Football culture: Poland

With over 100 years of footballing tradition, Poland is home to a lively terrace culture, with the building of new stadia helping to bring more fans flooding to Ekstraklasa games in the run-up to UEFA EURO 2012.

Terrace culture
The success of local sides in European club competitions and the noisy presence of Polish supporters at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2008 has brought an increased international awareness of Poland's terrace culture. Local fans are eager to put on a show for every game, with a wall of noise expected for the full 90 minutes at most matches – win or lose. Fans bring banners and flags to stadia and home supporters are eager to show their creativity with new choreographed routines for every game.

Key derbies
Legia Warszawa v KKS Lech Poznań – the 'Derby of Poland' brings together the nation's best-supported clubs

Wisła Kraków v MKS Cracovia Kraków – the big match in historic Krakow is dubbed Święta Wojna (Holy War)

Ruch Chorzów v Górnik Zabrze – bringing together Silesia's two top sides

ŁKS Łódź v RTS Widzew Łódź – the big game in Lodz, which staged the first Polish Premier League game in 1927

KSP Polonia Warszawa v Legia Warszawa – the biggest tie in the capital

Good luck charms
Kazimierz Górski, who coached Poland in their 1970s golden age, practised perhaps the most common footballing superstition in his home nation in refusing to shave on the day of a match. "Maybe it is because we have such a stressful job that we are so superstitious," said former Poland goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who had some odd habits of his own – he had to put his left sock and glove on first when he got dressed for a match and, after winning home league games, always turned up in a suit and tie for the next fixture.

Songs and dances
The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, has proved an adaptable tune on Polish terraces, with a variety of new lyrics, while the following remain commonly heard:

"Nic się nie stało" (That's nothing) – sung to encourage a team after they concede a goal

"Idźcie do domu, my nie powiemy nikomu" (Go home, we'll not tell anybody) – sung to opposition players and fans in the midst of a heavy defeat

"Gramy u siebie" (We play at home) – sung by away fans who believe they are louder than the home contingent

"Jeszcze jeden, jeszcze jeden" (One more, one more) – sung after a team scores

"Druga strona odpowiada! Kto dziś wygra mecz? – Polska, kto? Polska, kto?
Polska, do boju, do boju, do boju POLSKA"
(Tell us over there! Who will win the game? Poland, Who? Poland, Who?
Poland, let's fight, let's fight, let's fight POLAND) – sung back-and-forth between the stands at Poland games

Wit and wisdom
"It is better to have a rubbish coach with good luck, than a good one with none"– Górski, Poland coach during their 1970s heyday

"The ball is always round and there are always two goals on the field" – Górski keeps things simple

"It is better to have a short but clever spell of possession than a long, stupid one" – Zbigniew Boniek, Poland star turned national-team coach, puts the accent on precision

"There are no saved penalties, only badly-hit ones" – Jan Tomaszewski, Poland goalkeeper during the 1970s

"If you are 3-0 down at the end of the first half, don't believe in a miracle, but start to believe in yourself! And good luck in the second half" – Dudek explains the philosophy that helped his Liverpool FC side come from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 against AC Milan and win the 2005 UEFA Champions League final on penalties

What on earth is that?
Back in the 1970s, an advertisement for a razor was placed at the top of one of the main stands at Legia Warszawa's home stadium – an odd decision, perhaps, given local superstitions about football and shaving. Whether Polsilver sold any more blades remains a mystery, but the advert hit home in other ways – the club's most fanatical fans gathered in that section, with the stand rechristened Żyleta (the big razor blade), and it remains an important symbol for the club.