For a nation that has such a rich World Cup tradition woven into its core, Poland’s recent performances or lack thereof at the game’s blue riband event has bordered on shameful.

Third-place finishes were recorded in the space of three editions not all that long ago, with Grzegorz Lato’s seven goals leading the 1974 tournament in Germany, where defender Wladyslaw Zmuda was named best young player.

Eight years later in Spain, the Eagles soared into the semi-finals – eclipsing eventual champions Italy in the tournament’s initial group phase before having their wings clipped by a vengeful Azzurri in the last four. But this Polish side is very different to their forefathers.

They have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2006, having packed their bags early in both Korea and Japan four years previously and then Germany. But they certainly made an impression reaching Russia, particularly Robert Lewandowski, who scored a UEFA leading 16 goals.

Poland qualified five points in front of Denmark in Group E, recording the sixth-most points (25) and netting the fifth-most goals (28) in Europe. Key to that tally was Bayern Munich behemoth Lewandowski, who bagged a whopping 57 per cent of Poland’s goals.

It’s been a restless season for ‘Lewa’, with continued speculation over a possible move to Real Madrid and the firing of his long-time agent, Cezary Kucharski.

He reached 150 Bayern goals, entered the Bundesliga’s top-10 goalscorers ever and was voted Poland’s Footballer of the Year for the seventh time in a row, so it’s not all bad.

Lewandowski aside, coach Adam Nawalka has other talents to call upon, like Piotr Zielinski who’s had a growing impact at Napoli, and a fresh Grzegorz Krychowiak to anchor their midfield after being underused by relegated West Brom following a loan move from Paris Saint-Germain.

The real test will be whether Nawalka can find more creative solutions when going forward as opponents have become adept at dealing with hopeful long balls up to Lewandowski.

KEY PLAYER

Robert Lewandowski

Not many players carry the hopes of a nation more singularly than Lewandowski. Perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo, but even he as an all-star support cast. But having entered the Bundesliga’s top-10 goalscorers of alltime and passing legend Lubanski’s mark of most goals for Poland, pressure isn’t a word you’d imagine Lewandowski is afraid of.

COACH

Adam Nawalka

Three defeats in their last 25 competitive games, and those coming against Germany, Portugal in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and admittedly a 4-0 hammering at the hands of group rivals Denmark in qualifying, is decent. Nawalka has lost just eight times in 45 matches.

CAPTAIN

Robert Lewandowski

He spearheads the side and leads with a reputation as one of the most feared forwards on the planet. Has indicated a desire to leave Bayern Munich in the summer and placing himself in the shop window will no doubt be to the betterment of Poland’s chances of progressing out of the group.

YOUNG STAR

Karol Linetty

Emerged during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and has become a key building block for the future. The Sampdoria dynamo is an all-round midfielder, but is more dangerous in an attacking role and will be given the task of sparking Polish attacks if given a prominent role.

KEY FACTS AND STATS

– Grzegorz Lato is the only polish player to have won the golden boot at the world cup. he found the net seven times as poland went on to finish third in the 1974 tournament, only losing to eventual winners West Germany.

– Poland beat two-time defending champions Hungary to win the gold medal at the 1972 Olympic Games in Germany

FIFA Rating

78 DEF 78 MID 83 ATT

World Cups competed at

8 (First in 1938)

World Cup record

P31, W15, D5, L11

Best finish

Third place (1974 & 1982)

Qualification record

P10, W8, D1, L1

World ranking

10

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: B. Bialkowski (Ipswich), L. Fabianski (Swansea City), W. Szczesny (Juventus).

Defenders: J. Bednarek (Southampton), B. Bereszynski (Sampdoria), T. Cionek (SPAL), K. Glik (AS Monaco), A. Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warszawa), M. Pazdan (Legia Warszawa), L. Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund).

Midfielders: J. Blaszczykowski (Wolfsburg), J. Goralski (Ludogorets Razgrad), K. Grosicki (Hull City), G. Krychowiak (West Bromwich), R. Kurzawa (Gornik Zabrze), K. Linetty (Sampdoria), S. Peszko (Lechia Gdansk), M. Rybus (Lokomotiv Moscow), P. Zielinski (Napoli).

Forwards: D. Kownacki (Sampdoria), R. Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), A. Milik (Napoli), L. Teodorczyk (Anderlecht)

VERDICT

With Lewandowski at the tip, Poland are capable of opening up bigger teams, and would be a dangerous prospect in the knockout stages.