Injury Scare for Poland as Lewandowski Limps Off in Final Euro Warm-Up

Poland Clinch Dramatic Win But Injuries Cast Shadow

Poland secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Turkey in Warsaw on Monday, but their win was marred by injuries to key players Robert Lewandowski and Karol Swiderski.

Lewandowski Replaced After Early Knock

The 35-year-old Barcelona striker Lewandowski was forced off the field in the 33rd minute with an apparent thigh problem, raising concerns about his participation in the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament. The captain left the field with Poland leading 1-0, a lead they secured thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Nicola Zalewski after Baris Alper Yilmaz equalized for Turkey.

Double Injury Blow for Poland

Adding to Poland’s woes, Swiderski, who opened the scoring in the 12th minute, picked up an ankle injury while celebrating.

Manager Attempts to Calm Nerves

Despite the setbacks, Poland manager Michal Probierz attempted to calm nerves, saying, “Robert has a slight injury but there should be no problem.” He echoed similar sentiments regarding Swiderski, revealing, “Karol has sprained his ankle and only after the tests will we know what the situation looks like. There will certainly be no changes made.”

Injuries Add to Poland’s Selection Woes

These injuries come at a particularly difficult time for Poland. Juventus forward Arkadiusz Milik was already ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury sustained in their previous friendly against Ukraine, and Aston Villa defender Matty Cash also missed out due to an injury that plagued him towards the end of the club season.

Lewandowski’s Absence Would Be a Major Blow

Lewandowski’s absence would be a major blow to Poland’s Euro hopes. The prolific striker boasts an impressive 82 goals in 148 appearances for his national side, and he continued his goalscoring form with Barcelona this past season, netting 26 times across all competitions.

Swiderski Offers Valuable Alternative

Swiderski, on the other hand, offers a valuable alternative with 11 goals in 31 caps for Poland. He spent last season on loan at Hellas Verona from Charlotte FC.

Poland Enter Euros on Positive Run

Poland’s qualification for Euro 2024 was far from smooth sailing. They finished the group stage last year needing play-off victories over Estonia and Wales, the latter secured via penalties, to book their spot in Germany this summer. However, they head into the tournament on a positive note, riding an eight-game unbeaten streak under manager Probierz.

Tough Test Awaits in Group D

Their path to the knockout stages won’t be easy though. Placed in Group D, Poland will face heavyweights like The Netherlands and France alongside Austria. With key players facing injury concerns, Probierz will be hoping for a speedy recovery for both Lewandowski and Swiderski to bolster his squad’s chances of progressing in the tournament.