Polish expectations remain modest

In Poland, football fans have an apt expression for their national side’s early exits from recent major football tournaments: Firstly, there is the opening match, secondly is the match for everything, and thirdly, the match for honour.

It may be a typical case of wry, self-deprecating Polish humour, but it also says a lot about Polish hopes for their side’s chances at Euro 2012.

Expectations for progressing beyond the group stage are low in a country that has not gone football mad since the glory days of Grzegorz Lato and co, when the country finished third at both the 1974 and 1982 World Cups. Football has fought an uphill battle in Poland for the last two decades — skiing, cycling and even volleyball seem more popular at times.