33 days to go: Poland’s golden period
FIFA counts down to the World Cup 2026 with a daily statistical story.
Poland impressively hit 33 goals from Germany 1974 to Spain 1982. It helped them register more victories in the period than any other team (12). Brazil (11), West Germany (10) and Italy (9) were next. Poland unexpectedly drew at Wembley to pip England to a place at the 1974 finals. It was indebted to an exceptional performance from Jan Tomaszewski, whom Brian Clough had labelled “a circus clown in gloves”. At their first World Cup in 36 years, Wladyslaw Zmuda, Kazimierz Deyna, Grzegorz Lato, Andrzej Szarmach and Co upset Argentina, Italy and Brazil en route to bronze. Lato, from the wing, finished as the tournament’s seven-goal leading marksman.
Poland topped their first-phase pool ahead of defending champions West Germany four years later, before falling in the second group stage. The Poles finished first in their first- and second-stage groups at Spain 1982. After defeat to Italy in the semi-finals, Antoni Piechniczek’s side rebounded to flatten France 3-2 in the third-place play-off. Zbigniew Boniek was one of the competition’s best performers.
World Cup wonder goals: Boniek’s night beauty Lato and Poland grab gold and bronze The Frankfurt water fight