PZPN

Our national team entered the fourth match of the World Cup qualifiers with six points. The White-and-Reds defeated Lithuania and Malta, but then had to swallow the bitter pill of defeat after a confrontation with Finland. The Dutch, on the other hand, played one match less and earned six points. The Oranje team beat Finland 2–0 away and then outclassed Malta, winning 8–0. Team manager Jan Urban, for whom the match in Rotterdam was his first as national team coach, decided to give a debutant a chance – Przemysław Wisniewski started in defence from the first minute. Robert Lewandowski led our team onto the pitch as captain, while Piotr Zieliński recorded his 100th match in the jersey with an eagle on his chest. 

The hosts dominated the early stages of the match at De Kuip Stadium. The Dutch had more possession of the ball, and by exchanging passes, they sought a way into the goal defended by Łukasz Skorupski. The Polish national team looked for opportunities to interrupt the Oranje's attacks and to counter them, but the rivals did not make a mistake that would have resulted in a threat under Bart Verbruggen's goal. There was danger under the Polish goal before the end of the first quarter of an hour, when the Dutch led to two dangerous situations, but the ball did not find its way into our team's net. First, the ball bounced off the goalpost, then Skorupski intervened. The rivals created an excellent opportunity in the 21st minute. Denzel Dumfries struck with his head, but our goalkeeper was alert and caught the ball. 

Unfortunately, Skorupski capitulated in the 28th minute. After a cross to the far post from a corner kick by Memphis Depay, our goalkeeper was surprised by Dumfries, who finished the action with a header. In the 32nd minute, the White-and-Reds sprang into action. Piotr Zieliński attempted a long-range shot, but the ball flew past Verbruggen's goal. The Poles had their chance to equalise in the 38th minute. Nicola Zalewski passed into the penalty area, but Sebastian Szymański failed to finish the move with his head. At the end of the first half, our team won a corner kick, but Piotr Zieliński's cross was too low, and the Dutch took possession of the ball. The hosts went into the locker room with a one-goal lead. 

At the start of the second half, Matty Cash sprung into action. The Polish team's defender took a shoot, but unfortunately very off-target. The Dutch continued to dominate, breaking into Łukasz Skorupski's penalty area several times, but the Polish goalkeeper did not have to intervene. The Poles, on the other hand, lacked a few exchanges of passes to shift their weight into the opponent's half. There was danger in the 58th minute, but it ended with only a corner kick for the Dutch. A minute later, the hosts had another corner, but the Poles dismissed the threat. Coach Jan Urban decided on the first substitution. In the 63rd minute, Robert Lewandowski left the pitch and Karol Świderski entered the game. In the 69th minute, Xavi Simons took a hard shot, but it was off-target. 

The coach of the Polish team brought more players into the game. Kamil Grosicki, Paweł Wszołek and Bartosz Kapustka ran onto the pitch, while Sebastian Szymański, Nicola Zalewski and Piotr Zieliński left it. Jan Bednarek took over the captain's armband from Piotr Zieliński. The White-and-Reds played more boldly. Matty Cash took a shot, but it ended up as a corner kick, and a moment later the Poles had another corner, but the action did not end with a shot. The Poles played out the action for a long time and just when it seemed that it had lost momentum, Matty Cash took possession of the ball and sent it into the net with a beautiful shot, leading to the equaliser. The referee still checked for any previous infringements, but the goal was allowed. In the 84th minute, coach Urban used the last substitution. Przemysław Wisniewski was replaced by Tomasz Kędziora. The Dutch tried several more times to snatch three points, but the match in Rotterdam ended in a 1–1 draw. 

On 7 September, at 8:45 p.m., the Polish national team will play their next match in the World Cup qualifiers. The White-and-Reds will face a team from Finland, whom they will face at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów.