Latest news with #RobertLewandowski
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Netherlands thrash Malta 8-0, Poland stumble against Finland in World Cup qualifying clash
PARIS, June 11 — Netherlands maintained their winning start to European 2026 World Cup qualifying by dismissing Malta 8-0 yesterday, while their group rivals Poland lost to Finland in a match interrupted due to a medical emergency in the crowd. The results leave Finland top of Group G on seven points, one ahead of the Dutch who have played two matches less. Poland sit third on six points after three played. In Groningen, the Dutch raced into a three-goal lead against their overawed opponents inside the opening 20 minutes. Memphis Depay converted from the spot on nine minutes, before doubling the lead with a rifled finish from the edge of the box seven minutes later. Depay's brace brought the 31-year-old to 50 international goals—level with former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie as the Netherlands' all-time leading goalscorer. Captain Virgil van Dijk killed the match off as a tie when he stepped onto the ball and arrowed a right-footed finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The Oranje then turned on the afterburners inside the final half-hour as Xavi Simons, Donyell Malen, who got two, Noa Lang and Micky van de Ven all netted. Poland began life without leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski in miserable fashion as they went down 2-1 in Helsinki. The 36-year-old played 158 times for Poland, scoring 85 goals, but announced Sunday he was no longer available for selection so long as coach Michal Probierz remained in charge. The Poles fell behind to Joel Pohjanpalo's 31st-minute penalty, before Benjamin Kallman added a second nine minutes after the break. Jakub Kiwior pulled one back in the 69th minute, shortly before the match was interrupted when a spectator fell ill. After a lengthy stoppage, the final 10 minutes of play resumed but Poland were unable to find an equaliser despite applying relentless pressure on the hosts' goal. Elsewhere, Serbia eased past Andorra 3-0 to move to third in Group K on four points courtesy of an Aleksandar Mitrovic hat-trick. They trail Albania in second by one point and sit level with Latvia after those sides played out a 1-1 draw in Riga. Austria beat San Marino 4-0 to go second in Group H, three points behind leaders Bosnia and Hercegovina who have played an extra match. Marko Arnautovic scored a brace inside the opening quarter-hour, as Michael Gregoritsch and Christoph Baumgartner completed the scoring in Serravalle. Romania defeated Cyprus 2-0, but dropped to third in the group after Austria's second win from two outings. — AFP
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Finland go top of qualifying group with 2-1 win over Poland
FINLAND :Goals from Joel Pohjanpalo and Benjamin Kallman earned Finland a 2-1 home win over Poland in Helsinki on Tuesday to send the hosts top of their World Cup qualifying group. The home side took a 31st-minute lead when Polish keeper Lukasz Skorupski was dispossessed by Finland forward Pohjanpalo. Skorupski then fouled Robin Lod and Pohjanpalo converted the resulting penalty. Finland doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when Oliver Antman's squared ball across the area was fired home by substitute Kallman but Jakub Kiwior bundled the ball into the net five minutes later to pull one back for Poland. A serious medical emergency in the stands led to a long suspension of play in the 80th minute but Poland were unable to find another goal and Finland, looking to qualify for their first World Cup, held on to take all three points. Poland's preparation had been overshadowed by Robert Lewandowski's decision not to play under current coach Michal Probierz after he was stripped of the captaincy, with Piotr Zielinski, currently injured, taking over. Finland are on seven points after four games in Group G, one point ahead of the Netherlands who hammered Malta 8-0, but the Dutch have two games in hand. Poland are third, also on six points with three games played.
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Finland go top of qualifying group with 2-1 win over Poland
FINLAND, June 10 (Reuters) - Goals from Joel Pohjanpalo and Benjamin Kallman earned Finland a 2-1 home win over Poland in Helsinki on Tuesday to send the hosts top of their World Cup qualifying group. The home side took a 31st-minute lead when Polish keeper Lukasz Skorupski was dispossessed by Finland forward Pohjanpalo. Skorupski then fouled Robin Lod and Pohjanpalo converted the resulting penalty. Finland doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when Oliver Antman's squared ball across the area was fired home by substitute Kallman but Jakub Kiwior bundled the ball into the net five minutes later to pull one back for Poland. A serious medical emergency in the stands led to a long suspension of play in the 80th minute but Poland were unable to find another goal and Finland, looking to qualify for their first World Cup, held on to take all three points. Poland's preparation had been overshadowed by Robert Lewandowski's decision not to play under current coach Michal Probierz after he was stripped of the captaincy, with Piotr Zielinski, currently injured, taking over. Finland are on seven points after four games in Group G, one point ahead of the Netherlands who hammered Malta 8-0, but the Dutch have two games in hand. Poland are third, also on six points with three games played.
The Standard
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Standard
Lewandowski will not play for Poland under current coach after losing captaincy
Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group G - Poland v Malta - Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland - March 24, 2025 Poland's Robert Lewandowski during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File photo
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Polish media slams Lewandowski for national team withdrawal
Poland's Robert Lewandowski appears disappointed after the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D soccer match between Poland and Austria at the Olympiastadion. Star striker Robert Lewandowski has said he will no longer play in the Polish national team as long as Michal Probierz is the coach. Soeren Stache/dpa Polish media has criticized star striker Robert Lewandowski for his decision longer play for Poland as long as Michal Probierz is the coach. Lewandowski, 36, made the announcement in a post in Polish on the X platform on Sunday after Probiertz said that would no longer be team captain and Piotr Zielinski would take over this role. Advertisement The Gazeta Wyborcza daily said on Tuesday that the star striker has "inflicted a huge blow to his image." "Maybe he doesn't care?," the paper said. "Lewandowski is a great footballer, perhaps the greatest in the history of Polish football. It's an open secret that Lewandowski has long considered Probierz to be a weak coach who is damaging the national team. But even the most outstanding footballer doesn't have the right to decide who coaches the team. "Lewandowski has worked in clubs with top coaches such as Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Hansi Flick. But such coaches are unattainable for the Polish Football Association." Advertisement Gazeta Wyborcza said that Lewandowski has "obligations to the team and the fans" and that "there's a lot of ambiguity in this whole controversy." The Rzeczpospolita newspaper called Lewandowski's behaviour "scandalous" and said that the player "seems to have lost touch with reality." "His statement can be understood as follows: Either I'm captain, then I play, or I'm not - and I don't play. "The captain's armband is an additional honour that you have to earn. Lewandowski has earned this honor in dozens of games," it wrote. According to the paper, Probierz called Lewandowski to tell him he would lose his position as team captain. The two later met over coffee and Probierz explained his reasons.
