Poland faces a crucial match against Austria this Friday afternoon at the Olympiastadion in Berlin as part of the Euro 2024 group stage. After a narrow defeat against the Netherlands (1-2) in their opening game, the White and Red must secure a positive result to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout phase. The return of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who missed the first match due to a knee injury, could be a game-changer for Poland.
Polish coach Michal Probierz expressed optimism about Lewandowski's return, highlighting the FC Barcelona forward's importance to the team. Lewandowski has been a prolific scorer for Poland, netting 82 goals in 150 matches. His recent form, including three goals and two assists during the Euro 2024 qualifiers, underscores his critical role in the squad.
Despite their initial setback, Poland remains confident. They managed to challenge the Netherlands and even took the lead through Adam Buksa. This performance gives hope for their upcoming matches against Austria and France. Probierz emphasized the team's positive direction, noting that they were well-organized despite lacking intelligence in the final moments against the Oranje.
Austria, on the other hand, also lost their first match against France (0-1) and is looking to bounce back. Coach Ralf Rangnick is expected to rely on his strong midfield trio of Sabitzer, Laimer, and Baumgartner. He may also start Wimmer and Arnautovic, who showed promise against the Blues. Austria's head-to-head record against Poland is competitive, with five wins out of eleven encounters.
The stakes are high for both teams. A win would significantly improve their chances of progressing to the round of 16, while a draw would keep their hopes alive. A loss, however, would severely dent their ambitions. As both teams prepare for this decisive match, all eyes will be on Lewandowski and his ability to inspire Poland to victory.
- Poland's journey to Euro 2024 included a play-off victory over Estonia and a penalty shootout win against Wales. Their resilience in these matches could be a crucial factor in their upcoming game against Austria.
- Austria's coach Ralf Rangnick may make strategic changes to his lineup, including replacing Maximilian Wöber, who scored an own goal against France, with Trauner in central defense. This tactical adjustment aims to strengthen Austria's defense and improve their chances against Poland.
- The historical context of Poland and Austria's encounters adds another layer of intrigue to the match. With both teams having scored 20 goals in their previous eleven meetings, the game promises to be a closely contested battle.
