Poland have, in recent years, become one of the European nations that perennially make the finals of both the European Championship and the World Cup. In Lewandowski they have one of the most-feared strikers in Europe though the team is sprinkled with attacking talents such as Krzysztof Piatek, Piotr Zielinski and Aston Villa’s Matty Cash.
Poland’s impressive run to World Cup qualification proposed dark-horse status in Qatar, but manager Paulo Sousa’s sudden departure in December has left much to prove.
Sousa led Robert Lewandowski and his colleagues to the runners-up spot in Group I behind England, before quitting his post to join Brazilian side Flamengo.
Czeslaw Michniewicz is the new man aiming to play Poland’s first World Cup knockout match since 1986. In his second match, the former Legia Warsaw boss masterminded a 2-0 victory over Sweden in the European playoff final to seal qualification.
With a squad that blends experienced stars with career journeymen and unproven young talents, Michniewicz’s key task will be unlocking Lewandowski in what could be be the captain’s final World Cup.
Poland World Cup squad 2022
Record topscorer Robert Lewandowski will once again lead the line for Poland at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He’ll captain the European nation’s squad with the likes of experienced pair Kamil Gilk and Grzegorz Krychowiak amongst its ranks, whilst Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski will be expected to provide the magic in midfield.
Aston Villa’s Matty Cash will also turn out for the Eagles at the World Cup after switching allegiances from his homeland England to represent Poland where his mother was born.
At present this is a 25-man list after goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski broke his leg playing for Spezia in the final game before the World Cup. Kamil Grabara is expected to replace him but this has not yet been confirmed.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Wojciech Szczesny | Juventus (ITA) | 32 | 66 |
| GK | 12 | Lukasz Skorupski | Bologna (ITA) | 31 | 8 |
| GK | 22 | Kamil Grabara | Copenhagen (DEN) | 23 | 1 |
| DEF | 5 | Jan Bednarek | Aston Villa (ENG) | 26 | 45 |
| DEF | 15 | Kamil Glik | Benevento (ITA) | 34 | 99 |
| DEF | 2 | Matty Cash | Aston Villa (ENG) | 25 | 7 |
| DEF | 14 | Jakub Kiwior | Spezia (ITA) | 22 | 3 |
| DEF | 25 | Robert Gumny | FC Augsburg (GER) | 24 | 5 |
| DEF | 18 | Bartosz Bereszynski | Sampdoria (ITA) | 30 | 46 |
| DEF | 4 | Mateusz Wieteska | Clermont (FRA) | 25 | 2 |
| DEF | 3 | Artur Jedrzejczyk | Legia Warsaw (POL) | 34 | 40 |
| MID | 21 | Nicola Zalewski | Roma (ITA) | 20 | 7 |
| MID | 26 | Michal Skoras | Lech Poznan (POL) | 22 | 1 |
| MID | 10 | Grzegorz Krychowiak | Al Shabab (SAU) | 32 | 94 |
| MID | 20 | Piotr Zielinski | Napoli (ITA) | 28 | 74 |
| MID | 6 | Krystian Bielik | Birmingham (ENG) | 24 | 5 |
| MID | 11 | Kamil Grosicki | Pogon Szczecin (POL) | 34 | 87 |
| MID | 24 | Przemyslaw Frankowski | Lens (FRA) | 27 | 26 |
| MID | 19 | Sebastian Szymanski | Feyenoord (NED) | 23 | 18 |
| MID | 8 | Damian Szymanski | AEK Athens (GRE) | 27 | 9 |
| MID | 17 | Szymon Zurkowski | Fiorentina (ITA) | 25 | 7 |
| MID | 13 | Jakub Kaminski | Wolfsburg (GER) | 20 | 4 |
| FWD | 23 | Krzysztof Piatek | Salernitana (ITA) | 27 | 11 |
| FWD | 16 | Karol Swiderski | Charlotte (USA) | 25 | 18 |
| FWD | 7 | Arkadiusz Milik | Juventus (ITA) | 28 | 64 |
| FWD | 9 | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona (SPA) | 34 | 134 |
Poland best player, strengths & weaknesses
Just one victory in their last five games means Poland will go into the tournament needing to find some momentum. However, there is more than enough talent in their squad to put together an underdog run deep into the knockout rounds.
It remains to be seen whether Michniewicz, a former Polish Under-21 coach and Ekstraklasa champion, has the answers.
Stars
Lewandowski, Poland’s captain, all-time top scorer and most-capped player, has never scored at a World Cup. Qatar will likely be his final chance, and he’ll be desperate to right the wrongs of past tournaments.
Lewandowski has begun life at Barcelona in searing form but, as evidenced by past tournaments, he can’t do it alone for Poland. Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski will be a critical creative link.
Strengths
The Poles’ backbone in the form of veteran midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak will be a strong base from which to build.
Juventus No. 1 Wojciech Szczesny is still a force between the sticks, while Aston Villa’s Matty Cash will provide a boost to the backline assuming he is back from injury, after impressing in the UEFA Nations League.
Weaknesses
The link between Poland’s creatives and Lewandowski has been their undoing throughout the great goalscorer’s international career. Przemyslaw Frankowski, Piotr Zielinski and Nicola Zalewski must find a way of supplying their captain.
Poland World Cup group
Excluding any major shocks from Saudi Arabia, the tournament’s lowest-ranked nation bar one, Mexico and Argentina will be Poland’s big rivals for progression from Group C.
That sets up the opener against Mexico as a nail-biter. Both teams will be desperate to get ahead before facing the formidable Lionel Messi and his cavalry of Argentinian superstars.
World Cup Group C fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Tues, Nov. 22 | Argentina vs. S. Arabia | 5 a.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Tues, Nov. 22 | Mexico vs. Poland | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | Poland vs. S. Arabia | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | Argentina vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | Poland vs. Argentina | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | S. Arabia vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
COACH
CZESLAW MICHNIEWICZ
Czeslaw Michniewicz took over from took over from Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa and successfully steered Poland into the 2022 World Cup after successfully beating Sweden 2-0 in World Cup qualification playoff.
THE STAR
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
One of the most potent strikers in the game, Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski is Poland’s standout player. Already the country’s leading goalscorer, Lewandowski will be looking for a better return in 2022 after failing to score in the 2018 edition of the World Cup.
LINE-UP (1-3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: SZCZESNY
Defenders: BEDNAREK-GLIK-KIWIOR
Midfielders: BERESZYNSKI-KLICH-KRYCHOWIAK-ZALEWSKI
Attacking Mids: ZIELINSKI-SZYMANSKI
Forward: LEWANDOWKSI
THE BEST
Poland have a wealth of attacking options and are led by the excellent Lewandowski.
THE WORST
The team struggle to keep clean sheets, which in a way nullifies their attacking threat
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