Poland withstood Saudi Arabia’s intensity, capitalized on mistakes and topped Argentina’s group

It seemed like a curse for a scorer of such stature. Three goalless matches in Russia 2018 and a frustrating debut in Qatar against Mexico, including a missed penalty, were too much for Robert Lewandowski. Finally the spell was broken: after 442 minutes of waiting, the Polish emblem screamed for the first time in a World Cup and made a huge contribution to his team to strengthen the goal of qualifying for the round of 16 thanks to his 2-0 victory against Saudi Arabiawhich ended after four days the celebration of the triumph over Argentina.

The Polish triumph was not the result of a remarkable presentation or a wild offensive vocation. The team led by Czesław Michniewicz He raised the bar slightly compared to his pale debut. “It’s very difficult for a striker to start so far back, obviously I would like to have a little more ball”, Lewandowski had complained after the 0-0 defeat against the Mexicans. This time the technician has offered him, at least nominally, a companion: Arkadiusz Milik. But the Juventus striker was a fifth midfielder for most of the game.

Even Saudi Arabia was not an example of virtue, but with its weapons it was enough to overcome the European cast of the first chapter. The team that occupies the 51st place in the FIFA rankings (they are the second worst-placed in that ranking among the 32 World Cup participants, ahead only of Ghana) have resorted to the same method they had used against Argentina, albeit without the gamble of risk of the constant advance of his defense: intense pressure in the center and speed on the wings (especially the right one) to overreach.

With their elementary writing, the Green Hawks they had been a little closer to zero until 39 minutes into their first serious offensive excursion, Poland struck: after a quick exit from his goal, Matty Cash hit deep, Lewandowski didn’t know how to define at first, but, generous and intelligent, he provided the assist for Piotr Zielisnki’s goal.

For a cautious and tight team like Michniewicz’s, the lead looked very comfortable. In any case, if he was able to take advantage of it, it was above all thanks to his goalkeeper. The Polish take could be short-lived, given that at the end of the first half the referee Wilton Sampaio, after resorting to the endgame screen, awarded a penalty after Krystian Bielik’s insignificant brushstroke on Saleh Al Shehri. But Wojciech Szczesny landed two magical slapsfirst against Salem Al Dawsari’s shot and then, on the rebound, against Mohammed Al Burayk.

Led by the judicious Mohamed Kanno and, since joining, Nawaf Al Abid, the team of Herve Renard He insisted on complementing in search of a draw that would leave him very close to qualifying for the round of 16, a goal he has achieved in only one of his previous five World Cup appearances (in the United States in 1994). This is how he made Szczesny into a figurewho was not satisfied with the penalty in the first half and responded perfectly every time he asked.

Comfortable in their posture on the break and taking advantage of the ever-widening cracks left in the background by the Saudis, the Polish side flirted with a second goal which closed the duel. The crossbar and the left post of the goal defended by Al Owais come into play to repel a popcorn from Milik and a touch from Lewandowski. But the winner of the last two editions of the FIFA The Best award, who has had to act as playmaker in his team from time to time, finally the mufa has been removed.

Eight minutes from closing, Al Malki made a grotesque mistake in an easy exit to the edge of its area and lewi he took advantage of it. It was his 77th goal in 136 games for the national team (no one has played or scored so much in a red and white shirt), but his first in a World Cup. Tears during the celebration made it clear that it was not a little more in the account of him very large than him. Because he also left Michniewicz’s team one step away from the round of 16. He has to give it on Wednesday against Argentina.