For the first time in 44 years, the Polish national team won against Scotland away from home. The team led by Michał Probierz defeated the Scots 3:2 with goals from Sebastian Szymański, Robert Lewandowski and Nicola Zalewski. Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay responded on Steve Clarke's team's side. “The 3:2 triumph, which was extremely important in the context of maintaining Division A of the Nations League, did not solve all of Michał Probierz's problems. And who knows, maybe the coach himself did not get even more questions than answers to the previous ones” – Jakub Seweryn from Sport.pl wrote.
Jakub Kiwior was in the starting line-up of the Polish national team for this match. The Arsenal defender left the pitch after the first half, and just before the start of the second half, he was replaced by Sebastian Walukiewicz. “If a defender does not play regularly in the club, then he often looks like Jakub Kiwior in Glasgow. That is, very badly. Kiwior played nervously from the start, committed stupid fouls near the penalty area, and made easy mistakes when bringing the ball out. He got lost, like in the 38th minute, when Dykes escaped him and missed the goal from close range” – we read in the post-match evaluations.
The experts also criticized Kiwior harshly. “Kwior looks dramatic. Late, and when he is already with his opponent, he immediately runs away from him”, “I hope Arteta doesn't see Kiwior's first half”, “Kwior without a map. High-voltage electrician” – we read in the entries on the X portal.
Borek directly about Kiwior's performance. “We were right to be afraid”
Mateusz Borek, who spoke to TVP Sport, decided to comment more broadly on Kiwior's performance. How did the journalist assess the Arsenal player? – We were right to be afraid. Kuba has a lot of courage in playing forward and has good technique. However, a defender lacks a sense of distance, space, or proper timing and reaction time for weeks without playing. All of this is slipping away with each week without playing. This was already visible at Euro 2024 and it deepened today – he said.
– I feel really sorry for the guy, because he wanted to leave, he wanted to find a new employer, but in this big business, especially club football, it's not like a player can decide everything – added Borek. Here the journalist referred to media speculations from the summer transfer window, where Kiwior was mentioned primarily in the context of returning to the Italian league. Ultimately, coach Mikel Arteta did not consent to Kiwior leaving.
On Sunday, the White and Reds will play in Osijek against Croatia, which began the Nations League with a 1:2 away defeat to Croatia. Time will tell whether Kiwior will get a chance from Probierz in this match. Live text coverage on Sport.pl, as well as in the Sport.pl LIVE mobile application.