Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski must deliver for Poland at World Cup
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski needs to light up the World Cup.
Robert Lewandowski has been one of the most consistent strikers in Europe throughout the past few seasons. This past campaign was no different for the Bayern Munich forward. He was able to score more than 40 goals in all competitions for his third successive season.
It’s quite crazy to say that after scoring so many goals, Lewandowski needs to prove himself in the World Cup. Poland have a decent chance to get out of their group as they face Senegal, Colombia and Japan in Group H. The following points explain why Lewandowski needs to have a strong tournament on an individual level this year.
The Pole needs to step up in big games
Lewandowski failed to fulfill his dream of winning the Champions League once again this year. Bayern Munich were once again knocked out in the semi-finals of the competition against Real Madrid. Lewandowski was widely criticized for his poor performances in both the legs. The Polish striker was arguably Bayern’s most disappointing player in both the games.
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Lewandowski managed to score once in the DFB Pokal final, but he couldn’t stamp his authority on the match. Bayern had to be satisfied with only one trophy this season — the Bundesliga. It would be cruel to put all the blame on Lewandowski for his team’s losses. However, it is widely expected that your best players step up in the clutch situations.
The Polish forward had a poor Euro campaign a couple of years ago, when Poland were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Portugal.
Lewandowski scored a penalty in that game, but he only scored one goal from open play throughout the entire tournament. There is obviously a drop in quality at country level for Lewandowski, as he even recently admitted that he has to become more of a team player for his national side. Lewandowski had a fantastic 2017-18 for Poland as he scored 11 goals in 9 games. Similar output will be expected from the 29-year-old at the World Cup.
A good World Cup can bring positive things in his club career
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of Lewandowski at Bayern Munich. The forward’s agent has already told the club hierarchy that Lewandowski is seeking a new adventure this summer. Bayern Munich have slapped a huge price tag on him, though, as they want to keep hold of their star striker.
Lewandowski has always admired Real Madrid, and he reportedly only wants to join the Spanish club. However, there have been numerous reports suggesting that Real Madrid are not interested in the Polish forward. Real Madrid generally tend to sign players who shine in the World Cup. They did with Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira in 2010 and poached James Rodriguez from Monaco in 2014. A good World Cup campaign can raise Lewandowski’s chances tojoin Real Madrid and Bayern would also get a sizable fee.
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Conclusion
Poland are not expected to win the World Cup, but if they want to spring a surprise then their captain needs to lead from the front. Robert Lewandowski has the perfect chance to prove his doubters that he is the man for big occasion. Moreover, his performances this summer are likely to play a major role in the future of his club career.