Euro 2024: Poland misses Lewandowski against Netherlands in Group D opener

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Poland will be without injured captain Robert Lewandowski when it faces the Netherlands on Sunday in the first Group D match at the European Championship. Also in the group are France and Austria. Kick-off in Hamburg will be at 3 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT). Here's what you need to know about the match.

Matching Facts

— Poland were the last of 24 teams confirmed in the Euro 2024 roster, winning a playoff final in March against Wales in a match penalties after a 0-0 draw. Lewandowski's shot on goal to start the shootout was Poland's first shot on target that evening in Cardiff.

— The Netherlands came out of a qualifying group with France, losing home and away to the 2022 world runners-up, but winning their other six matches against Greece, Ireland and Gibraltar.

— The Dutch won 4-0 in warm-up matches against Canada and Iceland. Seven of these eight goals came in the second half.

— The Poles and Dutch are in action more than a full day before the Monday night start of their group opponents, France and Austria. This gives them an extra full day of rest before the second round of matches on Friday.

Team News

— Lewandowski injured a thigh muscle Monday during a preparation match against Turkey. The Barcelona striker is expected to return to action in the group stage.

— Juventus' other Polish veteran striker Arkadiusz Milik is out for the tournament. He underwent knee surgery following an injury suffered during the previous warm-up against Ukraine.

— Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has lost an entire midfielder in recent weeks to injuries: Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong and Atalanta pair Teun Koopmeiners and Marten de Roon all miss Euro 2024.

— Koeman called up winger Ian Maatsen and striker Joshua Zirkzee of their vacation.

In numbers

— The Netherlands won their only European title when West Germany hosted them in 1988. In Hamburg, 36 years ago, the Dutch beat the hosts 2-1 in a semi-final played at the Volksparkstadion . Current manager Ronald Koeman scored a penalty to tie the match.

— The teams have never met before in a major tournament, although this is their 20th match overall since the first 56 years ago. Poland last beat the Netherlands in 1979.

— Poland's record victory in a Euro tournament is… 1-0. Playing in four consecutive editions starting in 2008, Poland recorded single-goal victories in the Euro 2016 group stage against Northern Ireland and Ukraine.

— The Netherlands scored a tournament-record 6-1 victory over FR Yugoslavia – then only the republics of Serbia and Montenegro – in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000 which it co-hosted with Belgium.

What they say

— “There has been progress in Robert Lewandowski's recovery, so we hope he will return for the match against Austria,” said Poland coach Michał Probierz.

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