Football: Poland thrash Israel 4-0 in fourth straight Euro 2020 qualifying win
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
11.06.2019 01:00
Poland’s national football team on Monday demolished Israel 4-0 in its fourth straight Euro 2020 qualifying win, all but securing a place in next year's tournament.
Substitute Damian Kądzior (right) slots home to score the fourth goal for Poland at the National Stadium in Warsaw on Monday. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak
Prolific striker Krzysztof Piątek opened the scoring for Poland after firing home from inside the box in the 35th minute of play at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Captain Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty into another goal 11 minutes into the second half.
Winger Kamil Grosicki put Poland 3-0 ahead three minutes later with an impressive volley after a long diagonal cross from two-footed midfielder Piotr Zieliński.
Substitute Damian Kądzior closed the scoring in the 84th minute from an assist by fellow subsitute Arkadiusz Milik after an error by the Israeli goalkeeper.
After four rounds of fixtures, Poland maintained a perfect record atop their qualifying group, with 12 points and no goal conceded.
Barring a disaster, Jerzy Brzęczek's men have all but guaranteed themselves a spot in the 2020 European championships, according to commentators.
The squad's latest performance at the Polish capital’s National Stadium left supporters enthused and in high spirits ahead of the next round of Euro 2020 qualifiers in September.
The Poles take on Slovenia away on September 6 and play Austria at home three days later.
The Polish team on Friday beat North Macedonia 1-0 owing to a goal from Piątek amid an otherwise uninspiring performance at Toše Proeski Arena in the Balkan country’s capital Skopje.
Poland opened their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a 1-0 away win against Austria on March 21. The Polish team three days later beat Latvia 2-0 in their second Euro 2020 qualifier at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Fifty-five European teams were in December drawn into a total of 10 qualifying groups, five groups of five teams and five six-team groups.
The Euro 2020 qualifiers will be played until November, with the top two teams from each group qualifying directly for the championships.
The Euro 2020 tournament will be held from June 12 to July 12, 2020 in 12 cities around Europe, with the final played at London's Wembley Stadium.
(gs/pk)
Source: Polsat Sport, TVP Sport, PAP