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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Poland's pre-Scotland nightmare: Selfies with Ronaldo and 'beyond amateurish' error

Poland stars have been slaughtered after they took selfies with Cristiano Ronaldo...moments after they had just been crushed 5-1 by Portugal.

And their shambolic build-up to their showdown with Scotland was further rocked after they were severely criticised for an 'amateurish' administrative error.

Scotland need to win in Warsaw on Monday night to escape automatic relegation from Group A in the UEFA Nations League and they could even reach the quarter-finals if results go their way.

But the Poles' preparations could hardly have gone worse for them, even after legendary striker Robert Lewandowski withdrew with a back injury.

They firstly opted to host a training camp in Portugal because of poor facilities in their homeland, but had to abandon their original plans when the Porto base was unsuitable.


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They then lost heavily to the Portuguese where they had four players suffer further injury and had an embarrassing situation where they tried to put on Charlotte FC striker Karol Swiderski...only to discover he hadn't been named on their own official teamsheet and he wasn't allowed to enter the pitch.

And Polish fans and media were decidedly unimpressed when it emerged players were later seen taking selfies with Ronaldo after the game.

It provoked two of their former internationals-turned pundits - 96-times capped former Lyon defender Jacek Bak and ex-Real Betis striker Wojciech Kowalczyk - to lash out at the current players.

Bak said: "I'm shocked. We lost so badly and then I see the players going to take pictures with Ronaldo.  They smile and act like the defeat never happened.

"Who wants to go out an take pictures with a guy who has just helped thrash you? I don't understand it.

"We lose 5-1 and then go and ask Ronaldo for a selfie?

"Do we really have no honour left? Did the players have a competition that the first one to post a picture with Ronaldo on social media won a prize?

"It's a good thing I don't play football anymore because there would be a lot of problems in the dressing room after I found out about that. It's unacceptable to me."


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And Kowalczyk couldn't believe the error that prevented Poland from making that substitute. He said: "It's the kind of mistake San Marino wouldn't make. It's beyond amateurish.

"It's extremely embarrassing and whoever made that mistake should be not only thrown out of the Polish FA, but told to pay his own air fare home.

"The manager tells a player to warm up and then has to tell him to sit back down because his name wasn't on the team sheet? 

"Are we even a serious football nation?"

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