Lewandowski's Return Fails to Save Poland in Euro 2024 Loss to Austria

Poland coach Michal Probierz expressed regret for Robert Lewandowski's late entry against Austria. Lewandowski's return failed to deliver a winning edge for Poland despite scoring 82 goals in 150 internationals. Poland's defeat by Austria complicates their chances of reaching the knockout stage, but they remain hopeful for their final game.

Poland's hopes for a successful Euro 2024 campaign suffered a setback with a 3-1 defeat to Austria in their second group game. Despite the return of their all-time top scorer Robert Lewandowski, the team failed to turn the tide against a determined Austrian side.

Coach Michal Probierz revealed that Lewandowski, who had missed the opening game against the Netherlands due to injury, was not initially intended to start against Austria. The decision was made in consultation with the medical team and Lewandowski himself, with the aim of preserving his fitness for the latter stages of the tournament.

Lewandowski's appearance as a substitute in the second half generated excitement among the Polish fans, who had been eagerly anticipating his return to action. However, his presence on the field failed to translate into a winning edge for the team. Austria had already taken a lead through a goal in the ninth minute, before Krzysztof Piatek levelled the score just before half-time.

Within seven minutes of Lewandowski's arrival, Austria's Christoph Baumgartner restored their lead, followed by a penalty from Marko Arnautovic twelve minutes later. The late goals effectively sealed the fate of the match, leaving Poland with a mountain to climb to secure a place in the knockout stages.

Probierz acknowledged that the team had missed a crucial opportunity to break through the Austrian defense, stating that they had “missed that moment”. He also pointed out that the match was highly intense and that Lewandowski’s limited playing time was a calculated risk aimed at maximizing his impact in the later stages of the tournament.

Despite the defeat, Poland still have a chance to advance to the knockout stage. However, they will need to defeat France in their final group game and hope that the Netherlands can pull off a surprise result against Austria. The pressure is now firmly on Poland to produce a convincing performance in their final encounter to avoid an early exit from the tournament.

Source: Euro 2024: Poland 'missed moment' with Lewandowski return