Robert Lewandowski gears up for World Cup with double as Poland thrash Lithuania
Japan put four past Paraguay before attention turns to Russia 2018
Tuesday 12 June 2018 21:16, UK
Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Poland coasted past Lithuania 4-0 in Warsaw as they completed preparations for the World Cup.
Lewandowski broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when he curled in a cut-back from Maciej Rybus.
The Bayern striker doubled the hosts' lead just after the half-hour mark when his 20-yard free-kick went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Following a string of second-half substitutions, including Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny coming on for Swansea's Lukasz Fabianski, Poland thought they had further extended their lead.
Grzegorz Krychowiak flicked in a backheel following a corner - but the West Brom midfielder saw his effort disallowed on review for a handball.
It was 3-0 in the 71st minute when Sampdoria forward Dawid Kownacki tapped home from close range after being set up by Bartosz Bereszynski.
Wolfsburg midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski wrapped up a comfortable win via the penalty spot eight minutes from full-time.
Poland open their Group H campaign against Senegal in Moscow on June 19, before fixtures against Colombia and Japan.
The Samurai Blue, meanwhile, had earlier beaten Paraguay 4-2 in Innsbruck ahead of their departure to Russia.
Paraguay, who failed to qualify for the finals in Russia, took the lead in the 32nd minute through an acrobatic 20-yard effort from Oscar Romero.
Gaku Shibasaki saw his free-kick clip the crossbar before midfielder Takashi Inui equalised early in the second half with a fine 25-yard curling effort.
Japan went ahead in the 63rd minute when Inui found the net again with a low shot which squirmed past the goalkeeper, before an own goal by Paraguay forward Federico Santander from a corner made it 3-1 after 77 minutes.
Richard Ortiz reduced the deficit from distance in the final minute, but Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa wrapped up victory with a fourth Japan goal during stoppage time.
The Samurai Blue open their Group H campaign against Colombia in Saransk on June 19, before fixtures against Senegal and Poland.
