Poland advances to 2002 World Cup finals with 3:0 win over Norway

National team coach Jerzy Engel has described Saturday's 3:0 win over Norway as marking the beginning of a new era in Polish football. The win means that Poland has become the first European nation to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, having last reached a World Cup back in 1986. Nigerian-born striker Emmanuel Olisadebe played the key role in the win, passing to Pawel Kryszalowicz for the first goal just before half time. In the 79th minute Marek Kozminski set up Olisadebe for the second goal. The third came from substitute Marcin Zewlakow in the 88th minute, who converted a pass from Olisadebe. Poland is seven points clear at the top of the Group 5 table, with two games to play. The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) can now start booking hotels in Japan and South Korea. But before that, the Federation has another problem to solve: coming up with the promised $2 million bonus to be split among the players for advancing to the World Cup finals. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 1) T.J.