Polish game must stop living in the past

Emboldened by a shock victory over Portugal this month, Polish national coach Leo Beenhakker laid into critics yesterday, saying the domestic game and its coaches had fallen 20 years behind the rest of Europe.

During his three months in charge, the former Real Madrid and Ajax trainer has drawn criticism from senior FA figures, including Wembley 1973 goalkeeping hero Jan Tomaszewski, angered by the choice of a foreigner for the post.

Local media reported Beenhakker was on the verge of resigning after a goalkeeping coach was replaced against his will and after rows over travel organisation for this month's Euro 2008 qualifier against Kazakhstan.

A 2-1 win over World Cup semi-finalists Portugal put the Poles back in contention for a place in the finals, however, and the Dutchman made clear he was going nowhere.

"The declarations by all these Tomaszewskis etc are just rubbish," Beenhakker said.

"I have honestly not given it more than five minutes' thought. I know these words will damage me but I believe your football has completely lost contact with the outside world.

"Poles play now as we did 20 years ago. Abroad, foreign football has moved on. Here it has stood still."

Defeats by Ecuador and Germany ended Poland's World Cup finals in June at the group stage and Beenhakker was appointed by FA chief Michal Listkiewicz in a bid to shore up his position during a scandal over high-level match-fixing.

An opening home loss to Finland in Euro 2008 qualifying fuelled criticism of the new coach but the game with Portugal reversed the mood, prompting memories of a golden era that brought Poland World Cup third places in 1974 and 1982.