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After the Lithuanian national team lost 0-1 in Belchatow on Tuesday, the coach of the Polish national team, Pawel Janas, said that his players will have to significantly improve, or they will be eliminated in the first stage of the upcoming World Cup.
"I had the surnames of the group players written down in my notebook, but most of them were out of shape," the coach said at a press conference after the match. "Playing like today, we will be knocked out in Germany already after the group stage."
In March, the Poles won 2-1 against the Saudi Arabian footballers, who also qualified for the World Cup, but later lost 0-1 to the US team in matches played in Germany.
In Tuesday's match, Andrius Gedgaudas scored the only goal in the 14th minute when Lithuanians quickly caught the sleeping Polish defenders off guard.
After this goal, the Poles had the initiative until the end of the first half, and had opportunities to score from Miroslaw Szymkowiak and Sebastian Mila. However, as noted by "Reuters," the Lithuanians could have doubled their lead in the 40th minute, when Irmantas Zelmikas missed a free header in the penalty area.
During the break, P.Janas made three substitutions and the Poles regained initiative, but they failed to create serious chances to score. Meanwhile, the Lithuanians forced the opposing goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek to make several saves.
"My worst doubts have come true," P.Janas immediately said after the final whistle. "We see that most of the players are in poor form."
