Hajto rejects Jakub Kiwior at centre-back as Poland struggle in Nations League

Four matches, one win

Poland have collected four points from four Nations League League B matches and sit third in their group. The only win came at home against Romania, a 6:0 result. Away defeats to Sweden (1:3) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (0:1) followed, and the 0:1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina closed the September and October training camp. Przegląd Sportowy counted four goals conceded during the camp and wrote that each could have been avoided because it resulted from defensive decisions. The criticism fell on Przemysław Wiśniewski for the Sweden game and on Jan Bednarek for his challenge against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which led to a penalty.

Hajto's criticism of Kiwior

Tomasz Hajto, a former Poland defender and a participant at the 2002 World Cup, spoke about the defence on the Polsat Futbol Cast programme on Thursday. He said he had analysed Jakub Kiwior's last six matches and that the 26-year-old had not developed in a year. Hajto said he could not imagine Kiwior playing in the middle of the defence again.

He is a player who helps no one. He cannot even position himself or his game, and he cannot anticipate.

Hajto also described how Kiwior reacts to crosses. He said the defender stands still when opponents deliver the ball into the box.

When opponents cross, he stands like an oak tree. He stands like a tree and does not move at all.

Hajto said Kiwior lacks the automatic responses expected of a centre-back and that Jan Bednarek often tries to fix Kiwior's mistakes in key moments and pays for it. He added that the player had also often made mistakes on set pieces while at FC Porto.

Replacement debate

Kołtoń was asked who should partner Kacper Potulski if Kiwior does not play in Romania. He answered that he would take a risk on Wojciech Mońka of Lech Poznań.

I would go all in. The situation is such that I would play Potulski and Wojciech Mońka as a pair.

Mońka is 19 and did not play well for the Poland Under-21 side in its last match against Italy, which Poland lost 2:6. Kołtoń argued that Bednarek also made mistakes at centre-back for the senior team and that changes were due.

Coach and next fixtures

PZPN president Cezary Kulesza announced that Jan Urban will remain head coach at least until the November matches. Before that announcement, Urban's possible dismissal had been one of the main topics of the training camp.

Poland's next Nations League matches are an away game against Romania on 14 November at 20:45 and a home game against Sweden on 17 November at 20:45.