Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday left the field with a huge smile on his face after blowing kisses to fans and hugging teammates, even though his team had just lost a crucial game at the FIFA World Cup.
However, Poland had scraped into the knockout stages of the tournament, despite their 2-0 loss to Argentina, as Salem Aldawsari in a concurrent game in Group C had scored a stoppage-time goal for Saudi Arabia in their 2-1 defeat to Mexico.
That late goal ensured Poland finished runners-up in the group ahead of Mexico on goal difference to set up a last-16 game against France on Sunday.
“You can say it’s a happy defeat,” said Lewandowski, who failed to even have a shot on target. “I’m not happy with the way we played. Of course not. We can’t be happy with the game itself.”
Poland had been thoroughly outplayed by Argentina, with Lewandowski an ineffective, isolated figure as his team were pegged back for the duration of the game.
Argentina had 24 attempts at goal, 13 on target. Poland had three, none on target.
“We didn’t want to take any risk and, you know, we achieved our result, because we reached the next round,” Lewandowski said with a smile. “Even though we lost, we can be happy.”
Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said his team’s lack of attacking threat was not Lewandowski’s fault.
“I’m not attacking anyone from the team, but we didn’t help him to score,” Michniewicz said. “If [Lionel] Messi played for us and Robert played for Argentina, Robert would have scored five goals. Robert needed to get assistance and the match was played in our half. There were so many players covering him.”
Poland’s game finished, but Mexico were leading Saudi Arabia 2-0 and desperately pushing for the third goal that would have been enough to progress at Poland’s expense.
Poland and Mexico had four points, with two goals scored and two goals conceded each at that moment.
Poland only had the edge by having fewer yellow cards than Mexico’s players.
Poland defender Bartosz Bereszynski covered his face. He could not bear the tension.
Then Aldawsari scored for Saudi Arabia to end Mexico’s hopes.
“I guess it’s the first time I felt you can be happy after a loss,” Lewandowski said.
Their game against France is one of four that had been determined in the last 16 ahead of matches in groups H and G that were to begin after press time last night.
The Netherlands and the US are to play tomorrow night Taiwan time, with the Australia-Argentina game to follow shortly afterward.
England and Senegal are to play early on Monday morning following the France-Poland clash.
In Group F, Croatia and Belgium were to play after press time, followed by the Canada-Morocco, Japan-Spain and Costa Rica-Germany games.
Additional reporting by staff writer
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
RSS