Second chance seized
Lewandowski is allowed to repair embarrassing penalty – and scores particularly
By Martin Armbruster, Dortmund
25.06.2024, 21:36
Robert Lewandowski and Poland had a disappointing European Championship, with elimination already certain before the last group match. But it ended on a positive note, not least because the top star scored with a second chance.
Robert Lewandowski has been attracting attention for years with his very special penalty-taking style. His delaying fidgeting often works well, but not in the European Championship match against France – at least not once. Because the former Bundesliga star is getting a second chance in Dortmund. In the 77th minute of the European Championship group match between the already eliminated Poland and top favorite France, Robert Lewandowski did what he always does when he takes a penalty. He shimmied, stopped, shimmied again, stopped, shimmied, delayed – and stared at France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The number 9 of Poland looked like a cowboy waiting for his opponent to finally make a move. Lewandowski’s problem: Maignan’s upper body was hidden, he didn’t twitch, he didn’t play along with the star striker’s game. And at some point he had to shoot. The result was a weakly shot ball into the left corner of the goal (from the point of view of the shooter), which Maignan blocked without any problems; to the delight of the Equipe Tricolore, who were leading 1-0 at the time and had set course for group victory thanks to a confident and effortless penalty from masked man Kylian Mbappé.
Lewandowski complains immediately
However, Maignan made a mistake. While the ball was still rolling towards the goal, Lewandowski denounced an offence by the goalkeeper. Maignan, provoked by Lewandowski’s constant run-up, moved forward a little too early. When Lewandowski took his shot, Maignan was standing too far in front of the goal line, giving himself an advantage by reducing the angle of the shot for the shooter.
Referee Marco Guida, who had informed Maignan before the penalty that the foot rule had been more strictly enforced for some time, immediately upheld Lewandowski’s appeal. The Italian ordered a replay. France’s World Cup winning coach Didier Deschamps was lost on the sidelines. Sacre bleu!
Lewandowski was not put off and ran again in his own style. The Polish fans held their breath as the former world footballer stopped as usual, turned his right foot and pushed the ball. The difference: this time Lewandowski shot more precisely – much more precisely. Maignan smelled a rat again and dived into his right corner again. But this time the Pole aimed so precisely that the ball was out of reach for the Milan goalkeeper. It bounced off the inside post and into the net. 1:1. A real dampener for the French, who have been disappointing so far at this European Championship.
Last chance for a special goal
Although Les Bleus were more offensive than in the games against Austria and Holland, Deschamps’ eleven also fell far short of their own expectations in Dortmund. Of course, France are second in the tough Group D behind Ralf Rangnick’s sensational Austrians. The vice world champions were not convincing, let alone brilliant. The reputation of the top favorite, the high-speed offensive machine that overruns the opponents, was dented in the group phase. Perhaps only goalkeeper Maignan played consistently well in the three games – he almost came to the rescue in Dortmund if he had kept his feet still for a moment longer.
Extreme delayer Robert Lewandowski, however, was granted the mercy of a second chance. The 35-year-old was able to celebrate despite the embarrassing penalty. Just like all Poles that evening. While France’s star ensemble shuffled off the Dortmund pitch not beaten, but slightly dejected. Tamer Deschamps was defiant: “The first goal has been achieved. Now the competition starts all over again.”
Lewandowski’s goal was also one for the history books: the striker was only the third player (after Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo) to score at four European Championship finals. It was the last chance for a special goal.