Juve at the Euros: Szczesny

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny became Poland’s only Juve representative after Arek Milik’s unfortunate injury in a friendly just prior to the Euros against Ukraine ruled him out of the tournament.

Wojciech Szczesny's Poland were underwhelming at EURO 2024

Poland began their Group D campaign against the Netherlands. With legend Robert Lewandowski out with a thigh injury, Poland still managed to take the lead when Adam Buksa headed home after sixteen minutes. Cody Gakpo would level for the Dutch when his deflected shot wrong-footed Szczesny, who could not be blamed for the equaliser.

Szczesny would acquit himself later in the game as the Netherlands turned up the heat. The keeper made multiple saves to keep the score level, notably denying Denzel Dumfries late on before Burnley striker Wout Weghorst grabbed the win for the Dutch with a close-range finish moments after being subbed on in the 81st minute. 

Poland’s second game saw them take on Ralf Rangnick’s Austria five days later at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. In a game acknowledged by both coaches as win or bust, Rangnick’s Austria raced to an early lead, with Gernot Trauner finding himself unchallenged for a cross from Phillipp Mwene on nine minutes.

Szczęsny could not get anywhere near to Trauner’s header at the near post as Austria went 1-0 up. Poland bounced back on the half-hour mark when Krzysztof Piatek pounced upon a rebound, nudging it home for 1-1.

Poland hoped the reintroduction of Lewandowski in the second half could help them take control of the end-to-end game, but it was not to be. A nice move from Marko Arnautovic set up Christoph Baumgartner on 66 minutes, with Szczesny powerless to stop shot from near the edge of the box, going the opposite direction.

Twelve minutes later, Poland’s fate was sealed after Marcel Sabitzer found d himself through on goal, with Szczesny taking him down for a penalty. Arnautovic sent the Polish keeper the wrong way with his spot kick to give a final score of 3-1, although the deficit could have been even more were it not for some brilliant saves from Szczesny in the second half.

That result confirmed Poland as the first team eliminated from the European Championship. With their third game against France now being a dead rubber for the Eagles, Szczesny would be dropped in order to give back-up keeper 

Lukasz Skorupski some game time at the tournament. A drab game saw Kylian Mbappe's penalty cancelled out by a spot kick from Robert Lewandowski as France finished second in the group in a disappointing performance.

It looks like Poland’s disappointing exit will be the last chapter of Szczesny’s time as a Juventus player, with rumours of an exit intensifying over the last few days. Despite establishing himself as Juventus’ number one last season, the new, more frugal regime means that Szczesny’s legacy contract is no longer tenable. The offer of a one-year contract extension, reducing the keeper’s wage from 6.5 million euros to 4 million euros per season spread over two campaigns, was rejected.

Before the Euros campaign, it looked like Szczesny would make the jump to Saudi Arabia, joining up with old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Despite a lucrative contract of €20 million a year, Szczesny turned the deal down, citing a desire to stay in Europe, ideally with Juventus.

The Old Lady had other plans though, signing Michele Di Gregorio from Monza to become Juve’s Number 1 next season. Now, Polish site Transfery.info is reporting that Szczesny may be in fact ready to move the opposite way, joining Monza. The only obstacle in Mona’s way is the considerable gap in wages, with the Monaco deal estimated at a third of his current salary.

Poland’s Euros campaign may have been a letdown, but Szczesny showed flashes of what he’s made of, let down by a chronic defensive line in both games. It’s clear that the keeper still has something to contribute at international and club level.

Will Szczesny remain at Juve as a back-up? Will the Bianconeri get him off the payroll? Will the Pole battle De Gregorio for the Number 1 Jersey? Only time will tell.

Look out for the next installment on Juve players at the Euros very soon!