Poland Confident In Winning Euro 2024 Opener Without Star Lewandowski

Poland are gearing up to face the Netherlands on Sunday, confident in their ability to secure a win despite the absence of their star striker, Robert Lewandowski. The prolific forward, who holds the record as Poland's all-time top scorer with 82 goals in 150 appearances, will miss the match due to a hamstring injury sustained during a friendly against Turkiye on Monday.

Lewandowski's absence is a significant blow for Poland, especially considering his contributions at major tournaments, where he has netted seven goals. Additionally, Poland will be without striker Karol Swiderski due to an ankle injury, and Arkadiusz Milik has also withdrawn from the squad.

Piotr Zielinski, who will captain the team in Lewandowski's absence, remains optimistic about Poland's chances. "It is a great pity Robert Lewandowski cannot help us in this match," said Zielinski. "He is a world-class player, and we will miss him. But whether it is me or the team-mates, we will add something extra to achieve the goal, which is to win."

Zielinski acknowledged that their qualification campaign did not meet expectations but emphasized the importance of their current opportunity. "The most important thing is that we are here, and we will do whatever we can," he added.

Manager's Perspective

Manager Michal Probierz will be overseeing just his third game without Lewandowski in the lineup. He echoed Zielinski's sentiments about the team's determination. "There's nothing to hide; we will miss him. But other players will have to do what they can to get a result," Probierz stated.

Probierz also highlighted the need for a generational shift within the team. "We have to change this team generationally. We will do whatever we have to do as a team to play well. We will not step back; we will progress," he said.

Facing Doubts

The Polish squad is aware of the scepticism surrounding their chances against the Netherlands. "Everyone is saying we are going to lose. Everyone is writing us off. But we have a team that wants to fight for each other," Probierz concluded.

Despite these challenges, Poland remain focused on their objective and hope Lewandowski can return for their remaining Group D matches against Austria and France.