The 2024 European Championship is under way and teams are in an attacking mood so far, with a big number of goals being scored in the early matches with group play just getting started.
Poland entered into the spirit of things when Adam Buksa gave them an early lead in their Group D opener against the Netherlands before goals from Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst condemned them to a battling 2-1 defeat. The outcome might have been very different had Robert Lewandowski not been absent through injury.
With five goals in 11 Euro matches across his glittering career prior to 2024, Lewandowski had been ever-present for Poland at this competition over the course of his career. He made a return to action as a substitute against Austria, but he could not prevent a 3-1 loss that confirmed his team's elimination.
The Sporting News brings you the latest on what sidelined the 35-year-old and what his present status is.
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Why Robert Lewandowski missed Euro 2024 opener for Poland
Lewandowski pulled up with a thigh injury in Poland's international friendly against Turkey just days before the start of the tournament, leaving the Barcelona sharpshooter with very little time to recover.
Lewandowski was withdrawn in the 32nd minute of the eventual 2-1 Poland win, leaving him in a race against time to recover for participation in what is likely to be his final European Championship.
In a double blow for Poland, Lewandowski's injury came just minutes after fellow forward Karol Swiderski was forced off with an injury of his own, replaced by Krzyzstof Piatek in the 19th minute of the same game.
Lewandowski back in lineup for France match
Lewandowski was listed among the substitutes for Poland's game against Austria and did indeed make his comeback as a substitute, although he was unable to prevent a 3-1 loss that confirmed their elimination from the finals.
He was named in the starting lineup for their final match of Euro 2024 against France.
While losing Lewandowski had been a big blow for a Poland team built around their talisman up front, it's not quite the loss it may have been in years past. Lewandowski regressed significantly with Barcelona this past season, scoring 19 league goals and 26 across all competitions but seeing a massive dip in his influence on games, registering just 2.98 shots per 90 minutes in La Liga action, by far his lowest total in years having registered over 4.0 in every season since 2014/15.
Who replaced Robert Lewandowski for Poland in Euro 2024?
Adam Buksa deputized effectively for Lewandowski as he opened the scoring in Hamburg.
The 27-year-old Lens striker, who spent last season on loan in the Turkish Super Lig at Antalyaspor, now has seven goals in 16 international appearances.
Buksa led the line in a 3-5-2 formation alongside teenager Kacper Urbanski. Karol Swiderski, who had been favourite to replace Lewandowski, came on for the 19-year-old Bologna attacker as a second-half substitute.
The 27-year-old Swiderski will be keen to take his chance in the shop window at Euro 2024, having spent the last season on loan at Hellas Verona, He is set to return to MLS side Charlotte FC after the Italian club rejected the chance to trigger his buy option.
Former AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek, who has 11 goals in 29 caps and scored 17 times across 34 league games with Istanbul Basaksehir last season, was an unused substitute against the Dutch but came in to partner Buksa against Austria.
