Poland disappointed at the 2018 World Cup, finishing bottom of a group containing Colombia, Japan and Senegal
Poland scored two late goals to avoid an embarrassing draw with 131st-ranked Latvia in their Euro 2020 qualifier.
Poland, ranked 20th, were in the top tier of teams in the Nations League, while Latvia were in the bottom tier.
The visitors won none of their six games in that competition against Georgia, Kazakhstan and Andorra.
But they looked set for a famous point until Robert Lewandoski headed in with 14 minutes left, before Kamil Glik added a second.
Poland are the seeded team in Group G, while Latvia are the lowest-ranked side in a group that also contains Macedonia, Israel, Slovenia and Austria.
The hosts were expected to win comfortably against a side who had won just two of their previous 26 matches, with those victories coming against Estonia and Andorra.
Poland did dominate, with 23 shots, 14 corners and 72% possession, but it took Lewandowski's late intervention to break the deadlock against a team who have lost to the likes of Macedonia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Gibraltar in the past 12 months.
Poland had been affected by illness in the build-up, with eight players - including influential Napoli forward Arkadiusz Milik - affected.
Elsewhere in the group, Israel beat Austria 4-2 and Slovenia drew 1-1 with Macedonia.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Poland
1Szczesny
19KedzioraBooked at 69mins
15Glik
2Pazdan
13Reca
20Zielinski
10Krychowiak
14KlichSubstituted forBlaszczykowskiat 62'minutes
11GrosickiSubstituted forFrankowskiat 83'minutes
9Lewandowski
23PiatekBooked at 25minsSubstituted forMilikat 87'minutes
Substitutes
3Jedrzejczyk
4Cionek
5Gumny
6Góralski
7Milik
8Linetty
12Skorupski
16Blaszczykowski
17Kadzior
18Szymanski
21Frankowski
22Fabianski
Latvia
23Steinbors
18SavalnieksSubstituted forGabovsat 80'minutes
4DubraBooked at 18mins
3Oss
2MaksimenkoBooked at 53mins
8Laizans
13Isajevs
9IkaunieksBooked at 73mins
15Rakels
11KarasausksSubstituted forTobersat 85'minutes
22GutkovskisSubstituted forUldrikisat 70'minutes
Substitutes
1Vanins
5Kurakins
6Gabovs
7Rugins
10Sabala
12Ikstens
14Tobers
16Zulevs
17Tarasovs
19Jagodinskis
20Uldrikis
21Cernomordijs
Referee:
Aliyar Aghayev
Match Stats
Home TeamPolandAway TeamLatvia
Possession
Home72%
Away28%
Shots
Home23
Away12
Shots on Target
Home8
Away4
Corners
Home14
Away2
Fouls
Home13
Away19
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Poland 2, Latvia 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Poland 2, Latvia 0.
Posted at 90'+4'
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Davis Ikaunieks.
Posted at 90'+3'
Arkadiusz Reca (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Davis Ikaunieks (Latvia).
Posted at 90'
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Vladislavs Gabovs (Latvia).
Posted at 90'
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Poland).
Posted at 90'
Kaspars Dubra (Latvia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Posted at 88'
Arkadiusz Milik (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Kristers Tobers (Latvia).
SubstitutionPosted at 87'
Substitution, Poland. Arkadiusz Milik replaces Krzysztof Piatek.
Posted at 86'
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Roberts Uldrikis (Latvia).
Posted at 86'
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Olegs Laizans (Latvia).
SubstitutionPosted at 85'
Substitution, Latvia. Kristers Tobers replaces Arturs Karasausks.
Goal!Posted at 84'
Goal! Poland 2, Latvia 0. Kamil Glik (Poland) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jakub Blaszczykowski with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 84'
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Pavels Steinbors.
Posted at 84'
Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Frankowski (Poland) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski.
SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Poland. Przemyslaw Frankowski replaces Kamil Grosicki.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Latvia. Vladislavs Gabovs replaces Roberts Savalnieks because of an injury.
Posted at 79'
Attempt blocked. Jakub Blaszczykowski (Poland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Posted at 78'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 78'
Delay in match Roberts Savalnieks (Latvia) because of an injury.
Goal!Posted at 76'
Goal! Poland 1, Latvia 0. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Arkadiusz Reca.
Posted at 75'
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Olegs Laizans (Latvia).
Posted at 75'
Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
BookingPosted at 73'
Davis Ikaunieks (Latvia) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 73'
Piotr Zielinski (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Deniss Rakels (Latvia).
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Arturs Karasausks (Latvia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Deniss Rakels.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Latvia. Roberts Uldrikis replaces Vladislavs Gutkovskis because of an injury.
Posted at 70'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 69'
Delay in match Vladislavs Gutkovskis (Latvia) because of an injury.
BookingPosted at 69'
Tomasz Kedziora (Poland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Tomasz Kedziora (Poland).
Posted at 68'
Vladislavs Gutkovskis (Latvia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com