Poland U-21 0-1 Greece U-21: Kozłowski and Myszor shine in an encouraging display

Image via pzpn.pl

Poland’s U-21 side took on Greece’s U-21s in Białystok this afternoon, with an early second half goal from the visitors the decider in a tight game with plenty of encouraging signs from the Polish perspective.

Poland started the game well, with the two Cracovia wingers Jakub Myszor and Michał Rakoczy in particular causing problems for the Greek defence. Kacper Kozłowski and Jakub Kałuziński made for a good combination in midfield, and Kajetan Szmyt put in a good display at left-back. The home side had a couple of good chances, with Kozłowski and Rakoczy having a couple of shots on target, as well as having a decent penalty appeal waved away.

The second half was much the same story, except for the one moment when Greece got in down the right side, and crossed the ball onto the head of their striker, whose effort just eluded Kacper Tobiasz as it looped into the corner of the goal. Poland came back strongly, with Myszor having the best chance of all when he cut inside and smashed a shot off the crossbar. Substitutions were made, and in general they were not particularly effective, except for Mariusz Fornalczyk who added a certain element of directness to the side.

Despite a lot of good play, it was much the same story as the senior side, with Poland just lacking that final pass or shot that would’ve changed the direction of the match. Kozłowski in particular was a stand-out, and given how poor Linetty was in the first half and Krychowiak was in the second half last night, there is surely a space for the 18 year-old in the senior side.

There was a lot of scepticism when Michał Probierz took charge of the U-21s, but both the formation and the tactical ideas on display this afternoon were of real encouragement. I don’t think that a 4-3-3 would work for the senior side, but some of the pressing and willingness to get forward that was shown today wouldn’t have gone amiss last night against Holland.

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