Robert Lewandowski left the field with a huge smile on his face after blowing kisses to fans and hugging teammates. (More Football News)
You바카라d never know his team just lost a crucial World Cup game 2-0 to Argentina.
But Poland scraped into the knockout stages of the tournament, despite Wednesday바카라s loss to the South American champions, after Salem Aldawsari바카라s stoppage-time goal for Saudi Arabia in a 2-1 defeat to Mexico.
That late goal ensured Poland finished as runner-up in Group C, ahead of Mexico on goal difference, to set up a last 16 game against France on Sunday.
바카라You can say it바카라s a happy defeat,바카라 said Robert Lewandowski, who failed to even have a shot on target. 바카라I바카라m not happy with the way we played. Of course not. We can바카라t be happy with the game itself.바카라
Poland had been thoroughly outplayed by Argentina with Robert Lewandowski an ineffective isolated figure as his team was pegged back for the duration of the game. Argentina had 24 attempts at goal, 13 on target. Poland had three, none on target.
바카라We didn바카라t want to take any risk and, you know, we achieved our result because we reached the next round,바카라 Lewandowski said with a smile. 바카라Even though we lost, we can be happy.바카라
Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said his team바카라s lack of attacking threat wasn바카라t Lewandowski바카라s fault.
바카라I바카라m not attacking anyone from the team, but we didn바카라t help him to score,바카라 Michniewicz said. 바카라If (Lionel) Messi played for us and Robert played for Argentina, Robert would have scored five goals. Robert needed to get assistance and the match was played in our half. There were so many players covering him.바카라
Poland had goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to thank for a string of saves 바카라 including a first-half penalty from Messi 바카라 and Karol Swiderski for a goal-line clearance that avoided a heavier defeat.
Yet Poland바카라s players celebrated like they바카라d won, spraying each other with water bottles on the field.
It had been an anxious wait.
Poland바카라s game finished but Mexico was leading Saudi Arabia 2-0 and desperately pushing for the third goal that would have been enough to progress at Poland바카라s expense.
Both Poland and Mexico had four points, with two goals scored and two goals conceded each at that moment. Poland only had the edge by having fewer yellow cards than Mexico바카라s players.
Poland defender Bartosz Bereszynski covered his face. He couldn바카라t bear the tension. Then Aldawsari scored for Saudi Arabia to end Mexico바카라s hopes.
바카라I guess it바카라s the first time I felt you can be happy after a loss,바카라 Lewandowski said. The Poland star is already looking ahead to Sunday바카라s game against France.
바카라It바카라s another favorite to win the world championship and we바카라ve nothing to lose,바카라 he said. 바카라We know what kind of players they have but we have to enjoy it and do our best. We have to fight 바카라 France will be a huge challenge and we have to play better than today.바카라
