Poland's wildcard

Karol Swiderski came through yet again for Poland as they held on to a tight 1-0 win over Albania at Narodowy stadium in Warsaw on a lone goal by Swiderski. 

Swiderski who left Europe in early 2022 to join Charlotte in Major League Soccer to earn some extra money in a league that will pay extra to attract european talent and also to rejuvenate his career. MLS is a league that has shown it can help re-develop players and re-sale them back to Europe, most recently with Polish players Przemyzlaw Frankowski and Patryk Klimala. 

Despite joining MLS, Swiderski has always been a player Poland is able to count on. He doesn't always start, but whenever a goal is needed, he just seems to be in the right place, at the right time. Swiderski has played almost two years for the national team, has played 21 matches and has 9 goals. He scores at a rate of a goal per 104 minutes. Only Robert Lewandowski has scored more in that time frame (14 goals). Krzysztof Piatek has 3 and Arkadiusz Milik scored only once.

Monday evening was no different. Jakub Kaminski nailed a shot from just outside the box, what would've been a golazo for the young Wolfsburg winger, the ball hit the post instead. Swiderski was in the right position to redirect the rebound. First attempt he whiffed, but the second was quick enough, fooling the keeper, who possibly expected the first attempt to be struck, was not able to recollect his balance and make the save and the ball just floated right into the back of the net. 

In a match as tight as it was, Poland coming off a deflating 1-3 loss to the Czech Republic in the opening match, the goal meant more to Poland then just giving them a 1-0 lead. Swiderski's goal was in the 41st minute, moments before half-time. Had Poland not been able to score, tensions would've been at a all-time high for a team with new coach Fernando Santos starring at a nightmare beginning to his tenure as Polish coach. 

Swiderski provides Poland with results. It's not always pretty, but his combination of hustling and high-football IQ becomes successful for a Polish team that just can't get anything going offensively. Not only did Swiderski help Poland win against Albania, but also moved him up the forward rankings right behind Lewandowski. Poland needs to ride Swiderski's form on the national team success as long as the iron is hot.