The frustration and disappointment were clear to see for Robert Lewandowski. The FC Bayern striker was shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders and buried his hands in his pockets. The Poland captain spoke for 12 minutes after the frustrating 3-0 loss to Colombia in their second group game at the World Cup. However, he had no explanation for the team’s early exit from the tournament.
“It makes no sense to moan. We were just the poorer team,” the 29-year-old said after the team’s second defeat in as many games. “We’re all angry and sad.” Being eliminated in the group stage was also a personal blow for the FCB man, who had to play second fiddle to his Colombian Bayern teammate James Rodriguez. The play-maker was key to the South Americans’ success with two assists.
Poland arrived in Russia with great expectations after missing the last two tournaments, and were favourites in Group H. A flawless qualification of 25 points from 10 games had Lewandowski & Co. dreaming of a first World Cup knockout stage since 1986, but they leave bitterly disappointed. No points and just one goal is all the Poles have to their name after 180 minutes of World Cup football.
“We had maybe one opportunity in two games. That was it,” admitted defensive leader Kamil Glik. That fell to Lewandowski, but he was denied by goalkeeper David Ospina. The FCB striker has so far only managed two goals for Poland in his 10 World Cup and Euro matches. “First of all I feel bitterness, angry and powerless,” Lewandowski said. “We weren’t in the condition to offer any opposition.”
Lewandowski and his teammates now have one final World Cup match against Japan on Thursday and a last chance to show their class on the world stage. Despite the disappointment, however, the Bayern man remained defiant: “I want to fight for a good result in the last match.”
Topics of this article