Poland qualified for their fourth successive major tournament after a campaign overshadowed by Russia’s invasion of their mutual neighbour Ukraine back in February. They had been drawn to face the Russians in the play-off semi-finals in March, but instead received a bye when the latter were kicked out by FIFA and UEFA as punishment over the conflict. Poland then beat Sweden 2-0 in their play-off final and now head to Qatar with a captain’s armband in Ukrainian colours for Robert Lewandowski to wear…
The manager
“Tactics-mad” and “the Polish Mourinho” — those would both be accurate descriptions of Czesław Michniewicz. Likeable and cheerful when at his best, there is no one better to explain in a detailed and attractive way what exactly happened during a match, which has made his press conferences popular among fans.
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Michniewicz was a January replacement for Paulo Sousa, who left to manage Flamengo in Brazil after Poland finished as runners-up to England in group qualification, leaving the team leaderless with the play-offs in sight. Previously, Michniewicz was in charge at Legia Warsaw, where he proved he is capable of creating a plan to beat superior opposition — something his team achieved in last season’s Europa League group stage, defeating both Leicester City and Spartak Moscow.
In just his second match in charge, Poland beat Sweden in their play-off final to qualify for Qatar. As soon as the final whistle was blown, the 52-year-old fell to his knees, elated by the greatest achievement on a long managerial road dating back three decades.
His coaching career started with success at cash-strapped Lech Poznan, then came spells at a host of other domestic clubs before he was made manager of Poland Under-21s in 2018. After that came Legia at the start of 2020-21, and then the national team. The nation is still somewhat divided about whether he should be in charge — he was sacked by Legia just over a year ago — and he verbally attacked some journalists who questioned his credentials.
Observers can expect a well-prepared Poland team playing with a back three. Michniewicz’s detailed knowledge of each opponent will impact the plan. Often, his pragmatism means passiveness and reactivity on the pitch.
That could make Poland tough for Group C foes Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia to beat, but hard to watch for neutrals.
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World Cup 2022 Group C guide: Argentina's fast starts, ageing Mexico and possession-shy Poland
The household name you haven’t heard of yet
Nicola Zalewski’s rise at Roma under the actual Jose Mourinho shouldn’t go unnoticed — the 20-year-old midfielder won an online vote for the Golden Boy 2022 award, recognising the best young player in European football, last month. However, it’s another Pole playing in Serie A who should catch the eye most in Qatar.
Spezia’s Jakub Kiwior is a 22-year-old central defender with only four caps to his name who only made his international debut in June, but he stands out with his ball-playing skills.
He is capable of driving forward with the ball and making the key pass, as was the case in the move that ended with a winning goal against Wales in a Nations League tie in September. There is already reportedly interest in him from the Premier League.
Strengths
Despite Robert Lewandowski’s struggles at past tournaments — five goals across 14 appearances at the three most recent Euros and the 2018 World Cup — and age, the now 34-year-old is the most obvious threat to and main focus for the opposition, which at times makes it easier for others in the Poland team to shine. Arkadiusz Milik scores for Juventus, Krzysztof Piatek is a regular at fellow Italians Salernitana and Karol Swiderski got into double figures for MLS club Charlotte FC in the season just ended.
And then there is Piotr Zielinski, who is enjoying possibly his best season with Napoli, having scored three times and got two assists in the Champions League alone, including two goals against Liverpool. He plays in a deeper role for Poland, but watch out for his two-footedness — he is capable of crossing and shooting accurately with either one.
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Weaknesses
While Kiwior has risen, other central defenders have declined. Kamil Glik, at 34 years, is struggling with injuries and barely playing in Italy’s second division for Benevento, while Jan Bednarek’s summer loan from Southampton to Aston Villa has only meant swapping one Premier League substitutes’ bench for another.
A lack of match sharpness may mean that the team which faces Mexico in the group opener a week today may have the tournament’s largest gap in quality between its leader (Lewandowski) and its weakest link (Glik).
Local knowledge
It was a very tough first quarter of 2022 for Cezary Kulesza, the president of the Polish Football Association.
The year began with turmoil over Sousa’s resignation, followed by the long process of finding his successor. Meetings were held with potential candidates including Ballon d’Or winner and 2006 World Cup-winning Itay captain Fabio Cannavaro and Adam Nawałka, who had led the national team to Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, and the eventual choice of the recently-fired Michniewicz wasn’t universally welcomed.
Then, a month later, Russia invaded Ukraine.
That united the nation to help the millions of refugees fleeing a war-torn country.
The FA’s stance was clear, and strengthened by Lewandowski: nobody, especially players, could imagine facing Russia in a play-off semi-final in Moscow while deadly battles raged just over the border. A coalition of national federations was formed with the aim of getting Russia banned from the World Cup, a campaign which eventually succeeded.
Poland has also helped Ukraine by hosting Dynamo Kyiv’s and Shakhtar Donetsk’s European matches in its stadiums, while the FA allowed a quickened re-registration of Ukrainian footballers with Polish teams, encouraging all youth academies to invite refugees into their ranks.
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Finally, former Ukraine international and later head coach Andriy Shevchenko gave Lewandowski a captain’s armband in the yellow and blue of Ukraine for him to wear at the World Cup. The striker had worn one against Sweden in that March play-off final. It remains unclear whether he will wear it in Qatar.
Expectations back home
The popular joke in Poland goes that each tournament begins with their national side’s opening game, followed by an all-or-nothing fixture, and then with a match for pride. In fact, only once in the 21st century have Poland progressed past the group stage, reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
Yet, as always, fans’ expectations will (unreasonably) grow with each day until that first match against Mexico, possibly setting aside doubts about the form of key figures.
Failure should mean the end of the international careers of those who have experience but are no longer at the top of the game. For example, Grzegorz Krychowiak, 32, now plays in Saudi Arabia and Glik only in Serie B.
More interestingly, an early exit may mean more of Lewandowski’s doubts about his future in a Poland shirt. He claimed in one recent interview that it’s “better not to talk too much about my end (of international career), as it might be too tough to take for fans”.
Despite him having turned 34 in August, losing a player, a captain and a threat like him to retirement would be a much bigger defeat for Poland than anything that could happen in this group stage.
Read more: See the rest of The Athletic’s World Cup 2022 squad guides
Read more: Mexico played Poland to a scoreless draw in their World Cup opener.
Read more: Zielinski, Lewandowski goals led Poland to win over Saudi Arabia
(Main graphic — photo: Getty Images/design: Sam Richardson)