Poland reject rumours manager quitting

Poland’s football association, the PZPN, on Thursday rejected rumours that national manager Franciszek Smuda was resigning, after the Euro 2012 hosts’ winless streak stretched to eight games.

“There is speculation that that the manager has quit. Nothing of the sort has happened. Franciszek Smuda continues to lead the team,” a PZPN spokeswoman said.

Smuda is facing mounting criticism of his tactics, as Poland prepare for the next edition of the European championships, just over 600 days away.

Poland drew 2-2 with Ecuador during a friendly in Montreal, Canada, on Tuesday, following the same scoreline on Saturday against the United States in Chicago.

Like fellow Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine, Poland are guaranteed a berth at the tournament and so must rely on friendlies to hone their skills.

Having missed out on qualification for this year’s World Cup in South Africa, they have not played a competitive match since October 2009.

They will not do so until they kick off in the opening match of the European championships in Warsaw’s brand new national stadium in June 8, 2012.

Smuda has been at the helm since the end of October 2009, after a shake-up following the flunked World Cup campaign.

Poland have only won four of their 14 games since he took charge, three of them against relatively lowly Canada, Thailand and Singapore. Their last victory was against Bulgaria, whom they beat 2-0 in March.

Their losses have included a 6-0 thrashing by Spain in June and a 3-0 defeat by Cameroon in August.

The stress levels dipped a little in the wake of a match last month against Ukraine which at least saw the Poles break a six-month goal drought.

But defensive bungling let Ukraine snatch a stoppage-time goal to level 1-1.

Just days later, Poland lost 2-1 to visitors Australia.

Poland fans have high hopes for Euro 2012, seeing it as a chance to revive the glory days of Polish football.

Poland won Olympic gold in 1972, came third in the 1974 World Cup, took Olympic silver in 1976, and were again third in the 1982 World Cup.