Rise of a Football God
Chapter 523 - 523: Round of 32; Netherlands vs Poland

Next in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 stage was a blockbuster encounter between 2 European nations, Netherlands and Poland.

[FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 32]

[Match 11: Netherlands vs Poland]

[Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA]

[Date: July 4th, 2026]

[Referee: Michael Oliver (England)]

The weather at the Lincoln Financial in Philadelphia, USA was perfect. A cool night air, perfect pitch. The conditions were ripe for drama.

There were over 67,000 football fans at the Lincoln Financial.

The Netherlands came into this match as one of the tournament's most stylish and fluid teams.

Poland, gritty and led by the eternal Robert Lewandowski, were a different beast: direct, physical, and dangerous on the break.

The game was destined to become an unforgettable war of willpower and pressure between 2 European nations with fire in their veins.

The starting lineups for both nations were released an hour before the game.

Netherlands started in a 3-4-1-2, with Justin Bijlow in goal, while sitting ahead of him was the defensive trio of Van Dijk, De Light, and Nathan Ake. In midfield was the quadruple of Dumfries, Frankie de Jong, Koopmeiners, and Tyrell Malacia.

Xavi Simons started as the sole attacking midfielder, while the two strikers were Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay.

For Poland, it was a 4-4-2 with Wojciech Szczesny back in goal after his brief stint with retirement. Ahead of him in defense were the defensive quadruple of Cash, Bednarek, Kiwior, and Bereszynski.

In midfield was the quadruple of Zielinkski, Moder, Szymanski, and Frankowski, while the 2 strikers were Lewandowski and Swiderski.

From the kickoff, one thing was clear, Poland were not here to sit back.

They were here to play the game of their lives.

Like they say, as soon as knockout stages start, every game is a final. Poland played the game as if it was a final.

Poland? They stunned the Dutch early, as early as the 10th minute.

After a sloppy pass from De Ligt, Zielinski pounced and released Swiderski, who finished low past Bijlow, leaving the Dutch goalkeeper fuming at his defenders.

1-0 Poland.

Shock in the stands.

The Polish players celebrated their goal exuberantly, but then, after a few more minutes, Netherlands finally settled into their rhythm.

And then, they dictated the game.

Dumfries repeatedly bombed forward. Simons grew into the game.

And then…

GOAL! Memphis Depay, in the 30th minute of the game.

Xavi Simons threaded a perfectly weighted pass. Memphis, through on goal, calmly slotted past Szczesny.

1-1. Balance restored.

From there on, Netherlands rode the bus and never looked back. Poland defended valiantly, keeping attack after attack from the Dutch at bay.

But then, in the 42nd minute, Lewandowski almost stunned them again.

The veteran striker turned Van Dijk with a burst and let fly… but Bijlow tipped it wide. The threat was real.

The first half came to an end 1-1.

Many were surprised. Nobody expected Poland to really pose much of a threat against Netherlands, but here they were, doing the impossible.

The second half was a game of tension wrapped in silk.

The Dutch started to turn the screws. Cody Gakpo and Tyrell Malacia stretched the flanks, while Frankie De Jong dictated tempo.

And then, in the 63rd minute, the Dutch found their breakthrough.

A move out of textbook "Total Football". Koopmeiners to Simons, Simons to Dumfries, a low cross, and then Cody Gakpo sliding in.

Wojciech stood no chance.

2-1 Netherlands. Orange flares lit up the stands.

But Poland never say die.

They fought tooth and nail to get their equalizer, Lewandowski especially playing like a man on a mission, his age notwithstanding.

And then, in the 76th minute, they finally forced it.

De Ligt clipped Lewandowski in the box after a VAR check. Lewandowski stepped in.

FWEEEE!

PENALTY!

There was no denying it even as De Light protested in vain, attracting a yellow card on top for his troubles.

The Dutch fans filling the stadium whistled and booed the referee, showing their displeasure at the decision.

A few minutes later, Lewandowski stepped up to take the penalty after the commotion died down.

In the 78th minute, Lewandowski buried it in vintage fashion.

Ice cold. Stutter-step. Bottom corner.

2-2.

BOOM!

The Lincoln Financial exploded with the roar of ten thousand Polish fans.

Poland weren't leaving quietly.

For the final 10 minutes, Netherlands pushed with intensity, chasing the lead again but this time, the Polish players defended for their life.

Even Lewandowski dropped back to defend.

It was tense and full of drama.

In the end…

FWEEE!

The first 90 minutes came to an end. Over to extra time.

The game soon started and once again, both sides pushed. It was more a battle of willpower than ever before now.

Netherlands had the better chances.

In the 97th minute, Xavi Simons hit the bar.

In the 113rd minute, Szczesny saved from Memphis point-blank, raising the tension in the stadium to boiling levels.

And then in the 119th minute, Zienliski took a shot, the last of the game, sending tens of thousands of fans to their feet only for it to fly just wide of the post.

"Ahhh…!" The Polish midfielder roared in frustration.

And then…

FWEEE!

Extra time came to an end. No winner.

Now, penalties.

The tension in the stadium was palpable, finally hitting a climax. Some fans were unable to watch as they covered their faces in the preparation for the penultimate end of this game.

The penalty shootout was a pressure cooker throughout.

Netherlands went first. Memphis Depay took his shot, scored.

1-0 Netherlands.

Lewandowski went for Poland. Shot, scored.

1-1.

Xavi Simons went up next for Netherlands. He took his shot and also scored.

2-1 Netherlands.

Zielinski went up next for Poland. He didn't try anything fancy, shooting straight down the middle but in a nightmarish moment for the Polish midfielder, he was horrified as Bijlow's leg just saved the ball.

"And BIJLOW SAVES!" The commentator screamed.

A nightmare for the Polish!

Content first released on M_VLEM_PYR.

Zielinski grabbed his head with his hands in disbelief. With drooped shoulders, he turned and walked away. Lewandowski consoled him.

Cody Gakpo went up next for the Netherlands. And in a display of guts and a will made of steel, just like Zielinsky, Gakpo also shot down the middle, and scored.

"COME ON!" He screamed at the fans, eliciting wild reactions from them.

3-1 Netherlands.

Szymanski went up for Poland next. He shot, and scored.

3-2.

Then, Tyrell Malacia followed for the Netherlands. And this was when Wojciech Szczesny rolled back the years, diving the right way and pulling off an incredible save to deny Malacia.

BOOM!

The stadium literally melted from the roar of the Polish fans.

Malacia kicked in frustration and walked off.

3-2 to Netherlands still.

Now, it was up to Poland's next penalty taker to level the score.

It was the most pivotal penalty kick of the night, and the pressure was at a crazy level. Bednarek, the defender came up to take the penalty for Poland.

Bednarek looked away from the goalkeeper, rubbed his face, took a deep breath, and then as soon as the whistle rang, he ran slowly, looking straight at the goalkeeper's eyes.

And then…

Bam!

He hit the ball, left, leaving Bijlow rooted to one spot as he was about diving in the opposite direction.

The ball flew, towards goal, but then it veered slightly, then…

Bam!

It hit the post!

"HE HITS THE POST!"

"MY GOD! IT'S OVER FOR POLAND!"

"IT'S A DUTCH VICTORY, ON PENALTIES!"

"NETHERLANDS ARE THROUGH!"

Netherlands won 4-3 on penalties, and Bijlow was the hero.

The Dutch survived. Poland sank to their knees; brave, brilliant, but beaten.

Justin Bijlow won the man of the match award for his 5 saves in regular time, and his all-important save in the shootout.

Like the commentator said:

"They say goalkeepers win your tournaments. Tonight, he proved it".