Lewandowski's MLS partner can help Barcelona star make history at World Cup

Robert Lewandowski heads into the 2022 World Cup with a simple checklist.

Score his first World Cup goal and help Poland out of a group containing Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Sounds straightforward enough, right? Well, it's been anything but an easy-going year for the White and Red, who were led by one manager in regular World Cup qualifying and another in their subsequent play-off campaign.

Paulo Sousa gave Poland an unwanted Christmas gift last year as he suddenly quit to take charge of Flamengo. Suddenly, it looked like any progress made under the Portuguese - such as in admirable draws with England, who they finished runners-up to in qualifying, and Spain at the European Championships - had evaporated from a team filled with wily veterans and rough diamonds.

After crashing out of three of their last four major tournaments by finishing rock bottom of the group, Poland are looking to conjure up the spirit of 2016, when they reached the quarter-finals of the Euros in France and only lost to eventual winners Portugal on penalties.

So much so that after Sousa's shock departure, the Polish FA even considered re-hiring Adam Nawalka - who'd been the man at the helm until their nightmare campaign in Russia four years ago - during a drawn-out recruitment process which saw noughties footballing icons Andriy Shevchenko and Fabio Cannavaro both interviewed.

Ultimately, though, newly-elected PZPN president Cezary Kulesza opted for his own man and hired ex- Legia Warsawa boss Czeslaw Michniewicz in controversial circumstances. Claims relating to his alleged involvement in a historic match-fixing scandal in Poland are still sticking. Michniewicz strongly denies them, accusing his critics of talking "rubbish" during an awkward first press conference.

The quick-witted 52-year-old coach - who often exudes a cheery demeanour but continues to split opinion among fans - even announced in June that he was planning to sue an investigative journalist for defamation. Suspending the case until after the World Cup, he's largely spent the past eight months shutting out the noise and focussing on football. A smart choice, FIFA might say.

With less than two months to prepare following his appointment in late January, the divisive Michniewicz masterminded a pulsating 2-0 win against Sweden in Poland's qualification play-off final - his first competitive match in charge.

Having received a bye from FIFA after boycotting their semi-final clash with Russia to show their solidarity with invaded neighbours Ukraine, a tactical triumph in Chorzow - reminiscent of how Michniewicz led Legia to victories over Spartak Moscow and Leicester City in last season's Europa Conference League- saw the White and Red through to Qatar.

A coach renowned for having a meticulous attention to detail and the ability to pull off results against superior opposition, it was evident in Michniewicz's 26-man squad selection for the World Cup that contain and counter will, unsurprisingly, be his strategy - a far cry from Sousa's possession-heavy approach which was much more pleasing on the eye than what neutrals can expect this month.

Former Arsenal and now Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny - despite his history of errors at major tournaments - will be between the posts, but it's the area directly ahead of him that's much more contentious.

Hardened veteran Kamil Glik will look to roll back the years and act as Poland's rock, but whether the 34-year-old stalwart plays alongside another two centre-backs or one single partner is still being fiercely debated among pundits. Jan Bednarek 's severe lack of playing time for Aston Villa this term has thrown his previously assured starting spot into jeopardy, with Michniewicz recently hinting that he could drop the Southampton loanee if he fails to impress during Wednesday's friendly with Chile.

Meanwhile, rookie centre-half Jakub Kiwior is enjoying a star-making season with Italian side Spezia and, as a result, is firmly in contention to start within either a three or four-man back line after only making his international debut five months ago. Just 22 but mature beyond his years on the ball, particularly with his left foot as demonstrated in the goal which saw Poland edge Wales 1-0 in September, talk of a transfer to AC Milan and Juventus will come as no surprise to those who watch Serie A on a weekly basis.

Slough-born and Buckinghamshire-raised Matty Cash will be Poland's first-choice right-back a year on from securing his Polish passport - much thanks to Sousa's efforts. On the left, Roma starlet Nicola Zalewski - who's nominated for this year's Golden Boy award = showed glimpses of his potential during Poland's Nations League campaign, although the more experienced Sampdoria captain, Bartosz Bereszynski, may still get the nod.

