Hamburg, Germany.- Poland will be without captain Robert Lewandowski due to injury when it faces the Netherlands on Sunday in the first match of Group D of the European Championship. The other teams in the group are France and Austria. The match in Hamburg will begin at 3 pm local time (1300 GMT).
What you need to know:
Data and keys
— Poland was the last of the 24 teams confirmed for Euro 2024, winning a knockout final in March against Wales on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Lewandowski’s penalty to start the shootout was Poland’s first shot on goal that night in Cardiff.
— The Netherlands comes from a qualifying group with France, losing home and away to the 2022 World Cup runner-up but winning its other six games against Greece, Ireland and Gibraltar.
— Poles and Dutch will be in action more than a day before their group rivals, France and Austria, kick off on Monday night. That gives them an extra day of rest before the second round of games on Friday.
Equipment
Both teams are hampered by injuries.
Poland is missing Lewandowski, who injured his thigh on Monday in a warm-up match against Turkey and should return to action during the group stage, as well as Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik of Juventus who underwent surgery. knee.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has lost an entire midfield in recent weeks: Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and Atalanta pair Teun Koopmeiners and Marten de Roon will not be available for the tournament.
Koeman called up full-back Ian Maatsen and forward Joshua Zirkzee.
Quotes
“There has been progress in Robert Lewandowski’s recovery, so we hope he will return for the game against Austria,” Poland coach Michał Probierz said.
#Poland #Lewandowski #faces #Netherlands #open #Group
