Against a backdrop of festering hatred and violent clashes in the streets around Warsaw’s National Stadium, bitter rivals Poland and Russia fought out an entertaining draw that showed Euro 2012 in a considerably better light.
It means Russia are favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals as Group A winners when they meet Greece in their final game. But at least co-hosts Poland know that victory against the Czech Republic will see them go through without the need for a favour from their sworn enemy.
Captain Jakub Blaszczykowski’s stunning second-half equaliser certainly meant everything to Poland, who suffered a disappointing draw against Greece in this stadium on Friday.
They are well aware of his story — the boy who was raised by his grandma after seeing his father knife his mother to death when he was 10 years old — and there could not have been a more popular scorer when his moment arrived.
Ludovic Obraniak slipped the ball down the right and Blaszczykowski’s first touch took him inside his marker before he despatched an unstoppable shot past Vyacheslav Malafeev, to the delight of the Polish fans.
Russia had taken the lead eight minutes before half-time when Alan Dzagoev, who scored twice in their opening win against the Czechs, underlined his growing reputation by becoming the tournament’s leading marksman.
Marcin Wasilewski gave away a free-kick on the left and Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin floated a cross to the edge of the six-yard box.
Dzagoev ran into the area to send the ball spinning off his right shoulder and into the net.
Until then Poland had looked the better side. Malafeev saved with his legs from Sebastian Boenisch’s close-range header and the impressive Eugen Polanski had an effort ruled out for offside.
But Blaszczykowski’s blast means that all four Group A teams still have everything to play for.
Poland manager Franciszek Smuda believes the draw with Russia proved his side have enough quality to reach the knockout stages.
By CHRIS WHEELER
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