Approaching four decades since they last reached the knockout stage, Poland's latest World Cup campaign kicks off with the hopes of a nation resting on one goalscoring icon.
Though he endured a tough European Championships last summer, multiple-Golden Boot winner Robert Lewandowski leads the Eagles' planned flight towards the last 16 in Qatar, where they feature in a competitive Group C.
© Reuters
A team that neither impressed in their recent Nations League group nor in qualifying, an experienced Polish squad arrive at the finals as playoff winners, after seeing off Sweden earlier this year.
Here, then, Sports Mole assesses Poland's chances at the 2022 World Cup.
GROUP
While most teams tend to play themselves into a tournament, favouring a cautious approach in their opening game, Poland's first fixture could prove pivotal in deciding their fate.
The Eagles face Mexico first up, in a clash of two sides expected to vie for second spot behind much-fancied Argentina, who they will meet on Group C's closing day.
Having done so only once before at a World Cup - back in 1974 - the Poles will be under pressure to take three points from their opener, before repeating the feat against outsiders Saudi Arabia four days later.
A high-stakes showdown with Lionel Messi's Albiceleste awaits on the final day of November, when Poland aim to bridge a big gulf in class and cause a famous upset.
FIXTURES
November 22: Mexico vs. Poland (4pm, Stadium 974, Doha)
November 26: Poland vs. Saudi Arabia (1pm, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)
November 30: Poland vs. Argentina (7pm, Stadium 974, Doha)
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Trailing in far behind undisputed winners England, a Poland squad led initially by Paulo Sousa were not entirely convincing in their efforts to qualify from Group I.
Though they tallied six wins in all, the bulk of their points came from beating Andorra, Albania and San Marino twice apiece - they did, though, hold off the challenge of a dangerous Hungary side that subsequently surprised many in the Nations League.
© Reuters
After Sousa's departure for pastures new, the Eagles ultimately finished five points behind England in second spot, advancing to the playoff process.
In the semi-finals, scheduled opponents Russia were disqualified by FIFA after the invasion of Ukraine, before Poland seized a place in Qatar by beating Sweden in the decider.
Following Lewandowski's opener from the penalty spot, which arrived shortly after the break in Chorzow, midfield maestro Piotr Zielinski sealed the deal in the 72nd minute, earning a precious pass to Qatar.
RECENT FORM
While they defeated Wales both home and away in their recently-concluded Nations League campaign, Poland took just one point from their other four fixtures at League A level, finishing a distant third in Group 4, behind Belgium and the Netherlands.
© Reuters
Indeed, a 6-1 thrashing in Brussels was soon followed by successive home defeats to the section's top two, which surely lowers expectations for the Poles when facing sides of such calibre this winter.
They at least signed off in style by beating Rob Page's Dragons in Cardiff, and that 1-0 victory in September represents their most recent result.
Coach Czeslaw Michniewicz will have just one opportunity to run the rule over his final 26-man squad before the big kickoff, then, as Poland host Chile in a warm-up friendly on November 16.
SQUAD
Selekcjoner reprezentacji Polski - Czesław Michniewicz ogłosił listę zawodników powołanych na turniej finałowy mistrzostw świata w Katarze. 🏆🇵🇱
— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) November 10, 2022
Biało-czerwoni w fazie grupowej zagrają z: Meksykiem, Arabią Saudyjską oraz Argentyną. ⤵️#KierunekKatar pic.twitter.com/LuQBdaTn6K
Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Bartlomiej Dragowski (Spezia)
Defenders: Kamil Glik (Benevento), Bartosz Bereszynski (Sampdoria), Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa), Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Robert Gumny (Augsburg), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw), Jakub Kiwior (Spezia), Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont), Nicola Zalewski (Roma)
Midfielders: Piotr Zielinski (Napoli) Kamil Grosicki (Pogon Szczecin), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab), Damian Szymanski (AEK) Sebastian Szymanski (Feyenoord), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Lens), Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City), Jakub Kaminski (Wolfsburg), Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan), Szymon Zurkowski (Fiorentina)
Forwards: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus), Krzysztof Piatek (Salernitana), Karol Swiderski (Charlotte)
STAR PLAYER - ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
© Reuters
Poland's captain, most-capped player and all-time leading marksman, the apparently ageless Robert Lewandowski is perhaps football's most lethal predator - dominating the Bundesliga scoring charts year after year, before effortlessly establishing himself in La Liga this season.
The Barcelona striker racked up 103 goals for Borussia Dortmund and then a staggering 344 in 375 appearances for Bayern Munich, while scoring 76 times in 134 matches for Poland.
An international since 2008, 'Lewy' has been a squad member at three Euros and the 2018 World Cup, and lies third overall on the list of men's international goalscorers in Europe, behind only Real Madrid legends Ferenc Puskas and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barely missing a beat upon joining Barca after eight years in Bavaria, the former 'FIFA Best Player' is now perfectly placed to make his mark on a major championship, in what could prove to be his final international tournament.
As he gets older, the Warsaw-born forward seems to get even better in certain aspects of a well-rounded game, so will want to grasp his last opportunity to shine on the global stage.
MANAGER - CZESLAW MICHNIEWICZ
© Reuters
By no means the Polish FA's first choice to succeed Paulo Sousa when the Portuguese coach surprisingly departed to take over at Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo, former goalkeeper and Under-21s boss Czeslaw Michniewicz stepped into the breach.
Following an unimpressive spell at Legia Warsaw, his appointment was not universally welcomed, but the pragmatic 52-year-old still managed to steer his nation to Qatar via the playoffs.
By contrast with Sousa's approach, under Michniewicz, Poland generally prefer to soak up pressure, with a reactive style seeing them sacrifice possession and aiming to strike on the counter.
While his managerial CV is a chequered one, in 2019, the Belarus-born coach took Poland's young guns to the European Under-21 Championship for the first time since 1994.
This winter, albeit on a far grander scale, Michniewicz will aim to lead his country with distinction again.
WORLD CUP RECORD
Best finish: Third place (1974 & 1982)
© Reuters
Poland have not replicated such heights for many a year, but during their 1970s-80s heyday, they were a threat to any side in world football and twice achieved third-placed finishes in World Cup finals.
Meeting this year's opponents Argentina in their opening match of the 1974 edition, within eight minutes Poland were two goals ahead, and they went on to record a remarkable 3–2 victory over the Albiceleste.
The Eagles also defeated Italy en route to finishing top of the group, before going all the way to the semi-finals, where they faced hosts West Germany and lost out to Gerd Muller's 76th-minute strike. Beating reigning champions Brazil in the third-place playoff then earned a merited bronze medal.
In 1982, the Poles were group winners again, before a hat-trick from star striker Zbigniew Boniek secured a 3-1 win over Belgium. They were stopped in the semis once more, though - losing to Italy on that occasion. Clinching third spot by beating France 3–2 in Alicante effectively brought to an end the golden era of Polish football.
PREDICTION
Though lacking in certain areas, Poland can rely on several strengths - including Piotr Zielinski's mastery of their creative department and Robert Lewandowski clinically putting the ball in the net.
Serie A strikers Krzysztof Piatek and Arkadiusz Milik are an able supporting cast for the irreplaceable 'Lewy', on whom almost all hopes rest, while an experienced squad can stay united to overcome their shortcomings.
Pitched into a negotiable group, the Eagles can therefore edge out Mexico to finish second behind favourites Argentina and progress to the knockout stages.
VERDICT: Last 16
