World Cup: Poland's Szczesny backs Lewandowski to fire at Qatar 2022
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Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski having a light moment during a training session in Doha on Nov 18.
PHOTO: AFP
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DOHA – Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny believes Robert Lewandowski will break his World Cup duck in Qatar as his country aims to reach the knockout phase for the first time since 1986.
Lewandowski is Poland’s record scorer with 76 goals in 134 games but the Barcelona star failed to find the net four years ago in Russia as the Poles exited in the group stage.
The 34-year-old has struck 25 times across the last two World Cup qualifying campaigns but has yet to open his account at the Finals.
“I think it’s definitely important for him (to score),” Szczesny told reporters Monday on the eve of Poland’s opening game against Mexico.
“He’s very motivated before the World Cup. No one doubts that Robert is one of the best players in the world right now.”
After eight record-breaking seasons at Bayern Munich, Lewandowski has been just as prolific in his first season with Barcelona – hitting 18 goals in 19 appearances.
“He would definitely like to see his ambitions come true, not only at club level but for his national team. This is a very important tournament.
“I do believe we’ll add Robert Lewandowski to the great names of Polish football with what he does in Qatar.”
Poland have failed to get past the group phase in their past three World Cups appearances, the last of which saw Szczesny punished for a mistake in the first match against Senegal.
The Juventus goalkeeper has suffered a series of mishaps at past major tournaments, including being sent off in the Euro 2012 opener when Poland were co-hosts.
Szczesny played no further part at Euro 2016 after an injury in the first group game. He also conceded an own goal as Poland kicked off their Euro 2020 campaign with a loss to Slovakia.
“I think each tournament has its own history,” said the 32-year-old Szczesny, who confirmed this will be his last World Cup.
“I’m not thinking about tomorrow’s game going back to the previous tournaments. I’m very enthusiastic and looking forward to the first game.”
His coach Czeslaw Michniewicz denied Mexico were the favourites on Tuesday, saying all the teams at the tournament fully deserved to be there.
“If I say that there are no logical reasons for Poland to make it out of the group, you will say that I am a man of little faith,” he told reporters on Monday.
“I think that we can get out of the group... We don’t want to be among the first 16 teams to go home.
“We have experienced players who have played in many tournaments, and there’s a lot of youngsters who are just learning the big tournaments here in Qatar. I think this mix is right for us.”
Asked whether Mexico were the favourites, given the last time they failed to make it to the knockout stage was back in 1978, Michniewicz disagreed.
“We don’t look at Mexico this way. I don’t see such disparities between us, also between us and Saudi Arabia or Argentina,” he said.
“We are all at the World Cup, we feel as important as our opponents in the group. We don’t give them any special rank.”
Poland face Saudi Arabia in their second Group C match on Saturday before coming up against Lionel Messi’s Argentina four days later. AFP, REUTERS
