In a major blow to Poland’s Euro 2024 ambitions, their star forward Robert Lewandowski suffered a muscle injury less than a week before their opening match against the Netherlands. The Barcelona striker limped off the pitch after just 33 minutes during a 2-1 friendly victory over Turkey. His injury visibly distressed Lewandowski while medical staff helped him off the field.
The 35-year-old, who has been instrumental in Poland‘s successes, assisted for the opening goal before succumbing to the injury. Initial assessments by the Polish national team’s medical staff have revealed a torn biceps femoris muscle. It has thus effectively ruled him out of Poland’s crucial first match against the Netherlands on Sunday.
The timing of Lewandowski‘s injury is particularly unfortunate for the White-Reds. They face a challenging group stage that starts with the Netherlands. Then, they come up against Austria on June 21, and tournament favorites France four days later. The absence of their leading scorer, who has generally maintained robust fitness throughout his career, presents a significant challenge for the Polish side.
Other injury concerns
Lewandowski’s injury compounds the woes for Poland, who are already dealing with a string of injuries.
“On Monday evening, the Polish national team played a friendly match against Turkey. We present the medical report of the national team doctor, Jacek Jaroszewski, regarding the players who suffered injuries in this match. Today, at Enel–Med Szpital Centrum, we examined three players who were injured in the match against Turkey”, said Jacek Jaroszewski, doctor of the Polish national team.
Karol Swiderski, who scored the opener against Turkey, sustained an ankle sprain during the same match. However, he should make a return to return to training within a few days. Defender Pawel Dawidowicz also picked up a quadriceps strain and will be closely monitored.
Furthermore, they will be without Arkadiusz Milik for the entire tournament due to a knee injury sustained in the friendlies. Milik was a key partner for Lewandowski in the attack, making his absence even more impactful.
Will Lewandowski play at Euro 2024?
Despite the setback, the Polish national team is hopeful about Lewandowski’s recovery. The team doctor indicated all efforts are in action to improve the chances of Lewandowski’s availability for the match against Austria. “We are doing everything possible for Robert to play in the second match,” Jaroszewski stated.
The loss of Lewandowski, even if temporary, places immense pressure on the remaining forwards. This includes Krzysztof Piatek and Adam Buksa stepping up. Manager Michal Probierz will need to reconfigure his tactics and rely on the depth of his squad to navigate through the challenging group stage.
Despite the injury, Lewandowski’s determination and leadership remain pivotal for Poland. His swift departure from the field as a precautionary measure reflects his acute awareness of the importance of his fitness for Poland’s Euro 2024 campaign. The hope is that his injury, while significant, will heal sufficiently to allow him to contribute in the later stages of the tournament.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
