Poland's national football team secured a solid 2-0 victory against Malta on March 24, 2025, in a crucial match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Despite some lineup surprises from head coach Michał Probierz, the Biało-Czerwoni demonstrated their strength, bouncing back from a lackluster 1-0 win over Lithuania just a few days earlier.
Probierz's noteworthy decision to bench star striker Robert Lewandowski in favor of Krzysztof Piątek raised eyebrows, as many expected Lewandowski to lead the attack. Instead, Piątek partnered with Karol Świderski up front. Other changes included Jakub Kamiński on the left wing, while Przemysław Frankowski was moved to the right side, pushing mate Mateusz Bogusz into the starting eleven over Jakub Piotrowski.
The team’s performance against Malta showed significant improvement. Goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski proved his worth with a strong showing, earning a rating of 3.5 after making crucial saves throughout the match.
Defensively, Kamil Piątkowski and Jan Bednarek also made their mark, with Bednarek rated highest among defenders at 3.5. His performance included a courageous play where he made a crucial tackle, which unfortunately led to a bloody nose that left him needing to be substituted at halftime. Mateusz Wieteska took his place in the second half without any hiccups, holding the line well as the Poles maintained their clean sheet.
Jan Bednarek made an impressive grab after a freekick opportunity, albeit the shot was saved right at the keeper. Meanwhile, Jakub Kiwior, who received a rating of 2.5, struggled at times, notably when a misplaced pass could have cost the team dearly.
On the front line, Karol Świderski stood out, receiving a rating of 5 after scoring both goals for Poland. He lit up the PGE Narodowy stadium in the 27th minute by finding the back of the net from close range and later netted his second after an assist from Jakub Moder in the second half. Although less visible at times, his contributions were key and exemplified his potential as a goal scorer.
Piątek, while assisting on Świderski's opening goal, experienced ups and downs, receiving a solid rating of 3. Both he and Lewandowski, who subbed in for Piątek late in the game, were not able to find the score sheet despite their attempts.
Jakub Kamiński was another positive note in the squad, achieving a rating of 4. His efforts in the first few minutes included dangerous crosses, while also showing great initiative in overall play despite not finding a goal or assist in this match.
In contrast, Przemysław Frankowski was underwhelming, earning a lowly 2 rating, showcasing only a single decent cross before being substituted himself in the second half.
Skorupski's performance was crucial to maintain a clean sheet, but he was not without his challenges, dealing effectively with Maltese attempts, including one fierce strike that almost caught him off-guard.
However, the match wasn't perfect. A notable moment occurred when Malta's Ylyas Chouaref was sent off with a red card following a foul on Wieteska, which punctuated the game’s frustrations for the visitors.
As for fans, the excitement surrounding the event was palpable. Leading up to the match, former Polish football player and football executive Zbigniew Boniek had predicted a dominant performance from Poland, forecasting a result of 4 or 5 goals. His earlier prediction of 4 or 5-0 against Lithuania did not hold since Poland managed only a narrow win then. The common enthusiasm shared by fans was illustrated through Boniek’s social media post before the Malta game, cautioning him not to underestimate the team again.
With the game commencing at 20:45 local time, it concluded a pivotal moment for the Polish team in their World Cup qualifying campaign. They desperately needed a boost after the earlier performance against Lithuania and were favored to win against Malta, who had lost their last match against Finland.
Next up, Poland must build on this success as they prepare for future matches, taking lessons from the tactics deployed by Probierz and the overall team execution. Bouncing back from a lackluster win to a stronger showing displays hope for their World Cup aspirations, as the fixtures continue.
