Whenever you’re not one of many largest footballing nations, the elite expertise at your disposal is proscribed to a handful of participant at most. So, once you arrive at a significant match and your star man and all-time file aim scorer, 35-year-old Lewandowski, is nursing a thigh harm, the outlook can look bleak.

Poland due to this fact wanted others to step as much as present the leading edge in assault that Lewandwoski has given them over so a few years.

The hope was that the Barcelona ahead would solely miss Poland’s opening recreation of Euro 2024 (in opposition to Netherlands on June 16), however he was nonetheless not match to start out this conflict in opposition to Austria.

Within the first recreation, Adam Buksa led the road and scored to provide Poland the lead. It wasn’t sufficient (Netherlands received 2-1), however they did look good for a degree till Wout Weghorst’s late aim.

Towards Austria, with Buksa much less influential, it was the flip of Krzysztof Piatek to attain, with the 28-year-old changing the equaliser from shut vary after the ball fell invitingly to him within the field.

Lewandowski may solely watch on from the bench within the first half, providing his ideas to the teaching workers to attempt to affect proceedings, till his introduction on 60 minutes. The sport was within the steadiness however he was unable to supply the additional spark required as Poland fell to a second straight 2-1 defeat that leaves them on the point of elimination.