Poland Held by Netherlands in Euro 2024 Opener
Gakpo's Opener Canceled Out by Buksa
Warsaw, Poland - Poland and the Netherlands played out a 1-1 draw in their opening Euro 2024 Group D match on Friday night at the National Stadium. Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch the lead in the first half, but Poland equalized through Arkadiusz Buksa after the break.
The result leaves both teams on one point after the first round of fixtures, with Poland facing Italy and the Netherlands taking on Czech Republic in their next matches.
Poland's First Shot: A Tournament Highlight
Poland's first shot of the match will perhaps be the most speculative of the whole tournament. Karol Świderski unleashed a long-range effort from inside his own half that sailed over the crossbar and into the stands. It was an audacious attempt that showcased Poland's attacking intent, but it ultimately proved to be a harmless effort.
Netherlands Extend Unbeaten Run
The draw extended the Netherlands' unbeaten run against Poland to 12 matches in all competitions. The Dutch have now won seven and drawn five of their meetings with Poland since a 2-0 home win for the Poles in EURO 1980. This run of dominance has seen the Netherlands establish themselves as one of the favorites for Euro 2024, while Poland will need to improve significantly if they are to challenge for the title.
Friday's match was a closely contested affair, with both teams having chances to win the game. Poland had the better of the first half, but the Netherlands improved after the break and deserved a point for their efforts. The match was also notable for the absence of Robert Lewandowski, Poland's star striker, who was suspended for the game. Lewandowski's return to the side will be a major boost for Poland in their remaining group matches.
Conclusion
The 1-1 draw between Poland and the Netherlands was a fair result in a match that could have gone either way. Poland will be disappointed not to have won, but they can take some solace from the fact that they held one of the tournament favorites to a draw. The Netherlands, meanwhile, will be happy to have gained a point away from home and will be confident of progressing to the knockout stages.
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