Poland has an impressive defensive record at Euro 2016 but standing in its way to a semifinal spot is arguably one of sport’s greatest-ever athletes, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The monstrous Polish centre back pairing of Michal Pazdan and Kamil Glik face its toughest challenge yet when it comes up against Portugal in the last-eight clash in Marseille on Thursday, though its previous matches has not provided much by way of preparation for facing the Real Madrid star.
The 29-year-old Ronaldo described as the “perfect athlete” by lifestyle magazine Men’s Health, is the only player to have scored a goal in four Euros going back to 2004 and, while he struggled to find his feet early in this year’s tournament, there are signs that he is back to his sublime best.
He scored twice in Portugal’s last group match against Hungary — an audacious back heel and a towering header — and has had a hand in two of his country’s other three goals, most importantly the shot that set up Ricardo Quaresma to score the easiest of extra-time winner in the last-16 win over Croatia.
For its part, the Polish team has good shot-stoppers. They have conceded just three goals all year and only one in the Euros, an outrageous bicycle kick by Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri in the round-of-16 tie which the team eventually won on penalties. Only Germany still has a clean sheet in Euro 2016.
Adequately prepared? Poland’s matches in France so far will have done little to prepare it for the pace, power and superhuman heading ability that Ronaldo possesses, however.
Its top-ranked opponent to date, Germany, fielded the diminutive Mario Goetze in the group-stage stalemate and the ‘false nine’ presented little trouble in the box, constantly dropping back into midfield to pick up the ball.
Other group matches against Northern Ireland, which did not get a decent effort on target, and Ukraine, which departed after failing to score in any games, were fairly straightforward.
The Shaqiri wonder goal did unsettle the Poles but the rearguard held firm, forcing the tie to penalties. That defence will have to be immaculate again if Poland is to have a chance of progressing because it has offered little up front.
It has scored two goals fewer than any other team in the last eight with hit-man Robert Lewandowski, the leading scorer in Euro 2016 qualifying with 13 goals, mustering just two attempts on target so far, both in the last match.
The captain’s opening penalty in the shootout, which left the goalkeeper stranded as it flew into the top right corner, could be the confidence boost he needs.
It is the scintillating left winger Kamil Grosicki who presents the biggest danger for Portugal’s ageing but experienced defence led by 33-year-old Pepe.
For Polish coach Adam Nawalka, the Ronaldo factor presents a tactical conundrum. Is he prepared to press high in search of a goal, knowing that a wrong step could unleash the Portuguese counter-attack, or does he sit back and risk becoming just a spectator to another Ronaldo master class?
Whoever wins on Thursday will play either Wales or Belgium next, seen as the easier route to the final with host France, world champion Germany, Italy and surprise quarterfinalists Iceland on the other side of the draw.
