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
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year’s finals in North America without losing a game, but that does not tell the whole story. The country’s soccer association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Manchester City on Monday completed the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported ￡31 million (US$41.8 million). The 24-year-old Algeria international has signed a five-year contract and will be available for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins later this week. Ait-Nouri is expected to be just one of a trio of new City faces for that tournament with deals close to completion for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Olympique Lyonnais playmaker Rayan Cherki. After missing out on a major trophy in the recently completed season for the first time since 2016-2017, City are hoping
RSS