Poland defeated San Marino 5:0 in the football match of the World Cup qualifying round. At the National Stadium, Łukasz Fabiański, the goalkeeper of the red-and-white team, said goodbye to the representation with tears in his eyes.
Paulo Sousa surprised us again with the starting eleven. In the match of the World Cup qualifier against San Marino, several less experienced players appeared in the composition of the White-Red team. The defensive formation at the National Stadium from the first minutes consisted of Tomasz Kędziora, Michał Helik and Robert Gumny, and behind their backs stood 36-year-old Łukasz Fabiański, who is finishing his career in the national team.
“It is a dream come true to end the national team career in this beautiful stadium filled with fans” – said, Fabianski.
The result in Warsaw was opened in the 10th minute by Karol Świderski, who partnered Lewandowski in the front line and beat Elia Benedettini with a header after a pass from Przemysław Płacheta. The Poles attacked non-stop and the goal was scored by… San Marino defender. Cristian Brolli blocked Kacper Kozlowski’s pass so awkwardly that he beat his goalkeeper.
Lewandowski also scored, but the referee saw in this action a foul of the captain of Poland and did not recognize the goal. The fans had to wait for more goals until the second half. The siege of the rivals’ penalty area ended with a powerful strike by Kędziora, who scored a goal and knocked out one of the defender.
Fabianski left the pitch to an ovation from the fans, with tears in his eyes in the symbolic 57th minute (the exact number of times he has played for the national team). A great goalkeeper and – as emphasized by all who knew him – a man, he was bid farewell at the sidelines by players of both national teams.
Kto się nie wzruszył ten ma serce z kamienia… ?
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80’ #POLSMR 3:0 ???? pic.twitter.com/7BmRkokjR7— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) October 9, 2021
A little reason to smile after those touching moments gave fans Adam Buksa, after whose confident shot the ball fluttered in the net of the goal guarded by Benedettini for the fourth time. The result was set by Krzysztof Piątek, who returned to the national team after a serious ankle injury.
On Tuesday, the White-Reds will face a much more challenging match against Albania in Tirana. This meeting may be crucial for the fate of the second place in the group, which ensures participation in the playoffs that decide the participation in the World Cup. The first position in the group “I” has already secured practically vice-champions of Europe – England, who on Saturday defeated Andorra 5:0. In Budapest, the Hungarians lost to Albania 0:1.