CONTROVERSIAL START TO EURO 2012: RACIAL CHANTS AND TONGUE TWISTERS AS A FRENCHMAN HELPS POLAND TO A DRAW

Poland and Greece got Euro 2012 got underway on Friday to a controversial start amid occasional racial chants, some poor refereeing, two sendings-off and questions over how French-born Ludovic Obraniak, who plays for Bordeaux and doesn’t speak Polish, can be one of the stars of the Poland team.

French: Ludovic Obraniak

   
Midfielder Obraniak  laid on Poland’s goal but the 1-1 result makes Poland not worth a bet even at current odds of 40-1 to win the tournament, despite the fact both teams ended up with ten men.

  Before the game there was a broadcasters’ debate about which player’s name ESPN’s British commentators Ian Darke and Steve McManaman would find most difficult to pronounce—-Greek defender Papastathopoulous or Poland’s midfielder Blaszczykowski. 

  The problem was eased when Papastathopoulous was unluckily sent off before half-time and Blaszcykowski  didn’t see much of the ball. Or if he did, Darke and McManaman ignored him.  

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