In midfield, the seasoned Grzegorz Krychowiak - now playing his football in Saudi Arabia - is clinging on to his starting spot following a string of haphazard performances, with pressure from Birmingham City linchpin Krystian Bielik only rising. Impressing in the Championship on loan from Derby County, ex-Arsenal prodigy Bielik - who can also play in central defence - looks to have finally overcome injury hell to climb the ladder of English football.

Brighton & Hove Albion 's Jakub Moder was a regular fixture of Poland's midfield before suffering a crushing ACL injury in April, ruling him out of the World Cup to blight a promising season at club level as a favourite of Graham Potter's. Another familiar Premier League face, Mateusz Klich, won't be on the plane to Qatar, having been left out altogether by Michniewcz in favour of defensive-minded midfielders who can operate more effectively in a low block as opposed to Leeds -like pressing.

Going forward, Poland's primary issue has long been supplying leading all-time goalscorer and appearance-maker Lewandowski with consistent quality service, something which Sousa prioritised by trying gain more possession and in turn, create more chances. Fortunately for the more pragmatic and reactive Michniewicz, his side now boast two of the most in-form attacking midfielders in Europe; Piotr Zielinski and Sebastian Szymanski.

While the latter has been starring for Feyenoord this season, contributing to a total of 11 goals in 18 games, Zielinski has been the midfield fulcrum of Napoli 's spectacular season. With six goals and seven assists in 21 matches, the 28-year-old's club form has coincided with him finally coming of age in the national team.

Zielinski had often been a point of frustration for Poland supporters, unable to translate his form in the Italian top flight and Champions League to the international stage. But with a vital goal to wrap up their play-off victory over Sweden in March and a number of bright moments in the Nations League, the former Liverpool transfer target is at last proving his worth.

Not only is Michniewicz benefiting from Zielinski and Szymanski's excellent form, but also name who less European football fans will be familiar with; Karol Swiderski. As Charlotte FC's star striker in the MLS, the dynamic left-footed marksman has quickly proven himself to be Lewandowski's ideal partner.

Scoring both winners in Poland's two narrow Nations League wins against Wales, the 25-year-old's intelligence and unselfishness allows him to capitalise on opposition defenders focusing too much on his legendary captain, who provided an elegant assist in Cardiff to epitomise their thriving partnership.

Also bagging the decisive goal away to Albania during qualifying, the lesser-known striker in Michniewicz's squad - who a boasts prolific rate of eight goals in 17 caps - has already managed to oust Arkadiusz Milik and Krzysztof Piatek and assert himself as Lewandowski's right-hand man.

At 34, Lewandowski himself has shown no signs of slowing down since swapping Bayern Munich for Barcelona. With 18 strikes in his first 19 games with the La Liga giants, the rest of Group C might take solace in the fact that Lewandowski has only scored two international goals since Michniewicz's appointment, and comes into the tournament off the back of a rare penalty miss and an out-of-character sending off in his last two games in Spain.

That's something that Poland will be hoping doesn't develop into a major problem, especially after Lewandowski failed to score in his one and only previous World Cup campaign four-and-a-half years ago.

It isn't the only warning sign Poland have, as their tactic of conceding possession and hitting opponents on the counter attack isn't foolproof. If the opposition gather momentum, Poland are susceptible to being hit for six - as they were literally in Belgium earlier this year, having only been 2-1 down until the 73rd minute, and when they conceded twice in four minutes to the Netherlands three days later.

And when it's the other team who decide to sit back and look for breakaways - which Mexico and Saudi Arabia may well do - Poland's lack of experience and craft when it comes to breaking down the opposition soon becomes apparent, with less than inspiring build-up play often showcased.

Early crosses have been a prominent feature of Poland's attacking play under both Sousa and Michniewicz, assisting the most goals with crosses (11) during qualifying, so expect Szymanski and Zielinski to swing the ball in for Lewandowski and Swiderski. At the back, don't expect much fancy stuff and count on a few balls flying into row Z from Glik's noggin.

Poland aren't expected to repeat their 1974 and 1982 World Cup heroics to finish third, and even the most optimistic supporter will admit that failure to beat or at least draw Mexico in their opening game would leave them in a Michniewicz and in a sticky situation. The circumstances certainly aren't in Poland's favour, like how Mexico last failed to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup four decades ago - barring when they were banned for Italia '90.

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