Defeat by Ecuador deflates Polish fan party

GELSENKIRCHEN, June 10 (Reuters) - Poland filed out of the Auf Schalke stadium on Friday with their heads hung low after a defeat by Ecuador they said betrayed the trust put in the squad by one of the World Cup's biggest travelling supports.

Despite FIFA ticket restrictions, Poland's red and white colours filled two-thirds of the 53,000-seater venue, drowning out neutrals and the Ecuadorian supporters as thousands more camped outside.

But the Polish followers were silenced by goals from Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado.

''I am simply ashamed,'' goalkeeper Artur Boruc told reporters yesterday.

''They gave us this amazing atmosphere, it felt like we were at home. Many people were at the World Cup for the first time and look what we did.'' Up to 300,000 Polish fans are expected to come to Germany, sparking worries that hooligans will slip across the border to do battle with German and English rivals.

PARTY ATMOSPHERE A party atmosphere, however, dominated the western industrial town of Gelsenkirchen earlier, with Poles filling the car parks and bars, arm-in-arm with Ecuadorians.

After the game, the Poles filed out in silence.

''Besides the stadium there was nothing pretty to watch in there tonight,'' 47-year-old Adam Tyminski told Reuters.

''We are disappointed. We came all this way. The atmosphere was fantastic but the players did nothing to live up to it.'' The evening also brought back memories of Poland's exit in South Korea four years ago when two successive defeats ended their hopes of a place in the second round.

''This all reminds me of Korea now. It's hard to look the fans in the eyes,'' said right back Michal Zewlakow, one of four survivors from 2002.

''I believe we will find a way out of this situation. I can't say how but what's important is we behave like men, pick ourselves up and fight for this.

''The fans gave us something amazing tonight, something I have not seen before. After this, everyone who starts against the Germans will leave their heart on the pitch.'' Poland meet hosts Germany, a team they have never beaten, in their next Group A game in Dortmund on Wednesday.

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