Poland has managed to retain its position in the top tier of the Nations League since the competition began, but their recent loss to Portugal highlighted ongoing difficulties in keeping pace with Europe's elite teams. Despite starting their campaign with a thrilling 3-2 away victory over Scotland, Poland's subsequent performances have raised concerns. They suffered a 1-0 defeat in Croatia before succumbing to a 3-1 loss at home against Portugal, further emphasizing the team's struggle against formidable opponents.
While Poland boasts one of the world's leading strikers in Robert Lewandowski, currently playing for Barcelona, the team lacked creativity and confidence in their approach against a dominant Portugal. Lewandowski expressed his frustration following the match, noting that the team had limited opportunities to make an impact in the attacking third. He emphasized the need for a better balance between solid defensive play and the creation of scoring chances, lamenting the absence of effective offensive strategies.
Coach Michal Probierz, who has been at the helm for a year, recognizes Poland's limitations and is open to experimenting with different tactics in search of renewed energy within the squad. Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez praised Probierz's philosophy, highlighting the efforts of the Polish team to adopt an offensive style of play. However, he acknowledged that the match posed a greater challenge for Probierz’s squad due to Portugal's strong performance.
In a notable move, Probierz gave 19-year-old Maximillian Oyedele a surprise call-up to start against Portugal. Oyedele, who previously developed at Manchester United's academy and has impressed at Legia Warsaw, faced a daunting challenge in his debut against the 2016 European Champions. After 66 minutes, he was substituted for the more experienced Jakub Moder. With Poland currently sitting third in League A Group 1 with three points, they are set to host Croatia at their Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw, a venue where they have previously enjoyed significant success.
ADD A COMMENT :