(Reuters) -When a technical fault prevented Poland's national anthem being played over the public address system, their ice hockey fans opted to sing an a cappella version, and the team went on to defeat Italy in their friendly international match on Saturday.
Poland and Italy lined up on the ice at the ArcelorMittal Park in Sosnowiec, Poland, before the second match of their double-header, but after the rousing Italian anthem 'Fratelli d'Italia' there followed an awkward silence.
As the players and fans stood waiting, it soon became clear that this was not a planned minute's silence but rather a technical hitch, and after a lone voice began singing the opening line, soon the whole crowd, and team, joined in.
The Poland side, who had lost Friday's match 3-2, were clearly inspired by their fans' show of patriotism and passionate support and went on to defeat the Italians 3-1.
Poland's anthem, 'Mazurek Dabrowskiego', is often known in English as 'Poland Is Not Yet Lost' due to the translation of its opening line. The words were written in Italy by Jozef Wybicki, and was originally titled 'Song of the Polish Legions in Italy'.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
