Emotional Lewandowski knew 'time was running out'

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Robert Lewandowski, Poland, Saudi Arabia, World Cup 2022 — Robert Lewandowski was visibly emotional after scoring his first World Cup goal in Poland’s 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

An emotional Robert Lewandowski says he knew time was running out to fulfill his dream of scoring in a World Cup final, after scoring Poland win 2-0 against Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Barcelona forward ended a run of four World Cup matches without a clean sheet by scoring Poland’s decisive second goal at the Education City Stadium.

Visibly emotional, Lewandowski held his head in his hands and pointed to the sky as his teammates surrounded him.

“I am aware that this may be my last World Cup,” Lewandowski said afterwards. “Already during the anthem, singing the national anthem, I felt the emotions inside me.

“I didn’t just want to be remembered for being at the World Cup, but also for scoring goals. I’ve always fought hard for a goal at the World Cup and today I got it.”

Having failed to score in all three of Poland’s games at the tournament in Russia four years ago, Lewandowski missed a golden chance to break his World Cup duck against Mexico on Tuesday when his penalty in the second part save by Guillermo Ochoa.

That agonizing wait looked set to continue against Saudi Arabia after the woodwork denied him with 25 minutes remaining, but he made no mistake when Mohammed Al Burayk’s powerful touch left him with only goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais to beat.

“The good of the national team is the most important,” continued Lewandowski. “But there’s always a few percentage points in the back of your head [that want you to] enter the history books yourself.

“I know how I fought – and how we fought – for the goal and the victory.”

After providing the assist for Piotr Zielinski’s opener, Lewandowski became the first Polish player to score and assist in a World Cup game since Janusz Kupcewicz in 1982.

Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side now need just a point from their final group game against Argentina to secure a first knockout place since 1986, when they were beaten in the last 16 by Brazil.