FILE - Poland's Robert Lewandowski greets supporters ahead the international friendly soccer match between Poland and Ukraine at the National stadium in Warsaw, Poland, on June 7, 2024. Poland will have to play its opening game at the European Championship against the Netherlands on Sunday June 16, 2024 without its striker Robert Lewandowski who will miss it out due to a muscle injury. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Poland will be without injured star striker Robert Lewandowski for its opening game at the European Championship against the Netherlands on Sunday.
Poland’s team doctor Jacek Jaroszewski said in a statement the Barcelona star has a torn biceps femoris muscle from a warmup against Turkey in Warsaw on Monday that Poland won 2-1.
The Poland captain had to be substituted in the 32nd minute of the game with a right leg injury.
“We are doing everything so that Robert can play in the second match against Austria,” the statement said.
In Group D, Poland faces Austria on June 21 at the tournament in Germany before playing France four days later.
The injury is another blow for Poland. Lewandowski is the country’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 82 goals from 150 games.
Arkadiusz Milik was to be up front with Lewandowski for the Euros until he damaged his left knee on Friday in the friendly against Ukraine. Milik returned to Juventus and had successful knee surgery on Monday.
Paweł Dawidowicz and Karol Świderski, who were also injured Monday, are expected to return to full training in three or four days.
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