Today, the final matches of group H will start in the World Cup, and in them will step onto the field the football players of Lithuania's neighbors, the Polish team.
Perhaps the biggest star of the entire group H can be considered the forward of the Polish national team, Robert Lewandowski, who in recent years has become a symbol of his country's football and has been demonstrating impressive goal-scoring pace.
In the qualification for the World Cup, the sniper from Bayern Munich scored as many as 16 goals in just 10 matches, breaking the record for the European qualification zone. At least once he shone in nine matches - R. Lewandowski was only stopped by the Danes, who defeated the Poles in Copenhagen with a score of 4-0.
Playing for the first time in the world championships, the forward has already led his national team forward in two European championships, but this time the pressure and hopes raised by the Poles are higher than ever.
"The Poles are a nation that always believes in you, but at the same time has quite high expectations," - said R. Lewandowski to the championship website before the start in Russia.
The forward himself admits that he is better prepared for this championship than for the previous two tournaments held in France. That time, for the first time, the Poles reached the quarterfinals and lost to the future champions, Portugal, on penalty kicks, but R. Lewandowski scored only one goal in five matches. Although the team represented by the 'Bayern' striker once again became the champion of Germany this year and once again reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, the striker insists that he is going to Russia much more relaxed.
"Last season was a bit different from the 2015-2016 season, before the European Championship," said R. Lewandowski. - I played fewer matches, which means I am less tired. I hope to demonstrate this freshness at the World Cup."
However, this time he goes to the tournament not only more rested but also under even greater pressure. The team, placed in a group with Colombia, Japan, and Senegal, raises a lot of hopes for the fans, and the biggest hope for the Poles is associated with R. Lewandowski, who scored two goals in the preparation matches with Chile and Lithuania.
"Those matches were not that important. The most important moments are still ahead of us," said the forward. - My hunger for goals is huge, and I hope to satisfy it by scoring them in the most important tournament - the World Cup."
The first challenge for the Polish team awaits them tomorrow when they will play against the Senegal national team at "Spartak" stadium in Moscow. The Poles, meeting the important day, unconditionally believe in their team, and R. Lewandowski is already compared to the football legend of this country, Grzegorz Lato.
This striker scored as many as seven goals in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany and not only won the Golden Boot but also led Poland to third place. However, the 'Bayern' sniper claims that he does not need comparisons with G. Lato's achievements - the most important thing is team success.
"I know that, as in France, I will be under pressure from opponents' defenders. I don't know how many opportunities I will have, but if defenders double-mark me and foul me, it will free up a lot of space for my friends. I will be happy if we score goals together, as the most important thing is team success," said R. Lewandowski.
The Pole, who has participated for the first time in the most important event in world football with the national team, revealed that it was one of his biggest dreams. The 29-year-old forward claims that his first memories of the World Cup are related to the 1998 tournament in France, and the best memories are from the 2002 tournament when Poland also participated.
"Since the tournament took place in South Korea and Japan, due to the time zone difference, I had to miss classes to be able to see the Polish matches. I crossed my fingers and was very happy that my country's national team played in such a tournament. I still remember it well, and now I am here," - said R. Lewandowski at a press conference.
The first attempt by the 'Bayern' forward to disappoint the opponents' goalkeeper and fans will start soon when, at 18:00, Poland will play against Senegal.
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