World Cup 2022 Group C: Poland pin hopes on Lewandowski

Barcelona striker remains his national team's key player and his form will be crucial to their campaign

Poland's Robert Lewandowski, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Belgium in a Uefa Nations League match in June, 2022. AP

Poland will like their chances of advancing out of the group phase, a feat not achieved since 1986, but they will need their talisman Robert Lewandowski to be firing on all cylinders.

It has been a mixed bag of results for Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side recently, with a 6-1 loss to Belgium in the Nations League demonstrating the team's vulnerability against high-class opposition.

However, Poland finished second in a competitive World Cup qualifying group, which included England and Hungary. They managed to hold England to a draw in Warsaw, demonstrating that they can compete with genuine tournament contenders.

Poland will also be accustomed to knockout football should they advance from the last 16, having shown up when it mattered against Sweden to win their playoff 2-0 to qualify for the World Cup.

All eyes will be on striker Lewandowski, who will need to lead from the front if Poland are going to have any chance of progressing in Qatar. The Barcelona striker, 34, is still operating at the highest level, notching an incredible 50 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions in his final year at Bayern Munich last season, and starting his time at Barca in similarly prolific fashion.

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  HOW POLAND QUALIFIED FOR WORLD CUP 2022: (Group I): March 25, 2021. Hungary 3 (Sallai 6', Ad. Szalai 53', Orban 78') Poland 3 (Piatek 60', Jozwiak 61', Lewandowski 83'): Robert Lewandowski rescued a point for Poland in a thrilling opening match that saw the home team lose 2-0 and 3-2 leads. Poland manager Paulo Sousa said: "In first half we were too slow, we had no idea what to do with the ball. In the second half, it was better and we could have won the game." AFP

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  March 28, 2021. Poland 3 (Lewandowski 30', 55', Swiderski 88') Andorra 0: Robert Lewandowski scored for a 10th consecutive game for club and country as Poland eased to victory. Sousa said: "I want my players to create as many chances as possible. Of course we can play more safely sometimes, but in general I want my team to play quickly and with lot of creativity." AFP

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  March 31, 2021. England 2 (Kane pen 19', Maguire 85') Poland 1 (Moder 58'): A late Harry Maguire goal denied Poland a point at Wembley after Jakub Moder had levelled the scores following a John Stones error. “Seeing our players come off the pitch sad after the way they played in the second half, it’s a good way to think about our future," said Sousa. "We are in a good way and we need to keep going." Getty

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  September 2, 2021. Poland 4 (Lewandowski 12', Buksa 44', Krychowiak 54', Linetty 89') Albania 1 (Cikalleshi 25'): Lewandowski scored one and set up another as Poland thrashed Albania in Warsaw and climbed to second in the group. "There is a big difference between Robert's level and the others," said Sousa. "When we have the quality of Robert on the pitch, anything can happen in our favour." AFP

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  September 5, 2021. San Marino 1 (Nanni 48') Poland 7 (Lewandowski 4', 21', Swiderski 16', Linetty 44', Buksa 67', 90+2', 90+4'): Poland hit San Marino for seven, with Lewandowski, inevitably, scoring twice. Substitute Adam Buksa scored a hat-trick, including two in injury-time, to make it four goals in his first two games for Poland. AP

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  September 8, 2021. Poland 1 (Szymanski 90'+2) England 1 (Kane 72'): An injury-time header from substitute Damian Szymanski earned Poland a point in Warsaw, bringing England's 100 per cent record to an end. Sousa said: "The mentality of this team is constantly developing, growing and we are more and more aware of our strength. We knew pressing England could cause a lot of problems." Getty

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  October 9, 2021. Poland 5 (Swiderski 10', Brolli og 20', Kedziora 50', Buksa 84', Piatek 90+1') San Marino 0: Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was given a guard of honour in his farewell game as Poland coasted to a comfortable victory. "We still have to develop. We started our journey in Hungary for the first game and this team has made progress," said Sousa. Reuters

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  October 12, 2021. Albania 0 Poland 1 (Swiderski 77'): The match in Tirana was suspended for over 20 minutes after home fans threw objects at Polish players after Karol Swiderski scored what turned out to be the winner. "After the goal there were full bottles flying in, so it was a bit dangerous, but we came back and finished the game," said Poland captain Lewandowski. Reuters

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  November 12, 2021. Andorra 1 (Vales 45') Poland 4 (Lewandowski 5',73', Jozwiak 11', Milik 45+2'): Another two goals from the relentless Lewandowski helped Poland ease to victory on the artificial surface in Andorra. It meant Poland were guaranteed at least a play-off spot with one game still to play. Reuters

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  November 15, 2021. Poland 1 (Swiderski 61') Hungary 2 (Schafer 37', Gazdag 80'): Lewandowski was rested as Poland fell to a surprise defeat as England secured the group's top spot after thrashing San Marino 10-0, finishing six points ahead of Sousa's team who were now focused on the play-offs. AFP

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  World Cup play-off: Tuesday, March 29. Poland 2 (Lewandowski pen 49', Zielinski 72') Sweden 0: Poland's place in the Qatar World Cup was sealed after goals from Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski secured victory in Chorzow. "We had many problems before this match," said Lewandowski. "A lot of our players were injured, including me - I had a problem with my knee. We suffered, but now we can celebrate. I am proud and happy." AP

What will be of concern for Poland is their lack of clean sheets, which are vital in tournament football. If Poland can tighten up at the back, they leave themselves in a good position with the strength they have in forward areas.

It looks as if the key game for Poland will come against Mexico. A win against Saudi Arabia should be a formality, and while Argentina may prove a step too far, Mexico will equally fancy their chances of qualifying from the group.

The last three World Cups for Poland have represented disappointments with group stage exits on each occasion, but exposure to knockout football and possessing one of the the best strikers in the world puts them in good stead for the tournament.

Manager: Czeslaw Michniewicz

Star player: Robert Lewandowski

One to watch: Piotr Zielinski

World Cups appeared in: 1938, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2006. 2018

Fixtures: Nov 22 - Mexico v Poland; Nov 26 - Poland v Saudi Arabia; Nov 30 - Poland v Argentina