Euro 2024: Energized Austria wins and makes Lewandowski’s Poland the first team to get out
The HinduAustria boosted its last-16 hopes at the European Championship by defeating Poland 3-1 on June 21 and eliminating the Poles in the group stage. Robert Lewandowski, who missed Poland's first match against the Netherlands due to an injury, came on in the second half but failed to make an impact, and was booked after just five minutes on the pitch. “We are depressed by this result but we still have one more game in our group and we need to put our best foot forward and try to win three points,” Lewandowski told Poland's TVP Sport. Poland’s slim chance of surviving the group stage disappeared hours later when the Netherlands and France drew 0-0, which ensured the Poles will finish last in Group D with one match remaining. Polish fans roared as their record goal-scorer Lewandowski rose from the bench 15 minutes into the second half to make his Euro 2024 debut, replacing Adam Buksa in the attack.