Friis Aims to Conserve Energy Ahead of Finland’s Showdown with Poland

The prevailing storyline ahead of Poland’s visit to the Helsinki Olympic Stadium to take on Finland in a FIFA World Cup qualifier tomorrow night revolves around Robert Lewandowski’s decision not to represent the Polish national team while manager Michal Probierz remains in charge.

Initially, it was suggested that the prolific striker would skip the June international window to recuperate following a demanding domestic season with Barcelona. However, the 36-year-old took to social media last night to clarify his stance.

Finland was already aware they would face Poland without Lewandowski in their Group G clash for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but many view this unexpected development as a potential advantage for the Eagle Owls.

Despite being seen as underdogs, Finland’s recent performance at home against the Netherlands, where they lost 2-0 on Saturday, was regarded as disappointing. They will require a strong showing against Poland to maintain their hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time.

However, manager Jacob Friis is steering clear of discussions regarding whether Lewandowski’s absence might benefit his side.

“If I start thinking about whether the situation in Poland is a help or hindrance for us, I’m just wasting my energy. It doesn’t help us prepare any better for the match. We’re concentrating on our own performance and nothing else,” Friis stated during Monday’s press conference.

At present, Poland tops Group G, holding a two-point advantage over Finland, despite having played one match fewer. The Netherlands are just a point behind, though the match against Finland marked the start of their qualifying campaign.

As the Netherlands are set to face Malta tomorrow, Finland may find themselves in third place and falling behind if they lose to Poland, with fewer matches ahead. Nevertheless, Friis remains optimistic about their aspirations.

“Our goal is to win the group, but we also need to be realistic. We obviously want to make it to the World Cup — otherwise, there would be no point in participating in the qualifiers.

“Against Poland, we need to defend strongly, create opportunities, and find the back of the net. We must shape the game to fit our strategy.”