Euro 2016: Blaszczykowski moves into Pole position ahead of Lewandowski

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Euro 2016: Blaszczykowski moves into Pole position ahead of Lewandowski
Jakub Blaszczykowski (right) celebrates as Lewandowski (No. 9) looks on.

Published: Mon 27 Jun 2016, 5:24 PM

Last updated: Mon 27 Jun 2016, 11:42 PM

Poland have found a stand-in for stymied star Robert Lewandowski.
Little-known outside Poland and Italy, Jakub Blaszczykowski has so far scored the goals expected from the Bayern Munich striker, becoming the surprise leader of Poland's run to a first ever quarterfinal appearance at the European Championship.
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder leads Poland with two goals in four games at the tournament, and the two strikes have been all his team has managed- as well as needed- to win their last two matches and reach the final eight in France.
Blaszczykowski helped Poland beat Switzerland after a 5-4 penalty shootout on Saturday night in Saint-Etienne, scoring their first-half opener before the Swiss forced extra time with an equaliser. Blaszczykowski sent a low shot between the legs of Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer after Kamil Grosicki drew in the defence in the 39th minute.
With the score then level at 1-1 after 120 minutes, he also confidently converted one of five made spot kicks for Poland.
"I am too old to get emotional (during penalties)," Blaszczykowski said. "Now, I try to stay as cool as possible. In general we are very happy we have achieved something we had not done before. This is a marvelous feeling."
The goal against Switzerland followed on from Blaszczykowski curling in a left-footed shot for a 1-0 win over Ukraine as a second-half substitute to qualify for the round-of-16.
"Let's hope it stays like this all the way through to the final," he said.
The poised performances by Blaszczykowski in front of the net contrast with Lewandowski's suddenly shaky aim.
Lewandowski was poised to be one of the biggest players at the 24-team tournament after hitting 13 goals to fuel a Poland attack that managed 33 goals in 10 qualifiers. He also excelled for his club this season, scoring 30 times to help Bayern defend its Bundesliga title.
But all that proficiency in front of goal has dried up at Euro 2016. Lewandowski has yet to score, although he did finally steer his first shots on target against Switzerland.
Without his goals, coach Adam Nawalka has had to shift his focus from attack to defence, and then look for another player to step forward. So far, it has been Blaszczykowski who has answered the call to keep Poland unbeaten.

By AP

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Poland's midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski (2nd L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mates (LtR) Poland's defender Lukasz Piszczek, Poland's forward Arkadiusz Milik and Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski during the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match between Switzerland and Poland at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne on June 25, 2016. / AFP / PHILIPPE DESMAZES
Poland's midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski (2nd L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mates (LtR) Poland's defender Lukasz Piszczek, Poland's forward Arkadiusz Milik and Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski during the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match between Switzerland and Poland at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne on June 25, 2016. / AFP / PHILIPPE DESMAZES

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