The Polish national football team will play at the World Cup in Qatar! The Biało-Czerwoni (the Whites and Reds) beat Sweden 2-0 in the playoff final at the Silesian Stadium, with second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zieliński. Trainer Czesław Michniewicz won his first competitive match in charge of the national team.
Despite a fiercely competitive first half, it was not until the 49th minute that the stalemate was broken by a Grzegorz Krychowiak-won penalty converted by Lewandowski.
In the 73rd minute, Napoli midfielder Zieliński took advantage of a Swedish mistake to slot home to make it 2-0. Soon after, it could have been 3- 0, with Bednarek and Lewandowski both denied by excellent saves.
After defeating Sweden, Poland secured a promotion to the 2022 world championship in Qatar, scheduled to start on November 21 and end on December 18. It will be the first World Cup in history to be played in the winter.
The draw for the group stages of the World Cup will take place this Friday, April 1 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. As part of the preparations for the tournament, Polish footballers will play against Wales on June 3 in Wrocław. The match will be included in the UEFA Nations League competition.
