Poland defeated the Baltic team 1-0 in Warsaw on Friday in the first game of the World Cup qualifying campaign, with a labored performance in which they rarely seriously threatened the Lithuanian goal.
They were largely devoid of ideas of how to break down a team 105 places lower than them in the FIFA world ranking, relying on set pieces and launching hopeful crosses into the penalty area.
In their defense, the Poles were without their two most potent creative forces in Piotr Zieliński and Nicola Zalewski.
The Lithuanians were well organized and stubborn, but the moderate ease with which they repelled Polish attacks pointed to a concerning lack of guile and vigor in the final third.
Only a heavily deflected Robert Lewandowski goal in the 81st minute spared their blushes.
"Many elements did not function well. We need to help each other more on the pitch," the Polish captain said post-match.
His coach also admitted that the team were not at their best and that he understood where some of the frustration from the fans and media was coming from.
“Criticism is normal. I agree with some of the opinions, I don't with some. Everyone has their own expectations and opinions, they have the right to them. You have to be able to accept it,” Probierz said during a press conference in Warsaw.
“No one from the team is hiding, no one is avoiding responsibility. The most important thing was to win on Friday and we want to win on Monday as well,” he added.
Asked whether the lackluster display would lead to changes in the lineup for Monday’s encounter with Malta, Probierz hinted that there would only be minor adjustments.
“Changes are normal, someone plays better, someone worse, someone presents themselves better in training... The core will definitely be maintained, because we have been working towards this for a long time,” the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reporting the coach as saying.
Poland’s World Cup qualifying group comprises Lithuania, Malta, Finland and one other, to be determined on Sunday evening.
The leftover spot will be given to either Netherlands or Spain, who played out a 2-2 draw in the first of their two-legged Nations League quarter final tie.
The loser will compete in Group G and will be Poland’s biggest obstacle in attaining an automatic qualifying berth.
The expanded 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature 48 teams, up from 32 in Qatar 2022.
UEFA has been allocated 16 qualification spots. The 12 group winners will qualify directly, while the 12 runners-up will enter the playoffs alongside the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners who did not finish in the top two of their qualifying group.
In their defense, the Poles were without their two most potent creative forces in Piotr Zieliński and Nicola Zalewski.
The Lithuanians were well organized and stubborn, but the moderate ease with which they repelled Polish attacks pointed to a concerning lack of guile and vigor in the final third.
‘We need to help each other more’
Only a heavily deflected Robert Lewandowski goal in the 81st minute spared their blushes.
"Many elements did not function well. We need to help each other more on the pitch," the Polish captain said post-match.
His coach also admitted that the team were not at their best and that he understood where some of the frustration from the fans and media was coming from.
“Criticism is normal. I agree with some of the opinions, I don't with some. Everyone has their own expectations and opinions, they have the right to them. You have to be able to accept it,” Probierz said during a press conference in Warsaw.
“No one from the team is hiding, no one is avoiding responsibility. The most important thing was to win on Friday and we want to win on Monday as well,” he added.
Asked whether the lackluster display would lead to changes in the lineup for Monday’s encounter with Malta, Probierz hinted that there would only be minor adjustments.
“Changes are normal, someone plays better, someone worse, someone presents themselves better in training... The core will definitely be maintained, because we have been working towards this for a long time,” the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reporting the coach as saying.
Poland’s World Cup qualifying group comprises Lithuania, Malta, Finland and one other, to be determined on Sunday evening.
The leftover spot will be given to either Netherlands or Spain, who played out a 2-2 draw in the first of their two-legged Nations League quarter final tie.
The loser will compete in Group G and will be Poland’s biggest obstacle in attaining an automatic qualifying berth.
World Cup 2026 format
The expanded 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature 48 teams, up from 32 in Qatar 2022.
UEFA has been allocated 16 qualification spots. The 12 group winners will qualify directly, while the 12 runners-up will enter the playoffs alongside the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners who did not finish in the top two of their qualifying group.
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