The Poland World Cup 2022 squad has been announced, with Robert Lewandowski leading the line, and the team, in Qatar.
Poland manager Czeslaw Michniewicz has whittled down his 47-man provisional list to 26 players, with the European side set to face Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico in Group C of the Qatar World Cup.
For the first time in history, Poland have qualified for four successive major tournaments, yet they remain without a ‘Golden Generation’ tag.
To be mentioned in the same breath as the World Cup eras of 1974 and ’82, they’d probably need to match their predecessors’ third-place finishes – and with key players either approaching or well into their 30s, this unit won’t get many more chances. So: no pressure.
There are concerns when Poland faces higher-ranked opposition (such as, er, Argentina). They qualified with six wins over San Marino, Andorra and Albania; none over England, nor Hungary. A 6-1 Nations League battering by Belgium in June only deepened those worries.
Indeed, the spine is incredibly fragile. While heroic performances from 34-year-old defensive linchpin Kamil Glik remain a trademark, age is slowly catching up with him. In midfield, the haphazard showings of Grzegorz Krychowiak seldom justify his continued selection.
Winning their first game poses a problem, too. The Eagles have done so only once at the World Cup - back in 1974. Since then, they've lost three and drawn three of their openers, and they'll face World Cup veterans Mexico in their first game of the upcoming tournament.
However, the Polish attack is as strong as ever. Krzysztof Piątek and Arek Milik are fit and firing in Serie A following summer transfers, Karol Świderski has swiftly become an MLS star and, with nine qualifying goals, Robert Lewandowski continues to be Robert Lewandowski.
He'll certainly need to be if Poland are to stand a chance of making it out of the group.
Poland World Cup 2022 squad
Poland World Cup 2022 squad: The final 26-man team
- GK: Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus)
- GK: Łukasz Skorupski (Bologna)
- GK: Kamil Grabara (Copenhagen)
- DF: Kamil Glik (Benevento)
- DF: Bartosz Bereszyński (Sampdoria)
- DF: Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa)
- DF: Matty Cash (Aston Villa)
- DF: Robert Gumny (Augsburg)
- DF: Artur Jędrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw)
- DF: Jakub Kiwior (Spezia)
- DF: Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont)
- DF: Nicola Zalewski (Roma)
- MF: Piotr Zieliński (SSC Napoli)
- MF: Kamil Grosicki (Pogoń Szczecin)
- MF: Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab Riyadh)
- MF: Damian Szymański (AEK FC)
- MF: Sebastian Szymański (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
- MF: Przemysław Frankowski (RC Lens)
- MF: Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City)
- MF: Jakub Kamiński (VfL Wolfsburg)
- MF: Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan)
- MF: Szymon Żurkowski (ACF Fiorentina)
- FW: Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona)
- FW: Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus FC)
- FW: Krzysztof Piątek (US Salernitana 1919)
- FW: Karol Świderski (Charlotte FC)
Poland top scorers
Poland top scorers
1 goal: Robert Lewandowski, Piotr Zielinski
Poland yellow cards
Poland yellow cards
One yellow: Przemyslaw Frankowski, Jakub Kiwior, Matty Cash, Arkadiusz Milik, Grzegorz Krychowiak
Poland manager
Who is Poland's manager for the 2022 World Cup?
It’s been a rollercoaster 2022 for Czeslaw Michniewicz, who took over from Flamengo-bound Paulo Sousa in January. Since then, he’s led his country to qualification and to their heaviest defeat since 2010, also threatening to sue a journalist for bringing up his alleged links to a corruption scandal that plagued the Polish game in the 2000s. Busy.
Poland's star player
Who is Poland's best player?
We’re running out of superlatives to describe Robert Lewandowski. There was a concern that the 34-year-old’s move to Barcelona might see his form dip, but Lewy has begun Camp Nou life with the vigour and aplomb for which he is renowned – and then a little extra. Bavaria’s loss is Catalonia’s gain, and Poland hope to benefit from it.
How many players are Poland allowed to take to the 2022 World Cup?
National managers were allowed to bring 26 players to last summer’s European Championship for the first time at a major tournament, as a special measure brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now 26-player squads will return for the Qatar World Cup, an expansion from the usual 23-man teams.
