Euro 2020: Poland's Ones to Watch Ahead of the Summer

Despite being viewed as potential dark horses in recent European Championships, Poland are yet to really hit the heights which many have expected of them.

Having been made to wait 48 years to actually qualify for the Euros for the first time in 2008, Poland then needed another eight years to pick up their first win, and they have never progressed past the quarter-final.

However, there is a cautious optimism around Poland this year, which is understandable when you remember that they have Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski leading the line.

Despite what his ludicrously prolific goalscoring record might suggest, Lewandowski cannot do it alone, and he will need the support of some of Poland's other key men if they are to go one step further this time around.

Here's a look at three players who will be expected to step up for Poland at Euro 2020.

Krzysztof Piątek

Lewandowski might dominate the headlines, but another man who is expected to chip in with his fair share of goals is Krzysztof Piątek.

After a disappointing start to the season with AC Milan, Piątek was offloaded to Hertha Berlin in January, and the hope is that the change of scenery will be enough to reignite the goalscoring flame which is surely still burning deep down.

Let's not forget, this is a man who fired 30 goals in 42 games last year at club level. Underestimate him at your own peril.

Sebastian Szymański

After flirting with a breakthrough with Legia Warsaw for years, 20-year-old midfielder Sebastian Szymański took the plunge and chose to seal a move to Russian side Dinamo Moscow last summer.

Comfortable both out wide and in a more central role, Szymański has long been viewed as a core part of Poland's future. A creative hub with an eye for both goals and assists, he is now showing glimpses of living up to that potential.

With maturity far beyond his years, Szymański is ready for the step up to a major international competition. Plenty of scouts will be keeping a close eye on him, and a string of good showings could see some of Europe's top sides make a move.

Jan Bednarek

Scoring goals is all well and good, but Poland will also need a leader at the back to keep them composed, and Southampton's Jan Bednarek will be given that role.

After a wobbly start to the campaign, the 23-year-old has really stepped his game up, leading the Saints to impressive wins against some of England's top sides. He is by no means the finished product, but the signs are encouraging.

This will be his first European Championship, and with Juventus' Wojciech Szczęsny in goal behind him, he will have reason to be confident.

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Source : 90min