Romania beat Poland 2-1 as Lewandowski says a draw was within reach

The Polish side lost on Saturday, 14 November 2026, at the Arena Națională in Bucharest. The match was part of matchday five of the UEFA Nations League. The hosts took the lead in the second half: Alexandru Cicaldau scored in the 68th minute and Dennis Man four minutes later. Marcel Reguła pulled one back for Poland in the 82nd minute, but there was no equaliser.

The defeat means Poland have failed to take a single point from the trip to Romania in this edition of the competition.

Lewandowski: errors that were too simple

Captain Robert Lewandowski, who played 70 minutes, told a TVP Sport reporter that Poland had the first half under control. After the break, the team stopped winning second balls and created confusion on the pitch, and Romania capitalised on the mistakes.

The striker pointed to situations where there was not enough cover and players were not positioned correctly. In his view, communication at the back was also a problem. Lewandowski stressed that although Poland created chances, they lacked the finishing touch.

What comes next in the Nations League

Poland face Sweden in Wrocław on Tuesday 17 November 2026 to complete the group phase. A defeat in Bucharest means the team must fight to avoid relegation from League B. Head coach Jan Urban said after the match that the decision on his future does not rest with him.

The result also matters for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw. A first or second place in the group would have earned a second-pot seeding, while a lower finish would mean a harder route to the next major tournament.