Poland beat Ukraine but injured Milik out of Euro 2024
Warsaw, Poland - Arkadiusz Milik was not included in Poland’s squad for Euro 2024 which manager Michal Probierz announced after the 3-1 win over Ukraine on Friday, in which the Juventus striker went off injured.
Milik went down with a knee injury in the second minute of the game, and was assisted off the pitch by medical staff. The manager confirmed afterwards that his Euro chances were over.
It is a repeat of the last Euros, when Milik was injured in Olympique de Marseille’s final match of the season in 2021, and was ruled out of Poland’s squad.
Kacper Urbanski, who replaced Milik against Ukraine to make his debut, is in the squad for the tournament in Germany.
All four goals came in the opening half, with Sebastian Walukiewicz poking home his first goal for Poland in his first international game since 2020 and Piotr Zielinski doubled the home side’s lead with a shot from distance.
Poland were 3-0 up after the half hour mark when Taras Romanczuk headed in from a corner, before Artem Dovbyk pulled one back for the visitors three minutes before the break.
Ukraine named a completely different starting side to the one which drew 0-0 with Germany on Monday, manager Serhiy Rebrov using the opportunity to look at as many players as possible before the Euros.
Poland coach Michal Probierz left goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and striker Robert Lewandowski, certain starters in Germany, on the bench, giving the likes of Milik a chance to impress, but the Juventus forward’s game came to a premature end.
Poland will play their last warm-up match before the Euros against Turkey on Monday, while Ukraine finish their preparations with a game against Moldova on Tuesday.