Poland’s impressive run in World Cup qualifying offered dark-horse status in Qatar, but manager Paulo Sousa’s sudden departure in December has left much to prove and some doubt whether the team has what it takes to compete.
Sousa led Robert Lewandowski and his colleagues to a runners-up spot behind England in Group I, before leaving his post to join Brazilian side Flamengo.
Czeslaw Michniewicz is the new man aiming to make Poland’s first World Cup knockout game since 1986. In his second game, the former Legia Warsaw boss masterminded a 2-0 win over Sweden in the European play-off final to secure qualification.
With a squad that mixes seasoned stars with career journeymen and unproven young talent, Michniewicz’s main task will be to unlock Lewandowski in what could be the captain’s last World Cup.
Poland World Cup 2022 squad
Record top scorer Robert Lewandowski will once again lead the line for Poland at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He will captain the European nation’s squad, which will have veteran duo Kamil Gilk and Grzegorz Krychowiak in its ranks, while Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski is expected to provide magic in midfield.
Aston Villa’s Matty Cash will also turn out for the Eagles at the World Cup after switching allegiance from his native England to represent Poland, where his mother was born.
It is currently a 25-man roster after goalkeeper Bartolomej Dragowski broke his leg while playing for Spezia in the final match before the World Cup. He is expected to be replaced by Kamil Grabara but this is yet to be confirmed.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Wojciech Szczesny | Juventus (ITA) | 32 | 66 |
| GK | 12 | Lukasz Skorupski | Bologna (ITA) | 31 | 8 |
| GK | 22 | Kamil Grabara | Copenhagen (DEN) | 23 | 1 |
| DEF | 5 | Jan Bednarek | Aston Villa (ENG) | 26 | 45 |
| DEF | 15 | Kamil Glik | Benevento (ITA) | 34 | 99 |
| DEF | 2 | Matty Cash | Aston Villa (ENG) | 25 | 7 |
| DEF | 14 | Jakub Kiwior | Spezia (ITA) | 22 | 3 |
| DEF | 25 | Robert Gumny | FC Augsburg (GER) | 24 | 5 |
| DEF | 18 | Bartosz Bereszynski | Sampdoria (ITA) | 30 | 46 |
| DEF | 4 | Mateusz Wieteska | Clermont (FRA) | 25 | 2 |
| DEF | 3 | Artur Jedrzejczyk | Legia Warsaw (POL) | 34 | 40 |
| MID | 21 | Nicola Zalewski | Roma (ITA) | 20 | 7 |
| MID | 26 | Michal Skoras | Lech Poznan (POL) | 22 | 1 |
| MID | 10 | Grzegorz Krychowiak | Al Shabab (SAU) | 32 | 94 |
| MID | 20 | Piotr Zielinski | Napoli (ITA) | 28 | 74 |
| MID | 6 | Krystian Bielik | Birmingham (ENG) | 24 | 5 |
| MID | 11 | Kamil Grosicki | Pogon Szczecin (POL) | 34 | 87 |
| MID | 24 | Przemyslaw Frankowski | Lens (FRA) | 27 | 26 |
| MID | 19 | Sebastian Szymanski | Feyenoord (NED) | 23 | 18 |
| MID | 8 | Damian Szymanski | AEK Athens (GRE) | 27 | 9 |
| MID | 17 | Szymon Zurkowski | Fiorentina (ITA) | 25 | 7 |
| MID | 13 | Jakub Kaminski | Wolfsburg (GER) | 20 | 4 |
| FWD | 23 | Krzysztof Piatek | Salernitana (ITA) | 27 | 11 |
| FWD | 16 | Karol Swiderski | Charlotte (USA) | 25 | 18 |
| FWD | 7 | Arkadiusz Milik | Juventus (ITA) | 28 | 64 |
| FWD | 9 | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona (SPA) | 34 | 134 |
Poland’s Best Players, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Just one win in their last five matches means Poland will enter the tournament looking for some momentum. However, their squad has enough talent to put together an underdog run to the knockout rounds.
It remains to be seen whether Michniewicz, the former Polish under-21 coach and Ekstraklasa champion, has the answer.
STARS
Poland’s captain, all-time top scorer and most capped player, Lewandowski has never scored a World Cup goal. Qatar will likely be his last chance, and he will be eager to right the wrongs of past tournaments.
Lewandowski has started life at Barcelona but, as past tournaments have shown, he cannot do it alone for Poland. Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski will be an important creative link.
POWERS
The Poles will have a solid base to build on in the form of experienced midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak’s spine.
Juventus No.1 Wojciech Szczesny is still a force between the sticks, while Aston Villa’s Matty Cash will boost the backline assuming he returns from injury to impress in the UEFA Nations League.
WEAKNESS
The relationship between the Polish creatives and Lewandowski has set them back in the international career of the great goalscorer. Przemyslaw Frankowski, Piotr Zielinski, and Nicola Zalewski must find a way to supply their captain.