The National's Sport cover for the Monday, June 13 issue, featuring Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik as his goal proved the decider in a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland at Euro 2016.
Richard Jolly writes that for tournament underdogs Northern Ireland, the power of Poland's talent proved simply too much:
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“It seemed extraordinary that Poland, the country of Zbigniew Boniek, Grzegorz Lato and Kazimierz Deyna, had never won a European Championship game before. An explanation of sorts lies in the fact they never qualified during their heyday in the 1970s and 1980s, when they were twice World Cup semi-finalists.
“The current collective may be their best generation since then.
“Their local derbies against Germany and Ukraine promise to be compelling clashes. For Northern Ireland, two more rearguard actions beckon. The guarantee is they will approach them with determination and organisation.
“The concern is that their opponents are blessed with much more ability.”
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