Poland 2-1 Albania, and M Probierz now has his squad one win away from a seat on the plane to 2026. The hosts needed patience, leaning on Sebastian Szymański’s clarity when the tie tightened, but Warsaw ends the night with the play-off final secured.
Albania travelled as Group K runners-up with Sylvinho promising more control, and for 42 minutes he got it. Even the forced swap in the 18th minute, when Arlind Ajeti broke down and Ardian Ismajli stepped in, failed to disrupt their tempo. The visitors played through Juljan Shehu and Kristjan Asllani, and when Arber Hoxha drifted into space he punished Poland with the opener in the 42nd minute. PGE Narodowy froze, the scars of previous qualification failures reopened.
Probierz reacted instantly. Filip Rózga stayed inside at the interval while Oskar Pietuszewski entered to stretch the flank in the 3-4-3. The move bought Poland territory and lulled Albania into defending deeper. When Karol Świderski replaced Tomasz Kędziora in the 62nd minute the reshuffle was complete: three forwards between the half-spaces, Szymański free to orchestrate.
In the 63rd minute the plan clicked. Szymański slid a measured pass into Robert Lewandowski, the captain levelled and the stadium exhaled. Ten minutes later the same architect found a different finisher, with Piotr Zieliński arriving to put Poland ahead in the 73rd minute. Two assists, five key passes, relentless pressing: Szymański owned the night.
Albania chased but never truly threatened. Elseid Hysaj’s yellow in the 79th minute underlined the desperation, and Asllani followed in the 88th minute. Lewandowski absorbed the inevitable time-wasting caution in the 87th minute, Świderski argued his way into the book at 90+4, yet Poland never lost defensive shape. Jakub Kiwior and Jan Bednarek dominated the air, while Kamil Grabara’s lone save kept the door locked.
Probierz will review the knocks this morning, but sources inside the camp stress confidence is high. Pietuszewski’s cameo and Świderski’s movement have given the staff new permutations for the final. Sylvinho, by contrast, must solve a reliance on wide transitions before the next cycle.
Statistics
- Shots on goal: Poland 4, Albania 2
- Total shots: Poland 15, Albania 8
- Possession: 50 percent each
- Corners: Poland 6, Albania 2
- Fouls: Poland 20, Albania 12
- Passing accuracy: Poland 88 percent (413 of 470), Albania 82 percent (405 of 492)
Poland now wait for the play-off bracket to settle before reconvening. Expect Probierz to keep the Szymański-Zieliński axis intact as Warsaw prepares for one last hurdle. For more from this international window, see Italy vs Northern Ireland and Prague verdict.
