Robert Lewandowski will call upon struggles from the early part of his career as he aims to end a barren run on the biggest stages for Poland in Saturday's Euro 2020 match with Spain.
Poland went down 2-1 in their Group E opener against Slovakia, with Bayern Munich superstar Lewandowski unable to haul his side out of trouble after Grzegorz Krychowiak was sent off and Milan Skriniar hit a 69th-minute winner.
Lewandowski has scored with just two of his 35 shots for Poland at major tournaments, failing to find the net with his past 17 attempts in such games.
However, an overall career return of 66 goals in 120 caps – both national records – mean he is able to look at the bigger picture.
"I never really believed I could reach these figures," he told UEFA.com when discussing his overall numbers for Poland.
"I remember at the start of my Poland career when I wasn't scoring many goals – I had problems getting chances, controlling the ball.
"The feeling that if I don't get a chance, another one will come along and I will still score – well, I remember when it was hard to get that!"
Spain's goalless draw with Sweden was a game to forget for their own centre-forward, Alvaro Morata.
The Juventus striker missed a glorious chance before half-time and failed to work goalkeeper Robin Olsen with any of his three attempts.
"The big thing is not to think too much about the past. It's gone," he told UEFA.com, suggesting the opposite approach to Lewandowski.
"The Sweden game didn't go as I wanted and I have to accept that. The next day you just work harder to ensure that next time you'll put it away and win."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Spain – Alvaro Morata
There is already clamour for Villarreal's prolific Gerard Moreno to be granted an opportunity ahead of Morata after a comparatively lively cameo against Sweden, although the man in possession of the starting spot could crown a good week personally with a strong display, having extended his loan at Juve from Atletico Madrid for another year. The 28-year-old has scored three of Spain's past four Euros goals and is his country's leading scorer since the 2016 tournament, with 16 in 32 appearances.
Poland – Mateusz Klich
There will also be emphasis on the supply line to Lewandowski firing to great effect for Poland. Piotr Zielinski led the way with four key passes against Slovakia but Klich only created one chance. There is certainly room for improvement for the Leeds United man, whose four goals and five assists in last season's Premier League were records in both categories for a Polish player.
KEY OPTA FACTS
- This will be the first meeting between Spain and Poland at a major tournament. Spain have won eight of their 10 matches against Poland, with the sole Polish victory taking place over 40 years ago. Since 2000, Spain have hosted their opponents twice and racked up an aggregate advantage of 9-0.
- After drawing against Sweden, Spain could open a Euros tournament with no wins from their opening two matches for the first time since 1996. They haven't failed to score in consecutive matches since the 2013 Confederations Cup.
- Poland have won just two of their 12 matches at the European Championship (D6 L4), failing to score more than one goal in any of those 12 encounters.
- Against Sweden, Spain completed 830 passes and recorded a possession figure of 85.1 per cent - both were tournament highs since Opta have full passing data for the Euros.
- Manchester City's Ferran Torres (seven) was one of only three players born in or after the year 2000 to score at least seven goals in the Premier League in 2020-21.
Premier League rights deal worth record £6.7billion agreed from 2025-26
Sky Sports will screen a minimum of 215 Premier League matches a season as part of a domestic rights agreement worth a record £6.7billion.
The broadcaster secured four of the five packages on offer in the league’s latest domestic rights tender which starts in 2025-26, with TNT Sports netting the other package of 52 games.
Amazon, who show 20 matches per season under the league’s current deal, have not secured rights for the new domestic cycle which runs through to the end of the 2028-29 season.
The Premier League said the value of the agreements being announced, which also cover non-live rights, was £6.7billion, the largest sports media rights deal in UK history.
The current live TV deal, which runs through to 2024-25, has been reported to be worth £5billion over the three-year cycle.
The talking points ahead of England’s Women’s Nations League trip to Scotland
England’s Nations League group games conclude on Tuesday with a clash against Scotland at Hampden Park.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the talking points ahead of the contest.
Big win could be required
Only table-toppers advance to the Nations League semi-finals, and England are currently second in Group A1, level on nine points with leaders the Netherlands, who the Lionesses beat 3-2 at Wembley on Friday. While the two sides are locked on head-to-head record, the Dutch have a goal difference that is superior by three – so it could be that Sarina Wiegman’s side need not only a victory, but a high-scoring one. The Netherlands face a Belgium outfit that are a point behind in third, while already-relegated Scotland have two points.
