David faced Goliath, but this time there was no slingshot or miracle. This is how we can describe the clash between the Polish national team and Portugal at PGE Narodowy as part of the Nations League. Michał Probierz's team was simply of much lower quality than their rivals and you don't have to be an expert to tell that after this match.
Zieliński was supposed to give hope, but only wiped away some tears
The Portuguese won 3-1 after very easy goals and one own goal. Both Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo didn't even have to struggle much with their defenders to find the net. However, if the rivals had set their sights even better and Łukasz Skorupski was in worse shape, the result would have been much higher and worse. Piotr Zieliński's goal gave hope, but only for ten minutes. Experts on the X website had no mercy for the Probierz team. After the match, just like on the pitch, it was difficult to find anything positive.
Portugal from another football planet
“They are playing with us. Six Poles are running after one Portuguese player and they cannot catch him. It is a sad sight. We are tactically lying down. We are scattered all over the pitch. Holes everywhere. A nightmare.” – commented Andrzej Twarowski aptly summed up. “But have mercy, here are players from big clubs, well-known names. And they look like idiots. I don't know,” added Marcin Borzęcki from Viaplay.
“According to the comment, 'at times we are slower'. An unusual definition of a moment – it has already lasted an hour and I have a feeling it will drag on for another thirty minutes,” wrote Szymon Janczyk from Wesło during the meeting. “It's a sad reality, you want to change the face of the match and you let in a non-playing Moder to replace Oyedele. The fans couldn't stand it and started whistling at our players who were trying to get the ball with low pressure. It's always looking bad today, very bad,” said Adrian Śliwonik from Kanał Sportowy.
Touchstone also has his say
“A hopeless change by Moder and a very brave, even if chaotic, entry by Ameyawa,” said Filip Macuda from Sport.pl. “I don't remember the last time the difference in individual skills in a match of the Polish national team was so brutally visible. A huge gap,” said Maciej Łuczak from Meczyki.pl.
“Kacper Urbański entered the pitch and immediately played a large part in Zieliński's goal. I don't know what thought processes took place in the coach's head that made Urbański sit on the bench and let him onto the pitch so late,” journalist Piotr Potępa hit the coach. “Probierz hurt Oyedele. It is possible that the boy will be a strong point of the team. But it is too early for him” – Łukasz Grabowski also had no mercy for Michał Probierz.
“I can't wait to hear that this is a valuable lesson. It will pay off one day! Maybe even in the next 8 years!” – added Przemysław Langier from goal.pl. “The defeat was fully deserved. Portugal showed that we still have neither the defensive line nor the midfield, especially the 'six'. There is a lot of work ahead of Touchstone to find a solution to the problems in the defense,” wrote Marcin Jaz from Sport.pl.