Poland’s Robert Lewandowski has yet to score at Euro 2016

Can Poland’s Robert Lewandowski find his best form against Portugal?

Robert Lewandowski has the support of everyone, but Poland need him to step up now, writes Adam Bate.

“The whole of Poland is waiting for Lewandowski to end his drought,” Polish journalist Piotr Kozminski admitted last week. Those words came before the last-16 tie against Switzerland at the weekend. Lewandowski’s wait goes on but so does Poland’s Euro 2016 adventure.

However, Lewandowski appears to have lost his very best form at just the wrong time. After netting 11 goals in seven games for his country in 2015, he’s goalless in seven this year. It’s almost seven weeks since he scored Bayern Munich’s opener against Hannover.

Lewandowski has played every minute of Poland’s campaign in France

Adam Nawalka, Poland’s coach, is understandably supportive. “We don’t have a single problem with the fact Robert hasn’t scored a goal,” he said. But more significantly, perhaps the man himself has an issue with it. He scored 48 times last season. It’s what he does.

There were signs of anxiety in St Etienne. The shot from outside the box while off balance after a quarter of an hour. A scuffed shot from distance well wide of the near post 76 minutes in. There were 49 shots in the game but Lewandowski found the target only twice.

 

Nani insists Portugal are focused on more than just Lewandowski

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Five minutes after the interval, he did have the confidence to shove in-form team-mate Kamil Grosicki off the ball only to fire at Yann Sommer. The willingness to take responsibility was encouraging even if the execution was not so impressive.

But here’s the thing. The crowd responded. “Robert Lewandowski,” went up the chant from the Poland fans in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and the 27-year-old striker kept going for the full 120 minutes even as Switzerland pressed his team back.

The distance covered stats revealed that Lewandowski ran 13.65 kilometres, the third most of anyone on the pitch, and the effort paid off. He struck a fine penalty in the shoot-out and Poland won a knockout tie at a major tournament for the first time in their history.

It’s this work rate, recognised by fans, team-mates and the coach, that has staved off any criticism of his goal output. Even the opposition boss noted it. “Lewandowski works very hard for the team,” said Vladimir Petkovic. Nawalksi was more evocative in his language.

Lewandowski has had to adapt to a new role alongside Arkadiusz Milik

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“Robert is doing a lot of fantastic work,” he said. “He has a great influence on our team and the way we play. He’s incredibly important for us. He’s like the steam-powered locomotive of the team. He’s adapted to a new role very well.”

That role has seen him move deeper, sharing defensive duties with Milik rather than playing as a lone striker as he does for his club. Lewandowski is not always comfortable in that creative role – as the occasional overhit through-ball demonstrates – but it’s working.

Poland had the best goalscoring record in qualifying. Now they have a defensive record that’s the envy of many other teams at Euro 2016, including Thursday’s opponents Portugal. The only goal conceded in four games has been the sensational overhead kick by Xherdan Shaqiri.

 

Poland captain’s efforts are appreciated by his team-mates

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“We worked very hard to improve our defensive play and it’s worked out well so far,” said Nawalka. “We’ve got the right results. Now we want to improve how we take our goalscoring chances.” Over to you, Lewandowski? The coach continues to remain coy.

“He plays in a supportive role in every possible way and sacrifices himself for the team,” added Nawalka. “The fact he hasn’t scored yet doesn’t matter, it’s just a matter of time.” With Poland preparing for their biggest game in 34 years, the time for Lewandowski is now.