Matty Cash picks up a suspected hamstring injury after just 10 MINUTES on the pitch in Poland’s 5-1 rout of Estonia… with Aston Villa defender’s role in Tuesday’s Euro 2024 play-off final against Wales in doubt
- The Villa star was brought on as a half-time substitute in the semi-final clash
- Poland will face Wales after Rob Page’s side beat Finland 4-1 in Cardiff
- England’s Euro 2004 team was incredible on paper but they didn’t win. Can this crop do it this summer? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Matty Cash was forced off by a hamstring injury last night as his Poland side set up a Euros play-off final clash with Wales by thrashing 10-man Estonia in Warsaw.
The Aston Villa defender was brought on as a half-time substitute but limped off after only 10 minutes clutching his hamstring.
Cash was tipped back by his own momentum sending a cross into Estonia’s box, and collided with the advertising hoarding, before first walking away, then receiving treatment on the pitch.
The Poles overwhelmed their powerless opposition who rarely left their own half and had no goal attempt until midfielder Martin Vetkal pulled back a consolation goal in the 78th minute.
Przemyslaw Frankowski put Poland ahead in the 22nd minute, when he received an elegant pass from Jakub Piotrowski to score with a low finish, and Piotr Zielinski doubled the lead after the break, nodding home a cross from Nicola Zalewski.
Matty Cash was substituted after just 11 minutes on the pitch after picking up a suspected hamstring injury against Estonia
The Aston Villa may not be able to take part in Poland’s play-off final against Wales on Tuesday
Piotrowski made it 3-0 with a shot from a distance in the 70th minute, three minutes before Estonia defender Karol Mets gifted Poland their fourth with an own goal, and Sebastian Szymanski bundled in the fifth from close range.
Estonia went down to 10 men in the 27th minute when defender Maksim Paskotsi saw his second yellow card for a challenge on Zalewski.
Poland finished third in qualifying Group E behind Albania and Czech Republic while Estonia were last in Group F but, like the other semi-finalists, they made it to the play-offs via the UEFA Nations League.
The finalists will now encounter Wales in their final match before a potential place in the European Championship, after Rob Page’s side thrashed Finland 4-1.
Poland completed a 5-1 rout of 10-man Estonia to book their place against Rob Page’s Wales
The hosts in Cardiff pulled off a competent and confident performance against the travellers on Thursday evening, their emphatic win given a significant boost by two early goals – David Brooks’ third-minute strike to see Wales draw first blood, and Brennan Johnson’s effort two minutes after play resumed in the second-half to hand Wales their third of the evening.
The Dragons had thought they were home and dry with a fourth goal in the 79th minute, only for the rebounded headed to be ruled out by VAR.
But Daniel James capped a classy victory in the capital with an eventual fourth four minutes before time.
