Poland gives Northern Ireland a bad start.

Allianz Riviera, Nice

Poland 1 – 0 Northern Ireland

It was a match for Poland to win.

This was Northern Ireland’s introduction to the European Championship, and they approached it with your caution. They sat deep as a team with 5 men in defence, and only 1 outright attacker.

Poland had confidence in their attack so they threw men up front to get the win they were expected to have by the end of this match. Poland was no doubt the favorite in this match. It was Poland’s third involvement in the European Championship, but they had never won a match in the competition. Both teams were looking for their first win in the competition.

Poland dominated the match, and was deserving of the win and 3 points in  Group C. A 51st minute goal by Ajax’s striker, Arkadiusz Milik was enough for Poland. It was the best they could do, as Northern Ireland was fighting for a point more than a win.

By sitting too deep, Northern Ireland couldn’t get any dangerous attempt on the Polish goal. They relied on long balls from their end of the field to the Polish end of the field, hoping for something out of it. When they broke up Poland’s attacking play, there weren’t enough men up front to counter attack.

Northern Ireland will need to risk it and go for attack in their coming matches. There isn’t enough matched in the group to sit back and soak in pressure. They face Ukraine in their next Group C match, and just like Poland, Ukraine will be pressing for a win.

Poland got an important win as they go against Germany in their next Group C match. As groupmates in the qualification, and Poland was one of the two teams to beat Germany.

Poland will intend on getting a second win to boost their chances of qualification into the knockout stage.

Group C looks like this.