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Poland’s sports minister ‘not happy’ after World Cup upset

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 20.06.2018 19:00
Poland’s sports minister has voiced his disappointment after the national football team lost 1-2 to Senegal in its first game at the World Cup in Russia on Tuesday.
Poland's Sports and Tourism Minister Witold Bańka. Photo: PAP/Adam GuzPoland's Sports and Tourism Minister Witold Bańka. Photo: PAP/Adam Guz

"I do not know why the team played poorly, but I'm not happy with the Poles’ performance," Witold Bańka said, as quoted by public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency.

He also said that the Polish squad lacked "freshness and energy on the pitch.”

But Bańka added he was hoping Tuesday's match was just "a bad day at the office” and that Poland still had a chance to progress from the group stage of the tournament in Russia, IAR reported.

Japan and Senegal jointly led World Cup Group H containing Poland after the first round of matches, while the higher-ranked Poles and Colombians trailed them in the standings.

Only the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout phase.

According to Poland manager Adam Nawałka, the Poles “were the weaker side" in their encounter with Senegal "and the score reflects that.”

Nawałka said after the match in Moscow that "it’s no use crying over spilled milk" and that Poland would now focus on preparing for their next games in the tournament.

Poland next take on Colombia and Japan in the group stage of the World Cup in Russia.

Nawałka's men are scheduled to play Colombia in Kazan on Sunday and face off against Japan in Volgograd next Thursday.

Tuesday's match against Senegal at Moscow's Spartak stadium marked Poland’s return to World Cup action after a hiatus of 12 years.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR

tags: football
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