by Brian Fonseca
In the first, and perhaps most unanticipated, match of the quarterfinals of the 2016 European Championships, Poland will face Portugal at the brand new Stade Velodrome in Marseilles Thursday.
Portugal limped to this stage of the competition, finishing third in what was widely regarded as the easiest group of the competition on paper after three draws against Austria, Iceland and Hungary before using a late goal in extra-time to squeeze by Croatia, who had been predicted to reach the final after topping Group C, in the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, just as it did in the qualification phase, Poland finished second to Germany in Group D on goal difference, having drawn 0-0 with the Germans in matchday two, before sneaking past Switzerland in the Round of 16 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw couldn’t be broken in 120 minutes.
The performances in the group stage from both sides couldn’t be more different, but just like they shared equal difficulties in advancing to the quarterfinals, the sides share a common characteristic in their four matches — wastefulness in front of goal.
The Portuguese struggles have been well documented, but with less eyes on them, the Polish haven’t been as heavily persecuted for their woes.
Playing in a traditional 4x4x2, Poland has two quality weapons leading its attack. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored 42 goals in 51 appearances across the Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup, plays alongside Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik, who scored 24 times across 42 appearances in the Eredivisie, Champions League qualifiers, Europa League and KNVB Beker.
Their impressive form last season extended onto the national team, as the Polish led all teams with 33 goals in the qualification phase of the Euros, with Lewandowski as the top scorer with 13 and Milik in the middle of the pack with six.
The numbers are ones of prolific forwards, but the pair has been anything but in the pair of weeks they’ve been in France, each missing multiple chances they’re expected to finish.
While Milik scored the game-winning goal against Northern Ireland, he had already missed a sitter earlier in the match that would’ve put his side up before the half.
Its next match came against the heavily favored Germans, so a scoreless draw was a positive final result for the Polish, but an even more positive result would’ve arrived had Milik put away just one of a pair of golden opportunities — first seconds into the second half and then another 20 minutes later .
Jakub “Kuba” Błaszczykowski put Poland up 1-0 in the 37th minute against the Swiss, using a Milik dummy to find acres of space, but Milik should’ve scored himself 36 minutes and 40 seconds prior.
After doing well to press the Swiss defense and recover possession in dangerous territory, Milik skies what would’ve been the fastest goal in Euro history over the crossbar of a wide open net.
Poland have scraped by to the quarterfinals by the skin of their teeth, unable to score multiple goals in a game in four matches despite all the chances it’s created, but there is a silver lining — they’re creating chances.
Had Poland been an efficient team and finished with the same results it’s had, supporters would be worried the luck would run out at some point. Instead, the other side of the spectrum is true, with the hope that they’ll turn in the chances they’ve created eventually.
While Milik hasn’t been sharp in front of goal, he’s done well to set up his teammates. The top assister in the qualification phase served Blaszczykowski for the only goal of their match against Ukraine, a crucial win to guarantee a spot in the knockout rounds.
Milik and Lewandowski have also been the main reason these chances are being created, the latter using his strength to hold-up the ball well and both using intelligent runs to split defenders and open space for each other and other teammates.
Kamil Grosicki, who plays in France for Stade Rennais, has benefited greatly from the space created by the front two. The winger, who tied for second in assists in qualification, trailing Milik’s assist total in qualification by one, has served some delicious crosses into the direction of his forwards with mixed results, including Blaszczykowski’s goal against Switzerland and both of Milik’s misses against Northern Ireland.
With the best performing backline at the tournament through four games — the only goal its allowed is the best of the tournament, a bicycle kick screamer from outside the 18 from Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaquiri — able to hold the mighty Germany scoreless, the task of withstanding a Portugal team as wasteful as itself seems a bit easier.
If Grosicki could continue to provide excellent service from the wing and Milik and Lewandowski could find the form they were in during qualifying, Poland could extend its historic run to its first ever quarterfinal appearance at the Euro to its first ever appearance in the final four of the tournament.
Follow Brian Fonseca on Twitter (@briannnnf) for updates on Euro 2016.
