Jakub Blaszczykowski Strike Sends Poland Into Last 16

Jakub Blaszczykowski's second-half strike saw Poland beat Ukraine 1-0 to progress to the last 16 of Euro 2016 as runners-up in Group C on Tuesday afternoon. The substitute fired home into the roof of the net nine minutes into the second half at the Stade Velodrome as Adam Nawałka's side finished level on points with Germany


However, Poland finished second behind the world champions on goals scored, meaning they will now play Switzerland in the last 16, while Ukraine exit the competition having not collected a point or scored a goal. Poland made a number of changes from the team that held Germany last time out, one enforced with Lukasz Fabianski replacing the injured Wojciech Szczesny in goal.


Meanwhile, Nawałka also opted to hand Udinese midfielder Piotr Zielinski a start, with Poland taking the game to their opponents right from the very off. In fact, Poland really should have been ahead inside the opening five minutes, only to pass up two presentable openings in front of goal.


The first fell to Arkadiusz Milik, but having been played through on goal by Robert Lewandowski's lovely back heel, the Ajax striker shot straight at Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov from a tight angle. Moments later it was Milik's chance to turn provider as his inviting ball across the box picked out his strike partner, only for the normally deadly Bayern Munich attacker to blaze wastefully over the bar from just six yards out.

Polish nerves were soothed on the half-hour mark by news of Germany taking the lead against Northern Ireland, and their place in the knockout rounds came even more assured after 54 minutes. Milik played a right-wing corner short, before feeding Blaszczykowski in the box, and the Borussia Dortmund winger then showed quick feet in the box, before beating Pyatov with a powerful shot high into the corner of the goal.


Poland should have doubled their lead minutes late after a quick counter, only for midfielder Bartosz Kapustka to fire into the side-netting after being slipped through on goal by Lewandowski's pass. The Poland captain endured a frustrating afternoon in attack, though, as he looked for his first goal of the tournament.


However, with Ukraine barely threatening thereafter, Poland were able to see out the remainder of the contest with few real alarms as they look forward to a clash with Switzerland in St Etienne on Saturday afternoon.