Poland: Three players to keep an eye on at World Cup 2018

Jan Bednarek- center back for Southampton, 22 years old

Signed by Southampton for $5 million last July.

Started 5 out of the last 6 games for relegation battling Southampton this season at center back.

During those games he helped the Saints to a 2-2-1 record and a very vital 8 points that kept Southampton in the Premier League.

The timing was vital as despite only receiving one Polish national team appearance, Bernarek has made Poland’s twenty-three man squad.

Bednarek could have had an outside shot to be paired with Kamil Glik at center back yet would’ve likely have been behind Pazdan.

However, Kamil Glik recently injured his shoulder training for this World Cup and may be substituted by Marcin Kamiński.

So in two months Bednarek could go from relatively nowhere near a Premier League and a World Cup starter to being both.

Piotr Zielinski- center midfield or attacking midfield for Napoli, 24 years old

The Napoli starter is most likely the next Polish player to reach ‘Lewandowski status’ one day.

He is that good.

Now the question is whether he can step up and do it on the big stage for Poland more often.

There was a point where people asked the same about Lewandowski earlier on in his career for Poland.

Robert Lewandowski- striker for Bayern Munich, 29 years old

There’s no other player to look out for more so for the opponents of Poland.

Polish success in the 2018 World Cup hinges on a successful Robert Lewandowski.

For Lewandowski it’s a big opportunity to write his name in the record books as the best Polish player hands down.

Lewandowski had a record 16 goals for Poland in 2018 European World Cup qualifying and he needs to keep that hot streak going for the Biało-czerwoni.

Photo Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images Europe-Zimbio