POLAND’S SZCZESNY SEES A MOTIVATED LEWANDOWSKI
POLAND goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny believes Robert Lewandowski is ready to inspire his country at a World Cup which may be the last for many of the team.
They open their Group C campaign against Mexico on Tuesday. Poland twice finished third in 1974 and 1982 but have not got out of the group stage in their last three World Cups.
The Qatar tournament is “definitely very important for the world footballer of the year. I see him very motivated,” Szczesny said on Monday.
“Nobody has any doubt that he is one of the best players in the world. He would like to underline his ambitions here.”
Szczesny, 32, thinks this will be his last World Cup and it is also likely to be Lewandowski’s last hurrah on the world stage at the age of 34. He wants a strong start from Poland.
“This is my last World Cup, maybe for others as well. It would be nice to have a success to remember.” Coach Czeslaw Michniewicz must also face Saudi Arabia and Argentina in the group.
“They are all strong opponents, everyone wants to progress,” he said.
“Sixteen teams have to go home. We don’t want to be one of the 16 teams that have to go home. We want to stay.”
Lewandowski remains one of world football’s elite marksmen after scoring 18 goals in all competitions this season - only Erling Haaland (23) and Kylian Mbappe (19) have more in Europe’s top five leagues.
The Barcelona forward is also Poland’s all-time top scorer with 76 strikes in 134 appearances, though he is yet to find the net at a World Cup.
Poland failed to qualify in 2010 and 2014 before scoring
just two goals at Russia 2018 amid a group-stage exit - and Lewandowski is out to right the wrongs of previous disappointment.
“I think about the last World Cup for sure,” the 34-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“To score at a World Cup would be a huge dream and I’m going to do everything for this dream. I hope in this World Cup it will happen.” The striker contributed to 13 goals in Poland’s World Cup qualification campaign (nine goals, four assists) - more than twice as many as any of his international team-mates.
Poland will hope to cast aside their poor record in Monday’s opener against Mexico, having only started one of their eight previous World Cup campaigns with a win (D3 L4), beating Argentina 3-2 in 1974.
A meeting between two familiar foes will follow in Group C on November 30 as Lewandowski faces Blaugrana legend Lionel Messi with Argentina.
“I will be happy to have this opportunity to play against Argentina and Messi - he changed football forever,” the former
Bayern Munich forward added.
“I am glad for everything I have achieved and these memories for the World Cup, so now is the time to enjoy.”
To score at a World Cup would be a huge dream and I’m going to do everything for this dream. I hope in this World Cup it will happen
Lewandowski
eliminated in the last-16 at every edition since 1994.
Poland are competing at their ninth World Cup and are looking to improve on their 2018 run when they finished bottom of their group.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored nine goals in the World Cup qualifiers and he has been in fine form for his new club
Barcelona this season, netting 18 times in 19 games in all competitions.
Previous meetings:
Mexico and Poland have played each other nine times, with both teams winning three games each and three ending in draws.
Poland have not beaten Mexico since 1978, the only time the teams met at a World Cup.