Wisla Krakow 5-0 Beitar Jerusalem (6-2 on aggregate), Champions League play-off 2nd leg.
S***, I think I’ve just seen a football match as it should be. Passionate home crowd, especially in the home ‘end’ and a team to match. Kept the ball on the floor, passed it quickly, no greediness and there was always a man spare. Players were prepared to spread it out wide and make full use of the pitch. 5 f***ing nil. Wisla Krakow v Beitar Jerusalem, ‘Champions’ League, winner to play Barcelona.
I’m at a loss to understand how it’s the ‘Champions League. ‘Lesser’countries such as Poland..or Israel (don’t get me started on Israel being in Europe)…getting a sh*tty stab at qualification for the ‘Champions League’ despite being champions in their own country while Barca (runners-up? 3rd? who cares?) get to miss a round of qualification, irrespective of whether it’s ‘right’ they have a chance at all. How many places do Spain, Italy, England, etc get? Which begs the question, HOW did UEFA get the turkeys to vote for Christmas? How did the likes of Poland, Hungary, Sweden…the ‘minor’leagues…vote for such a concept?
As if proving my point about it being a perfect night of footie, I wrote the above while sat outside a pub, having a beer after the game. No doubt looking suspicious, I was accosted by a group of Wisla fans and soon became part of their gang. I found out: - Wisla have 2 home ‘friendship’ teams, Legia Gdansk and Wroclaw. Hence why there was many a green and white Legia scarf (Wisla play in red and white). - they hate local rivals Cracovia, who, despite playing in what looks like a non-league ground (by English standards) are top division. - Wisla have won 11 Polish championships, including 6 in the last 10 years
But how did I come to be here? Sightseeing in Krakow, what better to do than have a look at the football ground? What I didn’t know, or expect, was that there was a game on that night – a Champions League qualifier. I found out when some attractive young female sports reporter wanted to interview me about the game – before she realised I wasn’t even Polish. I wondered what I was going to do in the evening…
As it is, Wisla and Cracovia’s grounds are just across the park from each other, so you can have a gleg (look) at both. Cracovia, down at heel, looks rusty and forlorn, Wisla very much upwardly mobile; two brand new stands behind each goal and a 4th side which has is just about to be rebuilt. I think they’re hoping for a European Championship gig in 2012.
***My photos got deleted upon my return to England. My abiding memory is of a Wisla fan so drunk he was puking everywhere, inside their beautiful new home end.
