A Warm Welcome for Poland and a Cold Treatment for Portugal

‘One’s fortune was a matter of time.’

The Polish national team, which was knocked out of the World Cup competition early with a miserable 1-2 record, was surprised to see its home fans’ warm welcome.

They arrived at the Chopin International Airport in Warsaw on the 17th using the Presidential plane with thousands of cheering home fans. This warm welcome was because of their huge 3-1 win against the US although they lost to Korea and Portugal without a goal. They have been changed from traitors to national heroes because they defeated the super power, the US, and they are even being agonized by many fans, who wanted their autographs. The police, who was there for possible problems, was dejected.

There once was a critical public opinion; however, a sympathetic public opinion aroused that the hot and humid climate of Korea bothered the Polish team. The manager of the Polish national team Yeji Engel said, “it’s unbelievable,” and “I was worried that we will be humiliated on our way home.” Especially, manager Engel, who was on the line of getting fired, thanked his fans insistence that his position should be guaranteed until the proposed contract date of 2004. The Polish goalie posted a praising article on his homepage right after his arrival to Poland and he said, “I am pleased that Korea reached the round of 16, and Koreans were really incredible.”

The Saudi Arabian team, who collapsed in the first round with 3 losses and 12 goals allowed including a terrible loss to Germany with score of 0-8, received a warm sympathy other than being reproved. The Crown Princess Apdula Bin Apdel Aziz even ordered to found a special committee headed by a member of the royal family to improve the national team’s performance.

The Irish team, who suffered a heart breaking PK loss to Spain is regaining its strength by the comment of manager Michael McCarthy, ‘let’s go back with smile,’ and the home press is encouraging the players saying ‘we were unlucky.’

On the other hand, the championship contenders France and Portugal are suffering apprehension of being blamed by their fans, being submitted to a disciplinary measure of a major player, and the rumor of managers being changed. Especially, the Portuguese players had to drop their head to hundreds of blaming fans, who were waiting at the arrival area. What is more, the players raised a scandal by asking a tax exemption for their World Cup playing bonus of 4.75 million dollars.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com