Saturday 19th June 2021
Lewandowski hits
Spain awards 911 and Poland cheers
Against Sweden, the Spaniards passed and passed the ball. A goal did not want to fall. They score against Poland. But then Lewandowski comes first, then a missed penalty and a lot of bad luck. What’s wrong with the Spaniards? Group E remains complicated.
Robert Lewandowski clapped his hands three times after the final whistle and then gave the whip in the company of his teammates. With his first tournament goal, the world footballer from Bayern Munich saved Poland from the early European Championship knockout – after harsh criticism at the beginning. His header in the 54th minute secured a 1: 1 (0: 1) in Seville against Spain and kept the chance for the round of 16. The Poles now have the advancement in their own hands: With a win in the last group game on Wednesday (6 p.m.) against Sweden, they would move into the knockout round.
For Spain, of all things, the controversial Alvaro Morata (25th) had ended the Spanish goal doldrums, but it was not enough for the first European Championship victory. The 2010 world champion gambled away the lead that the last whistled striker had achieved with the first goal of Furia Roja after 219 minutes. The Spaniards, who missed a penalty after video evidence by Gerard Moreno (58th), also need a three-point in the last group game on Wednesday (6 p.m.) against Slovakia to make it to the round of 16. “It was bad. We tried to the end, but the goals are simply missing. Of course we are under pressure,” said captain Jordi Alba, “but you shouldn’t lose your faith.”
“Lewy” answers critics
Lewandowski was under special observation. After the weak performance against Slovakia (1: 2), the 32-year-old was heavily criticized in Poland. In addition, Spain’s Ferran Torres had announced: “Our central defenders will eat him up.” First of all, the Bundesliga record goal scorer was noticed as a preparer, Mateusz Klich pulled from 20 meters, the ball dropped onto the goal net (6th). The recipe of the Poles: stop Spanish possession football with early pressing. But the favorite always found playful solutions to keep the ball in their own ranks, at half time the value was back at 70 percent.
The way into the opposing penalty area turned out to be difficult, however, the Spaniards repeatedly played across, the flanks lacked precision. Poland’s five-man chain initially had few problems. Significant: the opening gate was a coincidence. The Moreno demanded by the fans, who coach Luis Enrique had put in the three-way attack alongside Morata and Leipzig’s Dani Olmo, failed in an attempt to shoot. The ball came to Morata, who put an end to the goal doldrums.
Almost 2-0, but then Poland comes
The Juventus striker ran to his coach and thanked him for his support. Enrique had given him a guarantee and asked the fans to support him. This time they received him with applause. Moreno, the most successful Spanish shooter in La Liga last season and Europa League winner with FC Villarreal, almost made it 2-0 with a strong free kick (34th).
With the Poles, the legwork for Lewandowski did not improve despite three changes – on the contrary: The Bayern star continued to work as a preparer, Karol Swiderski put his cross over the goal (35th). Shortly before the break, Lewandowski got his chance: After a shot from the post by Swiderski, the ball jumped in front of his feet, but it failed due to goalkeeper Unai Simon (43.).
After the break, the Poles attacked even more aggressively and were equalized by Lewandowski, who prevailed in the header duel. Moreno failed a few minutes later when he put the penalty on the post, Morata’s margin clearly missed the target. Even shortly before the final whistle, Morata missed a big chance (84th).
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