World Cup Group A - Poland the First Team to Return Home (German 1 - Poland 0)

What a game! This is probably one of the most exciting games of the World Cup so far. Both teams had shaken off opening day jitters and were desperate to win this one.

The Poles had the lion's share of possession in the first half but couldn't trouble Lehmann, while the German strikes were more precise, but couldn't beat Boruc at the other end. The pace of the game was incredibly fast and the speed at which the Poles passed the ball was breath-taking.

Just when you thought the game couldn't get any faster, it picked up in the second half. This time it was the Germans who did most of the threatening. They were determined to win this one to advance to the second round. However it was until Sobolewski was sent off in the 75th min that the Germans really started putting the pressure on the Polish goal.* They forced a double point blank save from Boruc and hit the crossbar twice in a span of a couple of seconds near the end of the game. I honestly thought the 10 men Poles had held the German advance, but it wasn't to be.

Right at the stroke of full time, German substitute David Odonkor whipped a cross for the other subsitute, Oliver Neuville, to slide the ball past Boruc and into the net. It was a result the Poles hardly deserved for the way they brought the game to the hosts. To be fair, the Germans created the better chances the entire game.

So the Germans advance to the next round and the luckless Poles are sent packing their bags. At least they only have a short 6 hr drive back to Poland. If Ecuador beats Costa Rica, the final game between the Poles and the Costa Ricans is academic. Both teams would have nothing to play for but pride.

* (I'm tempted to put some WWII analogies here, but I come from a lameass country which sues bloggers for insensitive remarks)