Friday’s match in Prague started disastrously for Poles. The fans did not have time to sit down in the stands or in front of the TV sets for good, and our rivals were already leading 1:0. After a throw-in, Ladislav Krejci jumped up the highest in our penalty area and opened the scoring with a header. Two minutes later, the Czechs scored the second goal. This time, after a good action on the wing, which ended with a cross in the “sixteen”, Tomas Cvancara directed the ball to Wojciech Szczęsny’s goal. However, this was not the end of the problems of the White-and-Reds, because in the eighth minute Matty Cash left the field with an injury and Robert Gumny took his place.
The Czechs, leading by two goals, did not intend to give up the field of play and still had the opportunity for another goal. On the other hand, the Poles in the first 45 minutes were unable to create a single dangerous action in the offensive and went to the locker room in minor moods.
During the break, coach Santos made two changes – Krystian Bielik and Michał Karbownik left the pitch, and Michał Skóraś and Karol Świderski appeared in their place. However, the castlings did not change anything. The Poles still couldn’t create any specific situation, and our rivals scored again in the 64th minute. This time, a good pass from the left wing was finished by Jan Kuchta with a shot from the closest distance. In the 87th minute, after accidentally shooting the ball into the penalty area, Damian Szymański behaved consciously and scored an honorable goal against our national team. The goal of the Kraśnik-born footballer was, however, a typical “tear-wiping” hit.
– This is the beginning of qualifying and it can’t get any worse. We have to look each other in the eye, be honest in the middle of the team and now that’s the most important thing not to lie to reality. It was a very bad match in our performance, but it can be better and we have to look at it – Jan Bednarek admitted after the final whistle on TVP Sport.
Polish players will not have much time to dwell on Friday’s defeat, but also to train to improve their game. On Monday, at the PGE National Stadium, the Biało-Czerwoni will play against Albania and will want to rehabilitate their fans for their hopeless game in Prague. – We now have another very important game on Monday and we have to do everything to win it – added the Poland national team stopper.
Czech Republic – Poland 3:1 (2:0)
Goals: Krejci (1), Cvancara (3), Kuchta (64) – D. Szymański (87).
The czech republic: Pavlenka – Holes, Brabec, Krejci – Coufal (71 Doudera), Kral, Soucek, Hlozek (89 Cerny), Jurasek (89 Zeleny) – Cvancara (65 Chytil), Kuchta (71 Barak).
Poland: Szczęsny – Cash (9 Gumny), Bednarek, Kiwior, Karbownik (46 Skóraś) – S. Szymański (65 Zalewski), Linetty (77 D. Szymański), Bielik (46 Świderski), Zieliński, Frankowski – Lewandowski.
Yellow cards: Soucek, Brabec.
Judge: Anastassios Sidiropoulos (Greece).
Viewers: 19,045.
Group E second match: Moldova – Faroe Islands 1:1.
