Cash on Poland journey, Lewandowski and Sweden showdown
Matty Cash discusses his superb support from the Poland fans, 17-year-old Oskar Pietuszewski and their play-off with Sweden for a FIFA World Cup 2026 place.
Matty Cash has never hidden his attachment to Poland. That connection became even stronger in 2021 when he chose to represent the country of his maternal grandparents. Born in England, the Aston Villa right-back is now living out a childhood dream. “Playing for Poland is something I’ve always wanted,” said Cash, who grew up in Slough.
Since declaring for the national team, the partnership has flourished. Quickly integrated, Cash now has 24 caps and four goals to his name. He also featured at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, where Poland reached the last 16, losing 3-1 to France. “It was a fantastic experience,” he recalled.
Sidelined by injury for UEFA EURO 2024, the 28-year-old now has the opportunity to return to the global stage.
On Tuesday, Poland will play away to Sweden for a place at the World Cup 2026. It is a major challenge against opponents the Poles last played in 2022, when they emerged 2-0 victors. A few days after their comeback play-off semi-final win against Albania in the UEFA play-offs, Cash spoke to FIFA about his international journey, the influence of the legendary Robert Lewandowski, and the decisive upcoming showdown in Solna.
It’s funny actually because before the game, I was telling my friends I felt quite relaxed and confident. Of course it was on my mind, but I was still focused on my club. As soon as club football finished, it was all about Albania. But even in the build-up, I felt relaxed – in a good way – because I have a lot of confidence in this team. We’re a really good side, with a really good manager, and I think we’ve made strong progress together over the past year.
It’s great to play with Robert Lewandowski. He’s had an incredible career for club and country, and he’s still going – still scoring, still in great shape. He looks really fit and strong, so hopefully he still has many games ahead of him.
At half-time against Albania, the message in the dressing room was to stay calm and be patient. We had a lot of possession and chances, and it was about finding the right moment to break them down. In the end, players like Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski made the difference. They’re top players.
Qualifying from the group is probably my main memory. As a team, that was our goal – to reach the last 16 and face France – and it was a fantastic achievement. We had some great moments along the way, against teams like Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico. And of course, Wojciech Szczesny saving a penalty was a huge moment for us. Overall, it was an incredible experience.
It’s going to be a tough game. I’ve looked at Sweden’s record and it’s not great, but in a final that doesn’t matter. They have quality players and we’re expecting a difficult match. The crowd will be loud. I’ve seen the stadium and it looks great, even if I’ve never played there before. It’s a one-off game, an all-or-nothing situation. Everyone will be up for it – the players, the fans. It’s going to be a great occasion.
Yes, I think so. This group has been through a lot together – the World Cup, the EUROs – and that experience in big games is really important. We’ve also had some new, younger players come in, but there’s a strong core with plenty of experience. Hopefully that will help us get over the line and qualify for another World Cup, which would be a fantastic achievement. We’re really looking forward to this final.
I’d seen quite a lot about him before the camp. There was a lot of talk, and I watched some clips of him when he was playing in Poland and after his move to Porto. But yeah, what a talent. At just 17, still doing his exams at school, it’s amazing.
When he came on, you could see the impact. And credit to the manager as well, because bringing him on at that moment was a really good decision. He’s sharp, direct, very quick, and when you bring a player like that on against tired defenders, he can really make a difference. He’s a really good player and he can still improve a lot.
The World Cup in Qatar was an incredible experience, especially with how well it was organised. Everything was close together, which made it easier. We stayed in the same place and used the same training facilities throughout. This time, it would be completely different. Playing in North America would be amazing, and I’m sure it will be a great tournament.
I’ve been to the United States before – Orlando and New York – but not across North America as a whole. So it would be a great opportunity to discover it. Hopefully we can get our flights there.
From day one, the Polish people have been so welcoming. They made me feel at home straight away. Then the World Cup came quickly, and it was a great opportunity to spend time together as a team and really get to know everyone. Every time I come back to Poland, I feel that support – from the fans, and even online. I just want to repay them on the pitch and give my best.