The Poles call it Dolny Śląsk and the Czech’s Dolní Slezsko. To the Germans it is (or was) Niederschlesien and in Latin this is Silesia Inferior.
Lower Silesia is a historical and geographical region largely located in Poland, Eastern Europe. Śląsk is the Polish name for Silesia, the historical region in which Wrocław is located.
It is a city with several architectural landmarks and edifices. Some are the best examples of Gothic and Baroque architecture in Poland.
Season 2023-24 saw Śląsk Wrocław narrowly miss out on the Polish title in heartbreaking style.
Jagiellonia Białystok finished ahead of Śląsk Wrocław but only on head-to-head goal difference. The differences had been slender.
Śląsk Wrocław had won 2–1 at home against Jagiellonia with the follow up encounter in March ending in a 3-1 win for Jagiellonia Białystok.
It was that result in Spring that would give Jagiellonia its first ever Polish title.
Champions by just one goal.
That second place finish did mean a place in the Europa Conference League for the Silesian club. In Europe Sląsk were able to scrape past Latvian opposition in Riga FC in its first qualifier.
That win took them through to a winnable tie against St Gallen of Switzerland.
Śląsk Wrocław v Sankt Gallen
Tarczyński Arena Wrocław
UEFA Conference League 3rd Round, 2nd Leg
Wrocław – Poland
Like any new stadium there has been mixed emotions with respect to the new ground in Wrocław.
Despite it being an award winning architectural concept its distinctive shape has not been to the taste of everyone.
Yes, its easily recognisable and its shape, design and status is fittingly associated with a modern dynamic Polish city.
Its shape and color meets its surrounds in the largest district of Wroclaw – Fabryczna.
The innovative design of the interior structures are complemented by the stark externals of the stadium all of which can change using a sophisticated lighting system.
In contrast across the city the Oporowska Stadium sits silent and weed strewn.
All that could be heard at the former home of the club was the nearby whirl of grass cutting machinery and the distant shouts of the St Gallen squad who were in the middle of a mid morning preparation session.
There are those who follow Slask who still have fond memories of the inner city Oporowska Stadium – the former home ground of Śląsk Wrocław and the current home ground of Śląsk Wrocław II.
Holding 8,346 spectators the surrounds of the Oporowska had been the setting in 2003 for one of Polish football’s worst incidences of hooliganism. That event, as well as the desire of the Polish government, and nearby Ukraine to take UEFA Euro 2012 to Poland, meant its days as a modern football venue were outnumbered by 2009.
Slask are two-time Polish champion (1977, 2012) and two-time Polish Cup winner (1976, 1987).
Now a club with more than 75 years of football experience Śląsk were originally a military sports club founded under the leadership of the Polish military academy.
In its earliest years they were called Legia Wrocław. By the 1950’s the more communistic Centralny Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Wrocław name was used.
Its greatest era both domestically and internationally was the mid 1970’s when Napoli, Liverpool and Antwerp came calling.
But European success and the modern group stages have always evaded the club.
Play-off round defeats to Sevilla, Hannover 96 and Rapid Bucharest are the closest they have come to the prestigious group phase of any UEFA tournament.
St Gallen have been in the group stages but only once.
In 2013 an incredible 4-2 win away from home against Spartak Moscow took Espen through to Group A of the Europa League. Results were mixed and eventually it was heavy defeats against Valencia and Krasnador that consigned them to the 4th place in the table.
If it was tortuous results on the road which saw that European adventure come to an end, this second leg tie looked at one point like it could have an equally traumatic outcome for the Swiss.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg a week earlier at Kybunpark the Swiss went into a 3-0 aggregate lead not 20 mins into the return.
But then came the collapse.
The Poles were driven on by an emotive home crowd who opened proceedings with nationalistic and religious sentiment. A choreography that celebrated the Battle of Warsaw was raised:
“Chwala dla polskeigo wojska od kibicow slacka.”
(Glory to the Polish army from Silesia fans)
Such was the fervour the home went on to score three goals in the closing minutes of the half bringing the tie level.
St Gallen looked defeated and in shock.
What happened second half owed as much to the interventions of the VAR team as it did to the frustration and indiscipline of the home side’s players.
A fourth goal was ruled out as was a penalty award to Śląsk.
The captain of Śląsk Alex Petkov was then sent off by the Croatian referee following a second yellow card.
After indicating an additional 12 minutes of play a penalty was then awarded to St Gallen that was eventually scored – after initially being missed – only for a further two home players (Ortiz and Lavia) to be dismissed.
By the end of the game the Croatian referee Duje Strukan looked bedraggled and overworked. His video assistant referee team had said more to him in his ear than any player from either team had during play.
Eventually the referee played a total of 117 minutes.
Part of that additional 27 minutes came through allegations of a racial chanting made towards FC St Gallen goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi by the home fans.
After the final whistle the St.Gallen goalkeeper stood in front of those fans repeatedly pointing his finger at his arm and hitting his heart.
Some Slask Wroclaw players did not take too kindly the scene.
In the tunnel at full-time a melee occurred and in truth the whole situation was not helped by the stop – start intermittent use of VAR across the regulation 90 minutes.
The events of this tie may or may not be a closed book as far as UEFA are concerned. A lot depends on what the referee communicates in his match report and what the UEFA match observer heard or saw.
Overall it was all too chaotic to say exactly what was going on but what is certain is that the referee team and those in the VAR room didn’t help things.
VAR lit a touch fuse and some of the Slask players kept it alight with poor on-field behaviour.
The chances are the events in Wroclaw may turn out to be another one for the UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.
Ironic given the final of this season’s Conference League tournament will be held in the very same Polish city albeit Śląsk won’t be one of the participants.
