This will be a special game. There is a bit of Polish cultural influence in the area where the game takes place. Many people here have Polish names. Those are descendants of Poles who came here in past centuries to work in the coal mines. Apart from those Germans with Polish roots, there are about 700.000 "fresh" Poles in the triangle marked by the cities Essen, Duisburg and Dortmund which is the centre of the Polish community in Germany. Some are here to earn a living and have plans to go back to Poland, others came to Germany to become German citizens actually. A friend of mine is a Pole who came to Germany at the age of 12, learned the German language quickly, became a German citizen and a lawyer and who now earns a lot of money with giving legal advice to Poles living in Germany and Polish business companies entering the German market. His father did well, too:
he was a politician in Poland and became an entrepeneur and politician in Germany with a bit of influence in the region. Both of them support the Polish team despite of being German citizens.
So, when the Polish team plays tonight in Dortmund it is a bit like playing on the home turf. The Poles here want to celebrate a Polish party. The lifeless performance of the Polish team in the first match was a big disappointment. Now it is a matter of honour for the Polish team to show some spirit to make their fellow countrymen in Germany feel good. To stay in the tournament, the Poles have to win this match.
The German team on the other hand wants to qualify early for the second round and -which is important- with no goals scored against. Both forwards of the German starting team, Klose and Podolski, are Polish immigrants who chose to play for Germany instead for Poland. Both of them are excellent players who would suit the Polish team as well. Klose is expecting a football fight where players are carrying "knives between their teeth".
Good game, everyone!
I will go to the pub to watch the game together with some Polish fans.