Record Gdańsk crowd, a tough lesson, and play-off hope: Poland fall 2-0 to France

A rainy Friday evening in Gdańsk brought Poland a 2-0 defeat to France, but also a record attendance and confirmation that the dream of a World Cup is still very much alive. In front of 11,713 supporters, the largest crowd ever to watch the Polish women's national team, Nina Patalon's side stood up to physically stronger opponents, only for French quality and a handful of contentious refereeing calls to settle the contest. Despite finishing bottom of their group, Poland will play in the autumn play-offs for a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

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05 june 2026   |   21:24   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Kamil Kusier / Gazeta Morska

A bold opening from the hosts

The match began with an incident that supporters would keep returning to long after the final whistle. As early as the 2nd minute came controversy and a probable penalty for Poland following a foul on Patrycja Sarapata. From the opening exchanges France were pushed deep into their own half – if that is not an overstatement so early in the game. Their deep block emboldened Poland, while France captain Sakina Karchaoui of PSG tried to vocally organise and lift her team.

In the 6th minute the hosts threatened again. Weronika Zawistowska found Ewa Pajor on the edge of the box; the striker shot, but the ball flew over the junction of post and bar past goalkeeper Constance Picaud.

France's first real threat came two minutes later. Karchaoui was again at the heart of the move, but the closer they got to the penalty area, the poorer their decision-making became, and alongside Grace Geyoro the visitors squandered the chance and lost possession. Seconds later Delphine Cascarino struck from the edge of the area, but Kinga Seweryn parried superbly off her line.

The opening quarter showed that France – a side still chasing direct World Cup qualification – offered nothing Poland were not ready for. The two-legged tie against Ireland had simply not gone Poland's way, but in Gdańsk they looked a very different team.

A slippery pitch and a well-marshalled Ewa Pajor

Rain that had fallen over Gdańsk since morning troubled both sides. In the 16th minute Sandy Baltimore tried to break down the left; the Chelsea forward handled the ball well, but a heavy touch on the wet surface let it run out of play. A minute later Poland went long again: Pajor fed Adriana Achcińska, but the central midfielder lifted her effort high over the bar.

In the 19th minute Poland's pressing paid off. Ewelina Kamczyk won the ball in midfield, combined with Pajor, who slipped it to Zawistowska. The Pole beat Thiniba Samoura – but in the view of English referee Kirsty Dowle she was offside.

The slippery turf also caused problems in Poland's own box, where the defenders mistimed the ball three times as France attacked down the right in the 23rd minute. To the hosts' relief, Wiktoria Zieniewicz intervened calmly. In the 27th minute danger returned through Karchaoui, the hub of almost everything France created, but her shot was blocked for a corner.

There was no easy ride for Ewa Pajor, shadowed by at least two defenders for nearly the entire first half. That was no surprise: the FC Barcelona striker scored 28 goals and provided 6 assists last season, finishing as top scorer in a Champions League she went on to win.

In the 34th minute France carved out their best chance yet, but Melvine Malard's effort from five metres was saved instinctively by Kinga Seweryn. The Manchester United forward could find no way past the Polish keeper in the opening period.

A disallowed goal and an outstanding Wiktoria Zieniewicz

Poland's errors tended to originate on the left, where Oliwia Wos was often left unsupported – or drifted into difficult positions herself. She gave away a number of stray passes that, fortunately for the hosts, ended only in throw-ins.

In the 43rd minute Poland again threatened Picaud's goal, but a promising cross could not be turned into a shot. Moments later a corner from the right brought the goal they craved – though the joy was short-lived. Paulina Tomasiak delivered into the box, Paulina Dudek pounced inside the six-yard area, and although the referee initially awarded the goal, she overturned it after consulting her assistants and gave a foul in attack. The replay suggested there had been no offence – but the English official was clearly struggling with the decisive, marginal calls, and there were plenty of them in the first half.

If anyone deserved praise in that period, it was unquestionably Wiktoria Zieniewicz. The FC Basel defender produced an outstanding display, repeatedly snuffing out France's very quick forwards.

France seize the initiative after the break

Poland made two changes at half-time: Milena Kokosz replaced Ewelina Kamczyk, and Weronika Araśniewicz came on for Patrycja Sarapata. It was France, though, who started the second half better. A superb vertical pass from deep by Sakina Karchaoui reached Melvine Malard, who lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and into the net.

Did Poland deserve a penalty in the 56th minute? Weronika Zawistowska raced toward the France goal, got ahead of her markers and went down on the edge of the box – fouled in the eyes of the supporters, but, according to the referee, a legal challenge.

The 59th minute should have brought the equaliser. It should have – because, put plainly, Poland overthought it. Ewa Pajor surged toward goal but, instead of beating a poorly positioned defender, chose to lay the ball off. The hosts had the numbers and could have done almost anything, yet the box scramble ended in a Zawistowska turnover and a France counter. Soon after, Pajor was back on the attack, this time with a shot that Picaud stopped with a phenomenal save. It was Poland's best opportunity of the night.

Instead of parity, France doubled their lead in the 63rd minute. This time Malard turned provider, and Sandy Baltimore, cutting in from the wing, gave Kinga Seweryn no chance with a powerful left-footed strike under the bar.

After that goal Zawistowska made way for Klaudia Maciążka of GKS Katowice. The 25-year-old might soon have pulled one back, but once again – instead of shooting – there was hesitation and one touch too many, and three opponents combined to block the effort of one of the Polish Ekstraliga's finest attackers.

A record crowd and the First Lady in the stands

Among those present was Poland's First Lady, Marta Nawrocka, greeted with warm applause from the stands. The wife of President Karol Nawrocki regularly supports the national team's players and champions women's sport under the banner "women support women."

The attendance in Gdańsk – 11,713 – set a new record for a Poland women's international. It is cause for satisfaction, even if the potential, and the room to grow, are clearly far greater still.

A closing spell on France's terms

The second goal brought greater calm to France's play. Poland defended and still looked to create something going forward, but either the legs or the accuracy were missing. In the 81st minute Ewa Pajor won an aerial duel against taller defenders, but her header was too weak and wayward to trouble the visitors.

Seven minutes from time, substitute Marie-Antoinette Katoto had her chance, only to lose out to Kinga Seweryn. Moments later the Polish keeper was equal to the task once more after another dangerous French move. Notably, Poland – tired and weakened though they were – never stopped trying, battling to the end against opponents who were, above all, physically superior, and who did put the ball in the net in the 86th minute, only for Katoto to be flagged offside. Even with a generous seven minutes of stoppage time, it was France who came closer to scoring again, and twice at that.

A defeat that still left a good impression

Poland played a solid game against France. The disallowed goal and the controversy over at least two possible penalties were, in the end, details – on footballing terms the better side won. Laurent Bonadei's players dominated physically across the 90 minutes. But Nina Patalon's side cannot be denied their willingness to fight and their attempts to turn the contest around, even two goals down and even when the energy simply was not there.

The 2-0 defeat means Poland will finish bottom of their qualifying group, which doubled as a Nations League Division A group. They will therefore be relegated a tier – but because they competed in the top-ranked group, even a fourth-place finish earns them a place in the play-offs for World Cup qualification. Those play-offs are scheduled for the autumn, with the finals themselves to be held in Brazil in 2027.

One match remains in the qualifying campaign. On 9 June Poland travel to the Netherlands to face the group favourites – a side they have already held once, drawing 2-2 in Gdańsk.

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reprezentacja Polski kobiet Polska Francja 0:2 Ewa Pajor Marta Nawrocka piłka nożna kobiet

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