Ahead of match with Israel, Poland honors Jewish sport legend

Polish National soccer team honors the memory of Jozef Klotz, who scored the first ever goal for Poland in 1922 ahead of Monday’s match in Warsaw.

By HAGAY HACOHEN
Soccer ball (illustrative) (photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
Soccer ball (illustrative)
(photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)
The Polish national soccer team will honor the memory of Polish-Jewish sport legend Jozef Klotz, who scored the first ever goal for Poland in 1922 in a match against Sweden, according to Notes from Poland, citing the Times of Israel. 
In the middle is the Jewish player who scored first goal for Poland, Jozef Klotz
In the middle is the Jewish player who scored first goal for Poland, Jozef Klotz
Israel is expected to play against Poland on Monday in Warsaw at the National Stadium in the eliminating rounds leading to Euro 2020. On the eve of the match, From The Depths, a holocaust education organization, will also host a special event in Warsaw to remember Klotz.
The Polish team already released fan-related information on social media ahead of the game to help supporters enjoy the match.    
The Polish players signed a shirt that will be presented to Danni Dekel, a nephew of the late Klotz, who lives in Israel.
An exhibition in Warsaw displaying the history of Polish-Jewish soccer players such as Leon Sperling and Zygmunt Steuermann will also be opened in the Polish capital. 
 
Klotz was murdered in the Warsaw Ghetto by the Nazis.
 
Ahead of the match, Polish sports writers said Israeli player Eran Zahavi “appears in the nightmares of the Polish team,” Walla reported.