Robert Lewandowski headlines Poland squad for 2022 World Cup

The 34-year-old, who will captain his nation at the tournament, has scored 18 goals in 19 appearances for the Catalan giants this season following his summer transfer from Bayern Munich.

Lewandowski netted six times in World Cup Qualifying for Poland, including a crucial strike in their 2-0 playoff victory over Sweden, and the veteran goal machine will lead the line at his fifth major tournament on the international scene, with the trip to Qatar to be his second appearance at the World Cup.

Poland's No.9 is one of six players named in Czeslaw Michniewicz's squad who has at least 50 international caps, while as many as 11 players selected have less than eight caps.

Slough-born right-back Matty Cash is one of those who has made the cut; the Aston Villa man, who is of Polish descent through his mother, switch allegiances last year and will now be heading to Qatar along with teammate Jan Bednerek and Birmingham City's Krystian Bielik.

There is no place for Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich, however, with the 41-cap international having fallen down the pecking order at Elland Road since the arrival of Jesse Marsch.

Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara is another to miss out, with Serie A trio Wojciech Szczesny, Bartlomiej Dragowski and Lukasz Skorupski all preferred ahead of him by Michniewicz.

Indeed, Michniewicz has admitted that it has been difficult to leave certain players out of his final 26-man squad.

Speaking at a press conference after announcing his final squad, Michniewicz said: "I could say about each decision that it was the most difficult. There were those who played key roles in the previous qualifying rounds, the European championships, the world championships.

"It was a difficult decision to open a place for an additional outfield player at the expense of a goalkeeper. It happened at the expense of Kamil Grabara. We've had many moments together, but I believe this is just the beginning of his career.

"As for Mateusz Klich, it was a difficult decision, but we have four players in the middle of the field. We also have Sebastian Szymanski and Piotr Zielinski at our disposal. There was simply no room for another midfielder."

Napoli's Zielinski is one of 11 players from Serie A in the Poland squad, while Kamil Grosicki, Artur Jedrzejczyk and Michal Skoras are three home-based players who have been selected.

Attacking trio Arkadiusz Milik, Krzysztof Piatek and Karol Swiderski - the latter of whom plies his trade with MLS outfit Charlotte FC - will all be battling with each other for a place in the Michniewicz's startling lineup alongside Lewandowski.

Midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak and defender Kamil Glik, who have made 98 and 93 international appearances respectvley for Poland, are two other standout names who will be heading to Qatar.

Poland will take on Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico in Group C, with their opening fixture in Qatar against the latter on November 22.

Poland's 2022 World Cup squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Bartlomiej Dragowski (Spezia), Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus)

Defenders: Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa, on loan from Southampton), Bartosz Bereszynski (Sampdoria), Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Kamil Glik (Benevento), Robert Gumny (Augsburg), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw), Jakub Kiwior (Spezia), Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont), Nicola Zalewski (Roma)

Midfielders: Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Lens), Kamil Grosicki (Pogon Szczecin), Jakub Kaminski (Wolfsburg), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab), Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan), Damian Szymanski (AEK Athens), Sebastian Szymanski (Feyenoord), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli), Szymon Zurkowski (Fiorentina)

Forwards: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus), Krzysztof Piatek (Salernitana), Karol Swiderski (Charlotte FC)