Lewandowski out of Poland opener, TBD for Euros

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will miss the country’s Euro 2024 opener against the Netherlands on Sunday after suffering an injury in his nation’s final warmup game against Turkey on Monday.

The Polish national team’s doctor, Jacek Jaroszewski, said they are doing all they can to ensure the Barcelona striker will be fit to face Austria in their second Group D match on June 21.

Lewandowski, 35, was taken off with a knock in the first half of the 2-1 victory against Turkey as he made his 150th appearance for Poland.

He underwent tests at the team’s training base on Tuesday. They revealed a thigh problem that will keep him out of Sunday’s opener against the Netherlands in Hamburg, Germany.

However, coach Michał Probierz will keep Lewandowski with the squad in the hope he will be able to play some part in the tournament.

After the Netherlands, Poland face Austria in Berlin and then close Group D against World Cup runners-up France in Dortmund on June 25.

“Robert Lewandowski suffered a torn biceps femoris muscle, which will exclude him from participating in the first match of the tournament. We are doing everything so that Robert can play in the second match, against Austria,” Polish team doctor Jacek Jaroszewski said in a statement.

The loss of Lewandowski, who has scored 82 goals for his country, is a major setback for Poland.

Despite Barça ending the season without a trophy, he still managed 26 goals in 49 appearances, taking his total for the LaLiga side to 59 in 95 games since signing from Bayern Munich in 2022.

He had set up the opening goal against Turkey for Charlotte FC striker Karol Świderski, who was one of two other players to get injured in the friendly.

Paweł Dawidowicz also picked up a knock, but team doctor Jaroszewski said both Dawidowicz and Świderski should be able to return to full training in a few days.