Polish city of GDANSK, Nov. 3 (Reuters) - For the first time in more than 35 years, Poland will rely on their star forward Robert Lewandowski to score the goals that will advance them to the World Cup knockout round. However, he will need help.
After eight trophy- and record-filled years at Bayern Munich, the Poland captain signed for Barcelona during the offseason, a move he had been requesting for months.
"When you've spent a lot of time playing in one nation, change is always cool. I greatly benefit from it, "Lewandowski made this statement in September while serving abroad.
"I have reached my destination. Such an extra lift, lightness, freshness, and a smile result from this inner joy."
The 34-year-old achieved the finest start in Barcelona history, outperforming superstars like Ronaldo, Romario, and Samuel Eto'o while scoring 12 goals in nine games.
Lewandowski, who very likely won't play in another World Cup, wants to aid the national team just as much but has asked for frontline support after Poland's lackluster 2-0 Nations League loss to the Netherlands.
"The issue was how many players we had on offense. This figure was just too low "said him.
"Our defensive edge did not at all imply that we were coping and gathering balls," said the player.
Lewandowski seeks a strike partner, which proved to be successful during the qualifiers not long ago.
NEED FOR WINGMAN
Poland finished second behind England in Group I of the World Cup qualifying process with 30 goals in 10 games. The club depended on a striking combination to win every game.
Lewandowski scored eight goals in as many games while playing for previous coach Paulo Sousa when he was most frequently paired with attackers Arkadiusz Milik, Adam Buksa, or Karol Swiderski.
Lewandowski scored twice in six games as a lone striker under Czeslaw Michniewicz, the team's new manager.
Even though Michniewicz openly admitted he wasn't fully certain two forwards were the answer, he granted his star player what he requested in the following game.
With Lewandowski and Karol Swiderski of Charlotte FC leading the attack, Poland salvaged a dismal Nations League season by defeating Wales 1-0 on the road and maintaining their threatened League A status.
After setting up his offensive partner for the game-winning goal, Lewandowski expressed cautious optimism, saying, "Offensively we can be much more dangerous."
There is much space for development in this area, and we will continue to pay attention to it before the World Cup.
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