Poland vs Netherlands: Netherlands Come from Behind to Win in EURO 2024

Early Goal Sets the Tone

The Poland-Netherlands match at EURO 2024 marked an exciting opening to Group D. Poland's star striker Robert Lewandowski, 35, was absent due to a hamstring injury, which led to his replacement Adam Buksa scoring the first goal for Poland with a glancing header from Piotr Zielinski's corner.

Netherlands Fight Back

However, the Netherlands fought back, with Cody Gakpo leveling the score with a deflected shot. The match remained tied until Wout Weghorst, a former Manchester United striker, came off the bench to score the winner with a clever finish.

Analysis of Team Performances

Poland:

• Poland's recent matches have tended to be low-scoring, with fewer than 2.5 goals scored in 6 of their last 7 matches, indicating a cautious defensive approach.
• However, there has been a trend towards an increase in total goals, with more than 1.5 goals scored in 7 out of their last 8 matches.
• In the first half, Poland rarely concedes more than 1.5 goals, a feature present in the last 7 matches. Nevertheless, in 5 out of the last 6 matches, at least one goal has been scored in the first half.
• The absence of Robert Lewandowski was a significant blow, but Adam Buksa stepped up to score the opening goal for Poland.

Netherlands:

• The Netherlands come into this match with a positive streak, having not drawn in the last 9 matches and winning 5 out of the last 6.
• Their offensive prowess is considerable, having scored at least one goal in 26 out of the last 27 matches. Additionally, in the last 4 matches of the European Championship, more than 1.5 goals have been scored.
• The Netherlands' matches often start lively, with more than 0.5 goals in the first half in 12 out of the last 13 matches.
• Overall, the Netherlands have shown great solidity, not losing in 33 out of the last 37 matches.
• Wout Weghorst's late winner off the bench was crucial in securing the victory for the Netherlands.

Conclusion

The Poland-Netherlands match at EURO 2024 was an intense and thrilling encounter. Poland's early goal was matched by the Netherlands' determination to level the score.Wout Weghorst's late winner sealed the victory for the Netherlands, who now lead the group ahead of France's match against Austria.

The Bad Tackle

Poland is a fractured unit without Lewandowski. But, previous tournaments have proven they need more.

The Dutch still have much to offer. If they peak at the right time, they could give the top teams a run for it.