Poland 6-0 Romania: Biało-Czerwoni hand out drubbing to ten-man visitors

Image via @LaczyNasPilka on X

Thanks to a confident second-half display, Poland capably downed a sorry Romania side at home in Warszawa. A hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski, plus goals from Piotr Zieliński, Jan Bednarek and a Virgil Ghita own goal ensured that the pressure on Jan Urban was lifted, at least for the weekend.

Despite early openings for the visitors, Poland still maintained the lion’s share of possession up until the turning point of the match, a red card and penalty decision going against Radu Dragusin and Romania. It was a soft penalty but having been awarded it similarly had to be a red card by the letter of the law. Lewandowski, who had won the penalty, converted it in a more straightforward fashion than we have become accustomed to seeing. 

The remainder of the first half did not suggest that we would be in for free-flowing, flashy football in the second 45 minutes from either side. I have to say I was pessimistic given how the first half was winding down, but thankfully I was incorrect. 

After the break, Nicola Zalewski was in imperious form against a top quality right-back in Andrei Ratiu. Contributing the assist for the second Polish goal and Lewandowski’s brace, a tap in, Zalewski looked to have the beating of his man almost at will. 

Indeed, Zalewski and Frankowski combined to force the own goal from Ghita, and this is when the confidence began to flow amongst all the Polish team. Well, all apart from Karol Świderski, which was a shame but not entirely surprising.  

Zieliński got in on the act as he deftly lobbed Otto Hindrich in the Romanian net, courtesy of an underpowered header from Razvan Marin. I have to say I felt a little sorry for Hindrich to be on the end of such hard luck, as there was almost nothing he could do to stop any of the goals that went in. 

Even Bednarek was able to climb highest from a corner to nod in the fifth just shy of the 70th minute, and it was pleasant to see Poland score from a set-piece rather than conceding from one. 

Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with just under five minutes of normal time to spare, a determined and well-struck effort from Poland’s captain to earn his first hat-trick for the national team since 2019. 

Now the media pendulum has swung the other way, and those who had been calling for Urban’s head are feeling like maybe Poland can put in a similar kind of display on Monday night, against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Zenica. I’m not sure it’s that simple, but the level of joy and confidence can only have been improved by such a big win. 

Romania were porous in defence and offered almost nothing after the relatively early red card, but Poland still had to score the goals and win the game, and the style of play was really something during that first part of the second half. 

Unfortunately having picked up a yellow card tonight, Lewandowski will be suspended and this is a shame after his goalscoring exploits, but on the other hand it does mean we will likely see Mateusz Żukowski again.

Positives are really quite varied, from the obvious such as Zalewski, Zieliński and Lewandowski to the unsung successes such as Frankowski who did what was required of him, as well a debutant substitute in the shape of Marcel Reguła, and the biggest success of the last week Wiktor Nowak. Nowak has now made that position truly his own, which is something that even his biggest supporters thought could fully be the case after only three games. 

Black marks against tonight would be Świderski’s poor performance and Lewandowski’s suspension, as well as the fact that Poland still weren’t really able to play with confidence or much effectiveness until the second half. What a second half, though. 

I would say that with Lewandowski’s forced absence and Świderski’s lack of form, we could well see Reguła get some more time on the pitch against Bosnia. I think most people would like to see this, and I hope Urban feels the same way. 

Considering all the negativity leading up to tonight, it was exactly the kind of game that was needed for players, fans and even pundits alike. I won’t be getting carried away, but it’s clear to see that when they have the belief in themselves Poland can score some very attractive goals. 

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