In their following and final UEFA Nations League group stage game, Poland will play Scotland at home on Monday - to keep the 3rd place and avoid a direct relegation from the Division A.
The Polish national team approached the match against Portugal already seriously weakened - missing, among others, FC Barcelona superstar striker Robert Lewandowski, Hellas Verona centre back Paweł Dawidowicz and Aston Villa wingback Matty Cash due to injuries.
As if it wasn't enough - during the pre-game week RC Lens wingback Przemysław Frankowski and Raków Częstochowa winger Michael Ameyaw also left the Polish national team training camp due to muscle injuries - and a minor pre-game warm-up injury forced Fenerbahce's Sebastian Szymański to miss the game against Portugal as well.
After the match with Portugal - the situation became even worse for Poland. Sampdoria's Bartosz Bereszyński had a great game as a right wingback - but had to leave the pitch with an injury in the 32nd minute. Southampton's stopper Jan Bednarek was left in the dressing room during the break with a knee injury. And although Jagiellonia's Taras Romańczuk managed to complete the match despite the injury suffered, it is now clear that he will be sidelined too. All three have left the national team camp already, and most likely face lay-offs exceeding a month.
The only positive is that Szymański's pre-match injury turned out to be minor - and he will be able to play against the Scots on Monday. In light of the defenders' problems, Cagliari's centre back Mateusz Wieteska has also been called-up in emergency mode, and joined the Polish national team on Saturday.
Now, the Poles must at least draw in the Monday match in Warsaw against Scotland to maintain a chance of remaining in Division A of the Nations League through a relegation play-off. A loss means finishing last in the group - and automatic relegation to a lower division. Considering all the injury woes of the Polish national team - it could be really difficult...
The match against Scotland will start at 20:45 Polish time on November 18. The Scots are currently tied in the table with Poland, but as Poland has won their first game, it is placed higher and a draw would favour the Poles. The Scots will be pumped-up, however - as on Friday they surprisingly won 1-0 against Croatia - although helped by an early red card by Croatia's Petar Sucic.
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Source: IAR, PAP