In the tournament, Poland managed to get out of a difficult group that featured Argentina and Mexico, before losing 1-3 to defending champions France in the last 16.
This means that the Polish team, led by coach Czesław Michniewicz, had progressed to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years, as was the national football federation's (PZPN) stated aim.
However, Poland’s style of football has come under fire as too cautious and the objective of reaching the last 16 as too minimalistic.
‘Everyone expected a different performance’
Grzegorz Lato, top scorer at the 1974 World Cup and former PZPN chairman, told reporters: “What we’ve seen is the Polish team going through the motions of playing at the World Cup. We got out of the group but everyone expected a different performance.”
Lato, who played at three World Cups, scoring 10 goals, added that “the national team will definitely change” after Qatar, with several leading players expected to retire from international football.
He urged whoever will be in charge of Poland in the future to give more of a chance to up-and-coming youngsters.
“This is what [legendary coach] Kazimierz Górski did in the 1970s,” Lato said.
‘Participation is not enough’
Meanwhile, fellow 1970s striker and 1972 Olympic champion Włodzimierz Lubański said: “I am disappointed with the Polish team. I expected a better performance.”
The former Górnik Zabrze forward added: “Before the World Cup, many people said we would be satisfied with reaching the last 16. This was a minimalistic aim. You go to the World Cup to achieve something more. Mere participation is not enough.”
Lubański stressed: “Going to the World Cup, footballers should aim to achieve as much as possible at what may be a once-in-a-lifetime tournament for them.”
‘Szczęsny played superbly’
According to Jerzy Engel, who led Poland to the 2002 World Cup finals, the national team’s fortunes in Qatar were affected by "the indifferent form" of star striker and team captain Robert Lewandowski.
Engel told reporters: “If Robert Lewandowski had been playing to his usual standard, who knows what we might have achieved at this World Cup.”
At the same time, the former national coach praised the goalkeeping heroics of Wojciech Szczęsny, who saved two penalties in Qatar, including one from Argentine star Lionel Messi.
“What I will remember the most about this tournament is the performance of Wojtek Szczęsny, who played superbly,” Engel said.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, sportowefakty.wp.pl