Page 20 - Soccer360 Issue 106

S360 PREDICTION | 11TH PLACE NICKNAME: THE EAGLES
POLAND
Despite requiring a play-off in order to book their ticket to Germany, Poland boast the evergreen Robert Lewandowski and with him leading the line there is always hope, writes Ian Waterhouse.
PRAGMATIC POLES
Poland may consider themselves fortunate to be at Euro 2024 after struggling throughout qualifying and earning a second chance via the UEFA Nations League which they duly took by edging out Wales in a penalty shootout. Now that they have made it to Germany, Michel Probierz’s side will want to ensure that they are not merely making up the numbers.
Placed in an enormously difficult
Group D alongside favourites France,
the Netherlands, and Austria, they are immediately on the backfoot and if they were to progress into the last 16 it would
be one of the shocks of the tournament. However, if experience counts for anything, then the Eagles have bundles in their locker. In fact, the squad is bookended by 34-year- old goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and the 35-year-old talisman Robert Lewandowski who will both feature in the starting XI if fit. It is not all just aging knees in the squad though as Arsenal’s 21-year-old defender Jakub Kiwior is set to play a starring role and Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski to take control
in midfield. However, the thing that has been so often missing from Poland at recent major finals has been entertaining football. A pragmatic style did help them into the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, but it wasn’t easy on the eye with Lewandowski often left isolated. The Barcelona striker still has enough goals in him to strike fear into all of their opponents, but the hard part will be providing him with the chances.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
THE COACH:
MICHEL PROBIERZ
With years of experience of coaching in Polish domestic football under his belt, Michel Probierz was in charge of the U-21 squad for just over a year before being handed the reins of the senior side in September 2023 following the disastrously short tenure of Fernando Santos. He has made the team more robust and sealed a place at Euro 2024 as a result, but anything other than a group stage elimination here would be an achievement.
KEY PLAYER:
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
Simply put, if you take Robert Lewandowski out of this Poland side, they would be completely written off. At the age of 35 he is still one of the most feared strikers in Europe and is likely to bury almost any chance that comes his way. Given the strong opposition that awaits in Group D, he is unlikely to get many in a team that can otherwise best be described as workmanlike.
EURO APPEARANCES: 4
EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
FIFA RANKING 28TH
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
2016
2012
2018
5TH
14TH
14TH
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:14 W:2 D:7 L:5
LEWANDOWSKI
SWIDERKSI
ZIELENSKI
LINETTY ZALEWKSI
KAMINSKI FRANKOWSKI
DAWIDOWICZ BEDNAREK KIWIOR
SZCZESNY
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
40.3 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 4
BEST FINISH:
Quarter-finals, 2016
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: Robert Lewandowski’s opening goal at Euro 2012.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Finished a disappointing third in their group, but went on to defeat Wales on penalties in a play-off.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: 2020 - Knocked out at the group stage with a draw and two defeats.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Robert Lewandowski, 148
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Robert Lewandowski, 82
HOW TO FOLLOW:
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
VS NETHERLANDS VS AUSTRIA VS FRANCE JUNE 16TH JUNE 21ST JUNE 25TH 9:00AM | EST 12:00PM | EST 12:00PM | EST
18 SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024
GROUP D - UEFA EURO 2024