Poland can still hope to reach the round of 16 of the European Football Championship. The team around world footballer Robert Lewandowski separated 1: 1 (0: 1) from Spain in the second group game. Álvaro Morata scored for the hosts (26th minute), Lewandowski equalized (54th). The Spaniard Gerard Moreno missed a penalty (59.)
In the event of a defeat, Poland would not have had a chance to reach the round of the last 16 teams in the last group game. However, there are now two finals in Group E (June 23, 6 p.m.). Poland would have a chance of the round of 16 with a win against group winners Sweden (4 points), Spain (2) would certainly be further with a win against Slovakia (3).
Spain approached the game in a similar way to the opening match against Sweden. In order to avoid another 0-0, however, coach Luis Enrique Gerard Moreno set up from the start. The Villarreal attacker was the second top scorer in the Spanish league last season. However, there wasn’t much to see from the 29-year-old at the beginning of the game. Spain had more possession of the ball and thus control of the game, but dangerous degrees were again missing.
After 26 minutes, however, Gerard Moreno’s acceptance paid off: The Spaniard pulled in on the edge of the box and shot flat on goal. Álvaro Morata ran into the lane and steered the ball into the goal (26th). Then he jubilantly ran to coach Enrique, who had stuck to him despite criticism after the 0-0 opener.
Lewandowski compensates
Poland holed up most of the time in their own penalty area, but had a good chance to equalize at the end of half-time. After a cross from Lewandowski, Karol Świderski did not put the ball in the goal from a few meters (35th). Shortly before the break, Świderski hit the post, Lewandowski grabbed the rebound, but shot goalkeeper Unai Simón (43.).
After the break it worked better: Kamil Jóźwiak crossed into the penalty area, Lewandowski prevailed against guard Aymeric Laporte and headed the 1-1 (54th).
Spain could have quickly forgotten about the equalization. According to the TV images, the Italian referee Daniele Orsato gave penalties because Jakub Moder attacked Gerard’s foot. The fouled, who had converted ten penalty kicks in the league season, kicked himself, but shot the ball against the post (59th). Morata put the margin next to the goal.
Spain secured control of the game for long stretches and at times had more than 75 percent possession. In the closing stages, Morata again had a great chance, but failed in the six-yard box to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny (84th). So it stayed with a tie.
