Fielding a new three-defence system and still without Robert Lewandowski, Poland lost to Mexico at Stadion Energa. It was three days after a 0-0 draw in a friendly game with Uruguay in Warsaw. Raul Jimenez scored the only goal of the match at the 13th minute.
An opportunity to experiment
A totally revamped Polish team lost to Mexico by 0-1 in Gdansk. In this game Adam Navalka tried an innovative three-defence system. Although Poles had most of ball possession, they were unable to create good chances for a goal. As a result, the match was the second consecutive friendly game without scoring.
Mexico effective from the start
Mexico created a very good chance to score in the fifth minute of the game. Raul Jimenez, served by Gallardo shot on goal allowing keeper Szczesny to save the early attempt. Seven minutes later, Benfica’s player took advantage of Polish defenders’ mistake. As a result he scored the only goal of the match after a very good play by Aquino. Cionek tried to remove the ball from the box, but it bounced of Linetty to isolated Jimenez. In very good position, the Mexican player did not failed.
Poland reacted to the disadvantage at the 20th minute with a good shot by Linetty. However, the Mexican defense blocked it. In the rebound, Kendziora didn’t manage to do better and failed the target with a shot over the bar. Home team had another good chance to score at the 33rd minute, but Rybus copied Kendziora and shot over the bar after a pass by Zielinski. Two minutes before the break, Maczynski saw a Mexican defender blocking his shot.
Second half
In the second half, an unchanged Poland continued to be more offensive near Mexican goal. However, the away team’s defense proved to be enough to counter Polish shots, as it happened in the 49th minute. One minute later, Linetty shot wide. In the 57th minute, after a good pass by Makuszewski, Rybus tried to surprise Mexican defense but his shot was stopped by keeper’s Corona foot near goal line. Poland was dominating the game but proved once again unable to score.
Poland was once more near the goal at the 74th minute and tried to get at least the equalizer by having Kuba Blaszczykowski for the last 15 minutes of the match. That change however ended up not having the result Adam Nawalka wanted. The last two big chances for a goal of the match went to the Mexicans, both by Peralta, who entered at half time instead of the goal scorer Jimenez. Thirteen minutes from time, Mexican forward headed wide after a cross by substitute Carlos Vela and, one minute later, Peralta again failed to score by shooting wide.
Friendly matches
The two matches of Polish National Football team were opportunities for coach Nawalka to try out new strategies as well as the players. As a result, many players who normally don’t play in the national team got their chances. Though the results may be disappointing for Polish fans, both games gave a lot of material to analyse. This will surely help to prepare for the upcoming World Cup, which Poland has advanced to at the beginning of October.
