The Polish national team defeated Albania 4: 1 in the first of the three September 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in Qatar. Despite the high result, it was not an easy match for the Poles who had been struggling with ambitious Albanians for a long time. Cadre Paulo Sousa, mainly due to the excellent attitude of Robert Lewandowski, however, reached for the most important three points. In the press conference after the meeting, Paulo Sousa admitted that his side had some problems on the pitch in the first half. Here is what the selector of the Polish national team said.
About the match with Albania:
We knew it was going to be a very intense game with lots of fighting. There was no space creation in the first half. Sometimes we were too far apart, too wide. Sometimes we didn’t rotate well and didn’t create an advantage in the offensive. Moreover, in the middle of the field, we have to be much stronger. We looked better in this respect in the second half. Before, we missed blocking their stopwatches in the ball play, especially on the left side, which was very dangerous. In the second half it was easier for us as we were regular in ours game.
After the matches, the adrenaline is huge, but we are already focusing on analyzing and working with players in the context of subsequent matches. Above all, we want them to make better decisions individually.
Winning is always important. For me, the most important thing is that we are focused on our identity and mentality. If we had the same players over and over again, this process would be faster and easier. But we have to adapt. The mentality of our team from the very beginning of the training camp is great. I am proud of what I see from our players.
On why Linetty started as a backup:
Karol Linetty is the best midfielder at the training camp, but for tactical reasons for this match we decided to play Moder and Krychowiak. We corrected some things during the break and the aid measure performed better. When the game called for an extra midfielder to better control the game, we did and got stronger. Later my colleague Edoardo Reja made the decision to reveal himself, then we reacted by introducing fresh players at the front, like Świderski.
On the attitude of Robert Lewandowski:
Robert Lewandowski makes a difference. But the team is not on the same level. This is the difference we are trying to bridge. As a result, we need much more from Lewandowski than he presents in Bayern. Today he had a good cooperation with Adam and scored a goal. It’s fantastic that he scored after what we practiced. With a player like Robert, everything can be expected and hopefully it will be so in the next matches.
About tactics with three defenders:
I saw four defenders, so maybe I was watching the game wrong.
About Bartosz Bereszyński’s injury:
During the warm-up, the adductor spoke to him. Then during the game it got worse and we took it off the pitches. He is a player who needs a little more time to recover every time, so we will spare him against San Marino to be ready for England.
About why he introduced Paweł Dawidowicz and not Tomasz Kędziora in his place:
Albania is a very compact team, brave and committed, very physical. That’s why I made the decision to let Paweł in.
On what should be improved to make the positional attack better:
From the beginning of our work, I say that we have players who can make a difference, but we have to be stronger on the sides. However, it all starts with a throw-in. The players do not always present in the clubs what we require in the national team. It is visible at times, but it is a process that takes time to build confidence and to better control and create the game. We are not always regular, but we have to keep going the same way. The players show that they want to be here and do it, and that is very important to me.
On the prospect of the match with England:
From day one we say we want to have a mindset to play against the best, but we also know that we are not on the same level as England. When they lose one player due to injury, they have three more in his place.
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