Beenhakker slams Webb call
13 Jun 2008 - 08:00:25
Poland coach Leo Beenhakker has accused referee Howard Webb of effectively knocking his side out of the tournament following his award of a controversial penalty in a 1-1 draw with Austria.
Poland had seemed certain to be heading into second place in Group B ahead of Germany after Roger Guerreiro's put them ahead on the half-hour mark.
However in stoppage time, Webb adjudged that Mariusz Lewandowski was guilty of pulling Sebastian Prodl's shirt in the box and Ivica Vastic secured Austria an unlikely 1-1 draw.
Poland must now win against already-qualified Croatia in their final game and hope the result in the other match between Germany and Austria goes their way if they are to reach the quarter-finals.
Referring to Webb, an angry Beenhakker claimed: "Maybe he wants to show he is a big boy and has the guts to do it, I don't know.
"I've never had a problem in 43 years of being in football but this is something I cannot understand.
"It's impossible to accept but I am working on it.
"I'm very satisfied with the boys, I have no complaints about the boys.
"We don't have it in our own hands any more and the conclusion is we are out of the tournament."