‘Atmosphere is good’ in Poland team despite Portugal defeat

Poland midfielder Piotr Zielinski insisted the atmosphere in the Poland camp is good, despite the heavy 5-1 defeat to Portugal on Friday night.

Zielinski’s side have not won in their last four, conceding at least three goals in each of their last three games.

“The atmosphere is good, I know the result against Portugal was negative but I know what kind of match we’re in for against Scotland,” Zielinski said. “Everyone is up and ready for the game, win the match and stay in the division.

“We want a response [after the Portugal loss] and we want to finish the division in third place.”

Zielinski plays his club football at Inter Milan and faced Napoli pair Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour last week in a Serie A match-up.

“They are great players,” Zielinski said of the Scottish midfielders. “We’ve had an opportunity to play against each other, I’ve seen them play, they are key players for Scotland which we need to be very careful about.

“McTominay is in good physical condition, and is very good at entering the penalty box and looking for goals, and so is Billy. So we have to be careful of these players.”

Zielinski and fellow Polish international Nicola Zalewski came in for criticism online after getting their photo taken with Cristiana Ronaldo after the 5-1 loss on Friday night.

“Myself and Nicola Zalewski came up to him and asked him for a picture and we took it. No problem with that. I don’t see a problem with that and Cristiano doesn’t see a problem with that. That’s it.

“I’m not interested in what’s going on in social media. Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world and I felt like getting a picture, that’s it.”