Our destiny is out of our hands, says Beenhakker

Poland's future at Euro 2008 is out of their hands and all they can do is beat the Croats in their final Group B match on Monday and hope for the best from the other match said their coach Leo Beenhakker on Sunday.

Co-hosts Austria – who are on one point like the Poles – play Germany – who have three points – in Vienna and the Poles will need to win big against Croatia if Austria do the almost unimaginable and beat the Germans.

However, Beenhakker is not overly confident that there will be a miraculous outcome for his team, who have disappointed here given they finished above Portugal in their qualifying group.

“It is vital we concentrate on what our task is,” said the 65-year-old Dutchman, who is still looking for his first win in a match at a major finals.

“We cannot do anything about the match in Vienna. The only thing we can do is beat Croatia.

“There is no point in keeping an eye on what is going on in Vienna.

“We are simply focussed on Monday's match.

“We still have a small hope of staying in the tournament, and this is sufficient.”

Beenhakker, whose side would be in a stronger position to progress had they not conceded an injury-time penalty against Austria to be held 1-1, said that the team had been back on the training ground trying to clear up some of the mistakes they had committed in the previous two matches.

“Training is there so we can reduce the amount of mistakes committed, but the players are not computers.

“In every match you see even players of the highest level making mistakes.

“And when that happens you have to go back to the training ground to try and sort it out.”

Beenhakker, who has coached such diverse talents as Holland and Trinidad and Tobago, refused to dwell on his own future should Poland exit on Monday.

“I am not here for personal reasons,” said Beenhakker.

“My job is to try and make this team a victorious one.

“As for my future, we signed a contract a few months ago.

“I know that a tournament like this carries a lot of emotion with it, that a lot of things can go on between the coach and the players, but my choice is to respect the contract and to take Poland hopefully to the 2010 World Cup finals.

“But it is neither the moment nor the place to be talking about this.”