Scotland's big headache: How do you stop football's most feared forward Robert Lewandowski?
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Updated 07/10/2015 at 18:09 GMT
Scotland must overcome Poland to keep alive their Euro 2016 qualifying hopes, but how do you nullify the threat of Robert Lewandowski? Desmond Kane speculates on the home side's best options ahead of their crucial Group D meeting in Glasgow on Thursday.
Robert Lewandowski
Image credit: Panoramic
Robert Lewandowski has scored 12 goals in his past four games - and 15 goals in six - to bring his overall haul for the season to 19 goals in 13 outings for Bayern Munich and Poland. He leads the way in this year's European Golden Boot bolstered by his famous five in nine minutes against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
It is an astonishing return for a forward who has suddenly come alive under Bayern coach Pep Guardiola operating alongside Thomas Muller in what feels like a traditional front two pairing for the German champions. The Poland captain is also the top goalscorer in Euro 2016 qualifying with 10 goals from eight matches in Group D, and washes up at Hampden Park in Glasgow as the world's most feared forward.
If Scotland can't douse Lewandowski, they face extending their absence at a major finals beyond 18 years with the 1998 World Cup in France the Scots last appearance at such a fabled tournament. A win for Poland in Glasgow would seal their spot at the finals, and bury Scotland alive in the own manor. Apart from hoping he is injured in training, there are a few ways Gordon Strachan's side can halt the Lewandowski grapeshot.
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Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (R) celebrates with Thomas Mueller after scoring a goal against Borussia Dortmund.
Image credit: Reuters
Stop him from getting the ball
Easier said than done, but this looks like the best option. If the Scottish midfield led by the Celtic captain Scott Brown go about their business correctly, they can reduce the supply to Lewandowski. Cutting off crosses and through balls at source will leave Lewandowski isolated, but of course to achieve such a feat requires technique, energy and concentration.
When limbs and minds begin to tire, it will be difficult to halt Lewandowski from getting at least one sight of goal. Which is all he needs. Cutting off the wide areas is vital. He is a natural finisher from crosses, and he is economical when confronted with the ball. Coping with the supply line from the Fiorentina winger Jakub Blaszczykowski, his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate, is just as important as attempting to render Lewandowski impotent. When he sees goal, he tends to go for it. There is no stalling in his style in the air or on the ground. When he scored four for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in a 4-1 win in the Champions League semi-final two years ago, the first three arrived from just six touches.
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Robert Lewandowski heads one in for Poland against Georgia
Image credit: Reuters
Worry about what you are going to do
Staying on the offensive will achieve the same result as preventing Lewandowski from getting the ball. The longer Scotland spend in Poland's half, they less they will have to worry about what is going on at their own end of the pitch. Scotland had to try to contend with Muller in losing 3-2 to world champions Germany last month. And still watched him score twice. This time they have to try to keep his club forward companion quiet. He is unlikely to be the same player without Muller supplying the balls for him to fire. Play without fear, do not make any special arrangements for his arrival and focus on your strengths. Scotland's defence is the weakest part of their team, but only if they are defending.
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Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski reacts after scoring a goal during their German first division Bundesliga soccer match against Wolfsburg.
Image credit: Reuters
Who has he scored his 10 goals against?
His record with Bayern and Poland are two different things. Nine of his 10 goals for Poland in qualifying have came against Gibraltar and Georgia, the weakest two teams in the section. But his hat-trick against Georgia in June is commendable when you consider Scotland lost to the Georgians last month. And he also lanced the Germany net in Poland's 3-1 away defeat to the world champions.
Let him know you are there
Scotland took this one to heart when they faced Poland a year ago in a commendable 2-2 draw in Warsaw, but they also denied him a goal in that game. Lewandowski complained after the match about the treatment being doled out by the Brighton defender Gordon Greer and posted a picture of a broken shinpad from the match.
“I expect the Scots will play very aggressively and not necessarily in accordance with the rules either," he earlier said this week. Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee summed it up succinctly when he said: "He was entitled to complain after the last game - Gordon introduced himself in a 'physical' way."
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Robert Lewandowski (L) of Poland reacts after being fouled by Gordon Greer of Scotland.
Image credit: Reuters
Scotland can't become hellbent on fouling Lewandowski otherwise they'll encounter bookings and possible red cards. And the last thing any team needs is being reduced to 10 men when your defence is handling dangerous goods. But some controlled aggression never did anyone any harm. Poland and Lewandowski should be given a typically warm Scottish welcome at Hampden Park, short of giving the forward a Glasgow kiss.
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Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Munich and his partner Anna Stachurska pose during their visit at the Oktoberfest in Munich.
Image credit: Reuters
If you can't beat him, join him
Not at the Oktoberfest obviously. The other way to derail the Lewandowski roadshow is simply by making sure you hurt Poland at the other end. Even if Lewandowski scores twice, Scotland won't worry if they find the net three times. Lewandowski is a figure who has just given Mats Hummels the slip by scoring twice in Bayern's 5-1 drubbing of Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.
No disrespect to honest professionalism, but the thought of Grant Hanley of Blackburn Rovers or Norwich City defender Russell Martin won't perturb him. Yet Scotland have their own threats with Steven Naismith of Everton and the Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths not shy of a goal or two in recent times.
And finally..hope luck favours you on the night
It is unlikely Scotland will be quick enough to stop Lewandowski from causing problems. You just hope good fortune favours you when his chances come along. As the Netherlands in 2003 and the then world champions France in 2006 - both of whom lost 1-0 despite largely dominating - will testify, odd things can happen at a packed Hampden Park.
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Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring a goal as Real Madrid's Raphael Varane (L) Sergio Ramos (2nd L) and goalkeeper Diego Lopez (R) appeal for offside, during their Champions League semi-final first leg. (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
Scotland will hope to invoke the spirit of those famous wins on Thursday night, but you get the feeling there will be more than one goal in this match. And with Lewandowski around, Scotland might need to score twice to have a realistic hope of keeping alive their hopes of qualification.
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