[typography font=”Alike” size=”14″ size_format=”px”]The biggest European football tournament, for the first time staged in Poland and Ukraine, kicked off tonight in Warsaw with Frantiszek Smudek’s team taking on Greece. What many considered a safe bet for Poland, turned out to be a game of two halves indeed.[/typography]

[typography font=”Alike” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]Borussia Poland 12[/typography]

[typography font=”Alike” size=”14″ size_format=”px”]The game started in the fashion many expected, Poland pressing Greece into their half and taking the game to them. Poland were clearly on top of Greece and created scoring possibilities and it took merely 17 minutes when Dortmund’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski scored the opener for his country. The cross came from his Borussia Dortmund club mate Jakub Blaszcsykowski. Borussia Poland 12 e.V. in action and it looked good for them.[/typography]

[typography font=”Alike” size=”14″ size_format=”px”]It looked Greece would have no luck, losing Avraam Papadopoulos to injury but more importantly Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off just before half-time with a second yellow card. Both fouls were harsh and smelled of anti-Greece bias. Poland were all about flair and quick football while Greece was reduced to sit deep and limit the damage.[/typography]

[typography font=”Alike” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]Experience vs. Flair[/typography]

[typography font=”Alike” size=”14″ size_format=”px”]The second half could not have been more different. All of a sudden Poland appeared to be a bundle of nerves, losing possession too easy and leaving the game for Greece to make it. And how they did! Dimitrios Salpingidis, on at half-time for Sotirios Ninis. Within 7 minutes Greece were level after a misunderstanding between Szczesny and a defender. 1-1 Game On![/typography]

[typography font=”Alike” size=”14″ size_format=”px”]The game took a twist however, when Greece won a penalty, Szczesny fouled Salpingidis and was duly sent off. But Karafgounis missed as Tyton, on for Sczcesny, guessed the correct corner and denied Greece the lead, which would have turned the game upside down. In the following remainder of the game, Greece looked far more comfortable on the ball with Poland hanging on.[/typography]

[typography font=”Alike” size=”14″ size_format=”px”]It showed that flair is not all to win games, not to speak of dominating them. It also needs experience and determination to keep a dominating opponent at bay and even come close to win a game. It is therefore hats off to Fernando Santos for having instilled the right attitude into his team and made them dig in and grind out a result.[/typography]