Blackburn Rovers clashes Wisła Kraków in UEFA Cup Group Stage.
Time: 19th October, 16.45 CET
Place: Kraków, 22 Reymonta Street, at Wisla’s Stadium („Stadion Wisły”)
Supporters of both clubs pay much attention to this match, both hoping their team to reach a good score at thursday evening. For polish fans it is much clear with whom they will compete, as Premiership is one of the best known leagues in the world. But fans from UK cannot see the opponent on TV or read about east-european football in newspapers. The question arises – who really Wisla is and what should Rovers expect from the game in Kraków.
Let’s get a few facts from history first. Wisła has been established in 1906, the same as its local rival Cracovia. Both are considered to be the oldest polish clubs. Before the II WW and in communist times won polish league title 5 times. The club took part in international competions too– biggest succes was quaterfinal of champion’s cup in 1978/79 season.
But the best times for the club has started in the late 90s, when it has been bought by Bogusław Cupiał, one of the richest man in Poland, owner of Telefonika, great cables producent. The man who’s fortune is worth more than $0.5 bln acquired Wisla in 1997, intending to create a team that will dominate domestic competition. The second goal was to at least qualify regurarly to Champions League, full with international fame and money. The first thing has been reached soon. Wisla bought best footballers playing on polish pitches, during 8 recent years won the local title 5 times.
International games - more interesting from Rovers’ point of view - weren’t so satisfactioning in general. Wisla indeed scored some significant results in single games, like beating Real Saragossa 4:1, Inter Milan 1:0, loosing with great Barca only 3:4, draw with AC Parma at it’s best years 1:1 - but gates to the CL were still closed. Great moments in Europe brought season 2002/03, when led by experienced coach Henryk Kasperczak Wisla defeated AC Parma and Schalke 04. Lazio Rome eliminated the Poles finally in 1/8 of UEFA Cup, only with the difference of 1 goal. The same about Panathinaikos in summer 2005, who shot the goal deciding about entering the Champions League just 3 minutes before the end of the competition! Along with good records, there were also a bunch of painful losses. Disastrous defeats with georgian Dinamo Tbilisi, norwegian Valereenga Oslo and Vittoria Guimares from portugal (the same season in wich portuguese team was relegated from their ligue) almoust led Wisla’s owner to abandon the club. This team seems to be high unpredictable – at good day beating sharks, next time swallowed by roach.
However playing many times with misfortune, created Wisla a collective that should be treated with respect, even if last two years it’s strenght weakened much. Many of its players have european cups expierence, plays in national team too. Only one week ago polish national team with combative right-wing Jakub Błaszczykowski and tough defence midfielder Radosław Sobolewski (both play in Wisla) defeated Portugal, full of first-sort football stars. Wisla’s coach is now Dragomir Okuka from Serbia, who in 2001/02 won the polish ligue with.... Legia Warsaw, biggest Wisla’s opponent in recent years. The team prefers technical football with a lot of direct passes, is considered to be local version of Barcelona, playing fooball wich is not only efficient, but also beautiful for eye.
Other players at whom more attention should be paid:
Marcin Baszczyński, experienced right-back who has played for Wisla and polish national team for more than 7 years.
Cleber, brasilian full-back with very good technique, confident in defence and sometimes dangerous in opponent’s box.
Emilian Dolha, romanian goalkeeper, with great reflex.
It’s very hard to estimate the result even if Wisła is, of course, considerably weaker team than Rovers. Taking care only about differences in players abilities, Rovers should win after hard match, let’s say 2:1 or draw. But, as Poles are so unpredictable, not mentioning that this is only football – numbers after the match can differ as 3:0 from 0:3.
albionus