Fresh from their 1974 semi-final run, Poland returned to the World Cup with rising ambitions. Under Jacek Gmoch, they were ready to write the next chapter.
Poland emerged from the first group stage and advanced to the second round, showing the quality to compete with the best.
Poland showed flashes of quality in the group stage, but not enough to secure a place in the next round. Their campaign featured a 0-0 draw with West Germany, a hard-fought 1-0 win against Tunisia, a 3-1 win over Mexico, a 0-2 defeat against Argentina, a hard-fought 1-0 win against Peru, and a 1-3 defeat against Brazil. Despite competing with determination in the second the group phase, Poland's journey ended before the final.
3won1drawn2lost
6scored6conceded
Failed to score in 2 of 6 matches kept 3 clean sheets.
Zbigniew Boniek led Poland's attack with 2 goals at the 1978 World Cup. Shared the top-scorer honours with Lato, both with 2.
Conceded in only 3 of 6 matches
The tactical mind behind Poland's 1978 campaign. Leading Poland at his first World Cup 3 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses under Gmoch.
The Polish team's playing identity revolved around their quick counterattacks, which caught opponents off guard. This approach allowed them to capitalize on mistakes and create scoring chances.
