Rob dreams of Pole dance
HE HAS achieved almost everything in the game, but Robert Lewandowski still has a dream.
The striker is ranked alongside the best of all time, after smashing a 50-year-old record to become both Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga’s all-time top scorer in a season.
His 41 goals as he led Munich to the title, broke the record of Gerd Muller, below, and many now place him alongside ‘Der Bomber’ in the pantheon of greats.
Yet for all his exploits and trophies, one thing eludes him. Success with his national team.
For Poland, he has only ever scored three goals at major championships.
“I remember the excitement of watching the national team as a boy,” said Lewandowski. “It was always a special thing.
“You’d see the national players coming onto the pitch with the Polish eagle on their chest, proud and hoping to give excitement to their fans. My dream was always to do that too.
“A lot has changed since I first played in the Euros but the feeling is still the same,
V POLAND 5PM, ITV
SWEDEN the dream is still the same.”
Now, finally, he has that chance.And the good news is, of those three goals for his nation at a major tournament, the most recent came against Spain in the Poles’ most recent group game.
He needs another though, against a Sweden team that has yet to concede at the Euros.
Victory would give Poland passage into the knockout stage. And the striker knows he is expected to lead that
effort, beyond his role as a goalscorer. “It’s about sacrifice,” he said. “My role with Poland is different to that at my club. I have to sacrifice myself for the team to get a good result.
“The other players look to me. If I can help the team with what I do, even if I don’t score, then that would make me happy.
“I have changed as a person and as a footballer, but the dream is the same.”
Poland have injury concerns over Jakub Moder and Southampton’s Jan Bednarek.