's a country with two faces,' adds the 19- year-old, extending his thoughts beyond football.

'In Krakow, Poland have one of the most beautiful cities in the world,' continues Lukasz, 'yet 60 kilometres from this wonderful urban centre lies the place most closely associated with the horrors of the 20th Century - Auschwitz, where Nazis committed their most terrible crimes.

'At the moment our politics is undefined. Oscillating between the European Union and the United States, we flirt with the two but end up in no man's land. We're proud to have become a member of the European Union two years ago but we're also allies of George Bush and sent 2,000 soldiers to Iraq.

'But I can't forget the example of tolerance set by Poles towards our German brothers, and that we gave to the world illustrious personalities like Pope John Paul II, Frederic Chopin and Marie Curie.'

When his thoughts turn once again to football though, the head- shaking begins once again.

'If there is one Polish footballer known throughout the world and loved by its people, it's Jerzy Dudek - the Liverpool goalkeeper and European champion in 2005. So what happens? Our coach (Pawel Janas) doesn't take him to Germany. We are the only team that didn't include its star player. Didn't I tell you we're an unfathomable country?'

In this last example, you have to agree with the non-conformist Lukasz - Poland turned out to be indescribably average.