Football: Wooden spoon for Poland as World Cup reaches climax

The realsport101.com sports news website has identified Panama as the second-biggest loser of the World Cup, and named Germany as the third-biggest loser.

The website said Panama were “the worst side of the tournament in purely footballing terms,” and Germany were “the biggest disappointment in terms of pre-tournament expectations,” but Poland “married the two.”

realsport101.com added that Adam Nawałka’s side played “some of the least exciting football of the tournament” and their star striker Robert Lewandowski “never threatened” despite scoring 16 goals during his team's World Cup qualifying campaign.

“Big things” were expected of Poland before the tournament, especially after the side reached the quarterfinals at the Euro 2016 championships in France, according to realsport101.com.

Poland “should have done much, much better and that is why they deserve the … wooden spoon,” realsport101.com said.

New manager

Football bosses on Thursday said former player Jerzy Brzęczek would take over as the new Poland manager after the national squad's early World Cup exit disappointed fans.

Poland failed to advance to the knockout phase of the World Cup in Russia after losing 1-2 to Senegal and 0-3 to Colombia in the group stage.

Poland won their final game, beating Japan 1-0, but finished bottom of their Group H.

Lewandowski, Poland's all-time top scorer, bagged a remarkable 16 goals from 10 games in his team’s World Cup qualifying campaign, setting a European qualifying record.

Meanwhile, Nawałka is the first Poland manager to have taken the national squad to both the European championships and the World Cup.

Poland made it through to the quarterfinals of the Euro 2016 championships in France, losing to Portugal on penalties.

Poland finished third in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany and were also third in Spain in 1982.

(gs/pk)

Source: dorzeczy.pl, realsport101.com