Balance of forces between Lusos and Poles offers expensive invoice to Germany
Draw allows Poland to stay in pot 1 in the draw for qualifying for Euro’2020. For its part, Germany falls to pot 2.
Summary: Portugal and Poland drew (1-1) this Tuesday in a game related to the last round of the League of Nations. In a duel in which everything was resolved as far as the group was concerned – Portugal had already qualified for the final four -, the great consequence of this result is related to the draw of the qualifying phase for the Euro’2020. The fact that Poland score will shoot Germany for pot 2 of the draw that takes place already in December.
Game movie
The first part of the match revealed what was expected. With everything decided in the group, Portugal and Poland entered the D. Afonso Henriques with a more defensive posture and trying to take advantage of the adversary error. The Poles had the chance to score a spot in pot 1 of the draw for qualifying for Euro2020 tonight.
However, it was Portugal who was controlling the moments of the game and the rhythm of the game that was played in Guimarães was clearly low. Against the current of the match was Renato Sanches. The Bayern midfielder has played a few minutes on the German side but appeared to want to show service in the national team.
It was Sanches who fanned the game and it was at the feet of the Portuguese midfielder that the first goal of the match was born. Renato charged a corner on the left side of the Portuguese attack and put the ball in the first post. André Silva anticipated the Polish defence, jumped higher and put the ball in the back of the net. The Sevilla forward opened the scoring in Guimarães and waved a game that despite the great atmosphere on the stands was visibly grey inside the four lines.
The Portuguese goal also served to wake up the Poles who, soon after, hit the crossbar of Beto goal, following an indirect free. Kedziora went to the first floor and only the iron prevented the Polish party in D. Afonso Henriques. Until the half-time, nothing else was recorded.
The advantage could be a way for Portugal to control the match, but the second part brought a new direction to the game. In the 62nd minute, Milik appeared loose on the face of Beto and Danilo eventually knocked down the Polish striker inside the large area. The referee was not in half measures and showed the red card to the Portuguese international while pointing to the mark of maximum punishment.
It was Milik himself who advanced to the penalty and although Beto guessed the side, Poland scored and tied the match. The goal motivated the Poles before a national selection that had to reconfigure itself tactically due to the expulsion of Danilo. Fernando Santos chose to give the whole corridor right to Cancelo, trying to cover the lack of an 11th player.
In spite of the Polish offensives, the tie remained until the end of the 90 minutes.
The timing of the game: Danilo’s expulsion changed the course of a match that was under full control of the national team. Poland capitalized, scored, tied the game and still booked an important place in pot 1 of the draw of the qualifying round for the Euro’2020.