Olympic aim
This is not only about trying to progress to the Nations League’s last four. England are the nominated home nation for securing a Paris 2024 Olympics qualification spot, something that will be achieved if they advance and then make the Nations League final or, if France are finalists, come in the top three. With England’s success on that front the only way Scottish players will be able to play at the Games, it is certainly an unusual situation heading into Tuesday – ahead of which Scotland captain Rachel Corsie has said it is “absolutely outrageous to question anyone’s integrity”.
Relegation threat
Relegation from League A is not out of the equation for England – should things go awry for the European champions and World Cup runners-up on Tuesday to leave them third in the pool, that will put them in the promotion/relegation play-offs. The draws for the finals and the play-offs will take place next Monday, with the matches set to happen in February.
Mead’s return
If England need goals, a significant boost is that they now have Beth Mead, the Golden Boot winner when they triumphed at Euro 2022, back in the fold. The fit-again Arsenal forward made her first international appearance since suffering an ACL injury just over a year ago when she came on at half-time against the Netherlands, a game in which Wiegman’s team battled back in the second half after being 2-0 down at the break. At the back, they are again without the injured Millie Bright – goalkeeper Mary Earps captained in her absence against the Dutch.
Previous meeting
The teams opened their campaigns in this inaugural edition of the Nations League by facing each other at the Stadium of Light in September, with England edging Pedro Martinez Losa’s Scotland 2-1. Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp netted for the Lionesses before the deficit was reduced in first-half stoppage time by Kirsty Hanson, who subsequently hit the bar after the break.
Scotland captain Rachel Corsie insists questions over integrity are ‘outrageous’
Captain Rachel Corsie believes any questioning of Scotland’s integrity when England visit Hampden on Tuesday night is “outrageous”.
Pedro Martinez Losa’s side are already relegated from League A1 of the Women’s Nations League ahead of their final fixture in the inaugural competition.
England are the nominated side to qualify on behalf of Team GB for the Olympics and they need to beat the Auld Enemy in Glasgow to have any chance of going to Paris next summer.
The Lionesses are behind group leaders Netherlands – who play Belgium in their final game – on a goal difference of 4-1 and need to win the section and reach the final, or finish third if Olympic hosts France get to the final, if Team GB are to make the Games.
With England success the only way Scottish players will be able to play at the Olympics, Netherlands boss Andries Jonker described the situation as “strange”.
Corsie said: “A lot of people outside have spoken about it, and truthfully I think it is so disrespectful.
“To have played for my country for as many years as I have, to know the girls that sit in there, the ones that want to be here, the ones who can’t be here through injury, I think it is absolutely outrageous to question anyone’s integrity and I think it is a huge insult to us.
“I understand why the question is being asked, but for us, the motivation is playing for your country.
“It’s difficult to understand that if you’ve never experienced it but when you have experienced it, you don’t need extra motivation, it is absolutely the pinnacle of the sport to represent your nation so that will absolutely be the motivation tomorrow, to be pulling on the Scotland jersey.
“The format is something that players don’t really have any input or say on. The situation is unique, it’s difficult.
“I think it is a game that we absolutely look forward to. The position that we are in in the group is difficult because it is not where we want to be, but at the same time we have the opportunity to finish the year against a team that is one of the best but also against one that in the history of this country and in the sport, is a huge rivalry.
“The chance to play them here at Hampden Park, I know, is one that everyone is definitely relishing.”
Martinez Losa was also keen to stress the integrity of his squad.
He said: “I feel the situation is one we cannot change, it is a situation we have been brought into. I wish that it could have been anticipated or we could have changed.
“What I do not feel happy about is the questioning of the integrity of the Scottish players.
“Scotland is a wonderful country, with wonderful people, they are very passionate about everything and nobody for one second should question the integrity of the players and how much they want to represent their nation.
“The feeling of this group is to represent thousands of girls and boys who are coming to watch and inspire all these people – that is stronger than anything. I feel the question is totally inappropriate.”
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