Poles ready as wily Janas keeps ’em guessing

POLAND coach Pawel Janas is refusing to draw comparisons between his current squad and the team who finished third the last time the World Cup was staged in Germany.

But Janas urged his team to illuminate the 2006 tournament which gets underway tonight.

Janas is expecting another successful World Cup for the Poles, who open their campaign this evening against Group A rivals Ecuador at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, just hours after the host nation and Costa Rica get the ball rolling in Munich.

In 1974, Poland, who had won the Olympic title on German soil two years earlier, claimed third place. They eliminated England in the qualification campaign, in the match that proved the end for England’s 1966 World Cup-winning manager Alf Ramsey.

They then went on to clinch third place in a tournament staged in then West Germany, and even supplied, in Grzegorz Lato, the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals — a feat unequalled until 2002, when Ronaldo scored eight goals.

Janas is hopeful of a successful campaign but played down any likeness to the 1974 team, coached by Kazimierz Gorski, who died last month.

Janas was a master of discretion as he batted off enquiries about his team or tactics with deadpan humour. Asked how his team would beat Ecuador, Janas said: “By scoring more goals.”

Discussing reports Lukasz Fabianski, considered the third choice behind Artur Boruc and Tomasz Kuszczak, might start in goal, Janas was equally enigmatic. “Fabianski,” said Janas with a twinkle in his eye when asked. However, his translator quickly interjected: “It’s up to you (journalists) if you think he is being serious or just joking.”

Janas, who insisted even the players will not know the line-up until shortly before the game, was more forthcoming about Poland’s opponents and believes his team are well aware of how Ecuador will approach the game.

“We know a lot about their players,” he said. “We have had three meetings with the players in which we only discussed Ecuador and their tactics and players and nothing else.”

Ecuador are playing in their second World Cup following their debut in 2002. The omens are good for Poland — Ecuador lost their opener to Italy in 2002 and partly blamed the roof in the Sapporo Dome while tomorrow’s match will also be played in a stadium with a roof. The group also includes hosts Germany and Costa Rica.