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Poland clinches a win against Spain, securing their first-place position in the group stage. A summary of the match highlights and goals.
Before the final group meeting, the attendees were treated to a rendition of the Polish national anthem, “Mazurka Dąbrowskiego,” sung by Rozalia Hirsch, daughter of coach Klaudiusz Hirsch. The match kicked off with the same lineup as yesterday: Paweł Grzywa – Radosław Łepski, Krzysztof Elsner, Kamil Kucharski, Bartłomiej Dębicki, and Norbert Dregier. A victory or draw would guarantee their top spot in the group.
Dębicki’s Opener
In the second minute, Krzysztof Elsner had an excellent opportunity to score, but he pushed the ball too far out of play. A few minutes later, Paweł Grzywa showcased his goalkeeping prowess, making a fantastic save from Spain’s long-range shot. After seven minutes, Bartłomiej Dębicki opened the scoring by finding himself in the right place at the right time, slotting the ball past the opposition goalkeeper.
Controlled Play
The following passages of the match were dominated by Klaudiusz Hirsch’s team, but without clear-cut chances. The coach continuously rotated the lineup, ensuring each player had a chance to contribute and conserve energy for future matches.
Second Half Milestone
The second half began much like the first, with Kucharski, Grzywa, and Elsner passing the ball but failing to convert. Grzywa was substituted for Paweł Sobczak in goal. Spain, a superior team compared to Uruguay, occasionally threatened Poland’s goal. The second goal didn’t come until the 29th minute when Kamil Kucharski confidently found the back of the net with an assist from Krzysztof Elsner.
Mnochy’s Milestone
Two minutes later, Górka attempted a strong long-range shot, but the Spanish goalkeeper intervened well. However, the excitement wasn’t over yet. Bartosz Januszewski outplayed two defenders, passed to Mateusz Górka, who then set up Ariel Mnochy for his 17th international goal. With no further developments, Poland secured a perfect record and advanced to the Round of 16.