Having Lewandowski as a top scorer and creative ability of Zielinski with great club seasons behind them, Poland have high hopes of leaving the mark on this year’s World Cup.

AAdam Nawalka switched between 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3, always having two defensive minded central midfielders in front of defenders to restrict acess into central areas. Add on Milik as a impact sub on the bench, they can even play with two strikers up front.

1. Their defensive structure changes from 5-2-3 when defending on opponent’s half of the field, to 5-4-1 as they drop deeper towards own box. 5-2-3 shape makes them quite vulnerable in wide areas when they defend in medium block, so opponents have managed to use them with diagonal passes from central areas. Add on Milik as a impact sub on the bench, they can even play with two strikers up front.
2. Their defensive structure changes from 5-2-3 when defending on opponent’s half of the field, to 5-4-1 as they drop deeper towards own box. 5-2-3 shape makes them quite vulnerable in wide areas when they defend in medium block, so opponents have managed to use them with diagonal passes from central areas.

When playing out from the back movement is static in central areas, so they develop most of their attacks down the flanks, relying on link up play between wingers and wing-backs and distribution of crosses into the box. Lewandowski is a big threat in these kind of situations, as he has an excellent reading of defenders’ movements when attacking the cross.
Poland is effective when it comes to counter-attacking play. Wingers are quick to release from their positions, and in Krychowiak they have a player who provides them with long balls into from central areas. His vision is crucial in the opening phase in transition.