"The temperature will be far below zero when Zaglebie Lubin and GKS Katowice restart Poland's top flight on Friday evening. A bitter new wave of winter is about to hit central and eastern Europe, forecasts suggesting this is only the start. When the surprise Ekstraklasa leaders, Wisla Plock, play Rakow Czestochowa two days later the thermometer may plummet to -12C."
"It will take serious resolve to make these games happen but, after a break of almost two months, appetites to get back up and running are strong. Why would they not be? The Polish league is in its best shape for at least 30 years, feeling the benefit of a booming economy that is outperforming most of its European Union peers. Attendances are soaring and its football infrastructure, whose transformation was catalysed by co-hosting Euro 2012, sets standards for much of the continent."
"The gap between first and eighth is only four points; even Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza, at the bottom, are only 11 points from the summit. At long last, Europe's largest sleeping giant may be waking. All the ingredients are there, says Olivier Jarosz, whose consultancy LTT Sports has worked closely with the Ekstraklasa on its strategy. Now there is another one: financial capability. If you have infrastructure, passion, history, players, money and investment then you have the recipe for making it happen."
Extreme winter conditions will challenge the restart of Poland's top flight, with temperatures forecast as low as -12C for some early matches. The league returns after nearly two months' break amid strong public appetite and improved infrastructure from Euro 2012 investments. Economic growth has boosted attendances and club finances, while the competition is unusually close — only four points separate first and eighth, and bottom club Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza sits just 11 points off the summit. Major clubs such as Legia Warsaw underperform domestically but could still mount late challenges. Poland ranks 12th in UEFA coefficients.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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