Romania’s new manager has paid tribute to Robert Lewandowski ahead of Friday’s Nations League encounter, calling the Poland captain a “great master” despite his advancing years. Gheorghe Hagi, widely regarded as Romania’s finest ever footballer, acknowledged the Barcelona striker’s quality before the crucial Group B4 fixture at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy stadium.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Hagi said both nations arrive wounded after failing to reach the 2026 World Cup in North America. Romania lost 1-0 to Turkey in March’s play-off, whilst Poland’s campaign also ended in disappointment. According to Polsat Sport, the Romanian coach believes this shared pain will produce an intense contest.
“I think two teams are wounded. We didn’t go to the World Cup and we didn’t start the Nations League well. Both teams will fight with all their strength and it will be a beautiful match. We are well prepared and we will try to win,” Hagi told reporters.
Hagi takes charge after national tragedy
The 60-year-old former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder assumed control of Romania in April following the death of Mircea Lucescu, who passed away aged 80. Known during his playing days as the “Maradona of the Carpathians”, Hagi earned 125 caps for Romania and scored 35 goals whilst representing clubs including Galatasaray and Brescia.
Romania currently sit bottom of their Nations League group after defeats to Sweden (2-1) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-2). Poland occupy third place with one point, having drawn 0-0 with Bosnia before losing 3-1 to Sweden. The poor run has clearly frustrated the new manager.
“I was frustrated after the last matches because we score goals but we concede even more. Losing four goals to Bosnia was particularly painful, but we are moving forward,” Hagi declared. He added that nothing is difficult when you believe you can achieve great things, promising that hard work can work miracles.
‘Lewandowski is a great master’
Despite Romania’s struggles, Hagi praised both Poland as a nation and its star striker. He revealed he has visited Poland many times and described it as a “great and beautiful country full of ambition” where fans love football and pack stadiums to support their teams.
“Poland’s national team is very talented. Robert Lewandowski has his years, but he is a great master. However, we will manage regardless of whether he plays or not,” the Romanian coach assured.
Historical records show Poland and Romania have met 36 times, with Poland winning seven, drawing 15 and losing 14. In the 2018 World Cup qualifiers under Adam Nawałka, Poland secured impressive victories of 3-0 in Bucharest and 3-1 in Warsaw.
What this means for Poles in the UK
Friday’s Nations League match kicks off at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, offering Polish fans in Britain an opportunity to follow their national team as they seek to climb from third place in Group B4. For those wanting to watch, the match should be available through international sports streaming services or Polish-language broadcasters accessible in the UK.
The Nations League determines seeding for future World Cup and European Championship qualification draws, meaning Poland’s performance directly impacts the difficulty of qualifying for major tournaments. With both teams desperate for points after disappointing starts, the fixture represents a genuine opportunity for Poland to revive their campaign. Supporters can follow match updates through the Polish Football Association’s official channels and major sports news outlets.