WARSAW, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Poland coach Zbigniew Boniek said
on Friday he will resign if his team fails to win or come second
in their qualifying group for Euro 2004.
Boniek, 46, was appointed in July after Poland's poor
showing in the World Cup finals but, despite bringing in new
faces, he has failed to lift the national team, who lost in
Group Four qualifying to Latvia last weekend.
'If I fail to achieve first or second place in the group, I
will quit. We will have to give a chance to someone else then.
Maybe Boniek is a good coach, I believe he is, but I may be
wrong,' Boniek said.
Boniek said he would have been ready to step down if Poland
had lost Wednesday's friendly against New Zealand. A 2-0 win
helped quieten critics baying for his head, at least until
Poland's next friendly in November against Denmark.
Following the 1-0 defeat to Latvia, Poland are now third in
their group, one point behind Hungary and Latvia, but ahead of
Sweden.
Boniek also criticised Nigerian-born striker Emmanuel
Olisadebe for missing national squad training only to turn out
for his club, Panathinaikos, in the Greek league.
'Injuries seem incurable on Thursday, but he can play on
Friday,' Boniek said.