2006 World Cup: 1st Round - Germany vs Poland

Poland also played West Germany in the Argentina 1978 and West Germany 1974 World Cup Finals; drawing (0:0) in Buenos Aires and losing (0:1) in Frankfurt.

In qualifying, for Spain 1982, Poland beat East Germany (1:0) in Chorzow (02-May-81) and (3:2) in Leipzig (10-Oct-81).

The Match:
Poland kicked-off the second phase of group matches; their World cup destiny to be decided in 90 minutes.

In the first ten minutes, Poland already looked a lot more livelier than they did in the whole ninety against Ecuador.

Both Poland and Germany had good early chances with Jens Lehmann and Artur Boruc getting a feel of the ball from the boots of Zurawski and Klose.

Then in the 20th minute, Germany's best chance was headed wide by Klose as Boruc spread himself in front of the Polish-born, German striker to distract him.

After a frantic first half an hour, Germany tried to hold the ball at the back for a moment to catch their breath and think about their openings.

Five minutes from the break, Lukas Podolski set up Bastian Schweinsteiger in the middle; but the Bayern Munich midfielder scooped the ball high.

Oliver Kahn looked on sternly as Lehmann dropped a corner under pressure, just before the break. Fortunately for Germany, there were no red shirts in position at the far post to take advantage.

Then Germany missed another great chance to snatch the lead as Podolski skuffed wide in front of goal; after an excellently executed move down the left wing, involving a back-heeled one-two for Philip Lahm to get the delivery in.

Half-time: (0:0).

Poland set out their second-half stall to stiffle Germany and not get beat.

After Michael Ballack earned a free-kick, in the 63rd minute, he had to leave the pitch because he claimed he was injured in the challenge. Sobolewski was already on a yellow card and Ballack was probably trying to get him booked again.

The tactic back-fired as the free-kick was ordered to be taken without the German captain, himself on a yellow card. The protest Ballack was making from the touchline could have ended his game as the ball took a double deflection and fell to Klose. Great save from Boruc.

Fifteen minutes from time, Radoslaw Sobolewski did get his second booking, for pulling down Miroslav Klose, and left Poland to hold on with ten men.

With Germany looking serious about trying to win the game and Poland needing to comit themselves, Pawel Janas took off his other player on a yellow card; Pawel Janas.

Ten minutes before the end, Lahm and ballack both came close for Germany; Artur Boruc making an another important save, even if the shot appeared to go straight at him.

The Poland fans started to enjoy themselves, as the last minutes ticked down.

Then drama in the goalmouth as Klose headed onto the bar with his neck; Ballack followed up with his shot hitting the bar; another follow up was blocked; then Ballack was offside as David Odonkor fired the ball into the net.

As Germany pushed forward one final time, Neuville slipped in Odonkor's right wing cross, to send the whole of Germany into euphoria; the game won by Klinsmann's sustitutions.

Germany will go through and Poland drop out of the 2006 World Cup Finals, if Costa Rica don't beat Ecuador tomorrow.

Final Score:
Germany 1 - Poland 0

Goalscorers:
1:0 Oliver Neuville (90)

Teams

Germany: (Captain Michael Ballack)
1 Jens Lehmann; 3 Arne Friedrich, 16 Philip Lahm, 17 Per Mertesacker, 21 Christoph Metzelder; 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger, 8 Torsten Frings, 13 Michael Ballack, 19 Bernd Schneider; 11 Miroslav Klose, 20 Lukas Podolski.

Poland: (Captain Jacek Bak)
1 Artur Boruc; 4 Marcin Baszczynski, 6 Jacek Bak, 14 Michal Zewlakow, 19 Bartosz Bosacki; 7 Radoslaw Sobolewski, 8 Jacek Krzynowek, 15 Ebi Smolarek, 16 Arkadiusz Radomski; 9 Maciej Zurawski, 21 Ireneusz Jelen.

Referee:
Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)

Substitutions:
64 Mins (Germany) - 22 David Odonkor on for 3 Arne Friedrich
70 Mins (Germany) - 10 Oliver Neuville on for 20 Lukas Podolski
77 Mins (Germany) - 18 Tim Borowski on for 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger
77 Mins (Poland) - 18 Mariusz Lewandowski on for 8 Jacek Krzynowek
83 Mins (Poland) - 17 Dariusz Dudka on for 14 Michal Zewlakow
90 Mins (Poland) - 23 Pawel Brozek on for 21 Ireneusz Jelen

7 Yellow Cards:
3 Mins - Jacek Krzynowek (Poland)
28 Mins - Radoslaw Sobolewski (Poland)
58 Mins - Michael Ballack (Germany)
68 Mins - David Odonkor (Germany)
70 Mins - Christoph Metzelder (Germany)
75 Mins - Radoslaw Sobolewski (Poland)
89 Mins - Artur Boruc (Poland)