Bitter defeat for Poland.
Robert Lewandowski & Co. lose at the start of the European Championship against Slovakia and make life difficult for themselves.
The match report.
Saint Petersburg - unsuccessful start.
The Polish national team starts with a defeat in the European Championship 2021 *.
Against strong Slovaks, the white-reds never really got a leg in the game and disappointed.
After the half-time deficit, Poland seemed to recover, but then decimated itself. Poland deservedly lost 1: 2 (0: 1) against Slovakia.
EM 2021: Inglorious premiere - Szczesny with the first goalkeeper own goal in EM history
Poland * had significantly more possession in the first half, but failed to capitalize on it.
The team of new coach Paulo Sousa (in office since January) brought none of their seven shots on goal by Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Except for a half-chance from Bayern star Robert Lewandowski * (42nd), Poland remained extremely pale.
Slovakia, which was individually less occupied, was convincing with a lot of wit and dangerous counterattacks.
Cologne's Ondrej Duda announced himself after a quarter of an hour with a shot to the side netting in the game (14th).
A few turns of the hand, Slovakia then took the lead.
Mak dribbled technically from the outside line into the penalty area (fooled among other things by Berezynski via tunnel) and then finished in the direction of the short corner.
The ball bounced against the post and jumped from Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's shoulder back into the goal unlucky - 0: 1 (18th).
The Polish national goalkeeper involuntarily wrote EM history *.
The Juventus professional is the first goalkeeper to score an own goal in a European Championship finals.
EM 2021: yellow-red after equalizer - Poland makes life difficult for itself
In the period that followed, Slovakia * even had the opportunity to extend the lead through Kucka - over that (27.) Slovakia was leading completely deservedly at break. Poland missed any offensive ideas and had almost exclusively tailored their game to Lewandowski in the last third. In the second round, the Polish selection acted more straightforwardly and was promptly rewarded for it. Karol Linetty completed a finely played attack over several stations to equalize - around 30 seconds after restart (46th).
Poland increased the pace from 1: 1, Slovakia looked shocked.
Five minutes after the equalizer, Linetty had a great chance for the second goal, but closed a little too hastily from about eight meters (51st). Nevertheless, Poland remained the game-determining team - until the 62nd minute when they were in the person of Grzegorz Krychowiak self decimated.
The midfield strategist had been cautioned for a tactical hold in the first half and then stepped on Hromada with the cleat on the foot - yellow-red.
EM 2021: Skriniar shoots Slovakia to victory - Poland in group E under pressure
After being sent off, Slovakia got the upper hand. The fact that Poland inevitably acted a little more cautiously played into the cards of the Central Europeans. After a corner from record player Marek Hamsik, central defender Milan Skriniar headed to the much acclaimed lead (69.) Poland tried to avert the defeat, but did not have any promising opportunities until the end of the game. After a dangerous corner that Glik missed by a hair's breadth (88th), central defender Jan Bednarek had a great chance to equalize in stoppage time, but he pushed the ball just past the left post from twelve meters (90th + 1). Because a Swiderski shot was too harmless (90th + 3), it stayed at a fair 1: 2.
Slovakia leads group E * of the EM. However, the tableau is not really meaningful yet. At 9 p.m. Spain and Sweden complete the first game day. For Slovakia it will continue on Friday (June 18). The world number 36 against Sweden. the chance to take a big step towards the knockout round. Poland meets Spain the next day.
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