On Saturday: joy.
On Thursday: despair.
Penalty shootouts can provoke either ecstasy or anguish, and Poland have now experienced both sets of emotions in the past few days. While Switzerland were overcome on spot-kicks in the last 16 of the European Championship last weekend, Portugal proved more clinical from 12 yards in the pair's quarter-final five days later.
It was a heartbreaking way for the Poles to depart, but when the dust has settled Adam Nawalka and his players can look back on their time in France with pride.
Four years ago, Poland co-hosted Euro 2012 but failed to make it beyond the first stage. Things had started so well, Robert Lewandowski giving his side the lead against Greece 17 minutes into the opening game of the competition, but Poland got progressively worse and finished fourth in a favourable group that also included Russia and Czech Republic.
The next hurdle also proved insurmountable as Poland ended their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign nine points adrift of group winners England and eight behind runners-up Ukraine. Manager Waldemar Fornalik was disposed of just days after their final match, with his replacement Adam Nawalka tasked with guiding Poland to this summer’s expanded tournament over the next two years.
The former Wisla Krakow midfielder did exactly that and more, leading Poland to their first appearance in the last eight of a competition since the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when Zbigniew Boniek starred as the Poles finished third.
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They may not have always been the easiest on the eye, but Poland were well drilled, solid and effective throughout this year’s tournament in France.
There was an excellent balance to the side, with each member of it fully aware of his role and responsibilities.
Centre-halves Kamil Glik and Michal Pazdan were combative and uncompromising, while Grzegorz Krychowiak – perhaps one of the most underrated midfielders on the continent – demonstrated his all-round skillset in the engine room.
Kamil Grosicki and Jakub Blaszczykowski added speed and directness on the flanks, with younger deputies Bartosz Kapustka and Piotr Zielinski offering a little more guile and creativity when called upon, and Arek Milik linked the play well as a second striker despite some erratic finishing.
The key contributions of the above players meant Poland were able to progress to the quarter-finals without relying on Robert Lewandowski for goals or moments of magic, with the Bayern Munich man only opening his account in the 1-1 draw with Portugal that ended with Ricardo Quaresma sealing the latter’s passage to the final four by scoring the ninth penalty of the night.
Lewandowski was much improved after quiet showings against Northern Ireland, Germany, Ukraine and Switzerland, with Poland more threatening in attacking areas as a result. Nawalka’s charges were easily the better team in the opening 25 minutes at the Stade Velodrome, defending stoutly and counter-attacking quickly as they got in behind the Portugal backline on a number of occasions.
Their opponents soon took control, though, and it was Fernando Santos’s men who were pushing for the winning goal for much of the second half after Renato Sanches had levelled the scores before the break.
Poland managed to hold out as Portugal spurned a handful of golden opportunities, and by the time penalties came around the underdogs were probably confident of pulling off an upset.
It simply was not to be, however, with Rui Patricio’s save from Blaszczykowski proving decisive. It was a horrible way to lose and it might take Poland’s players the rest of the summer to get over it, but they can exit with their heads held high and look forward to a future that looks far brighter than it did just two years ago.
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