Poland national team escorted on way to Qatar by F1 fighter jets after deadly missile strike on Ukraine border
POLAND’S national team were escorted by F-16 fighter jets as they headed to Qatar for the World Cup.
The global showcase begins on Sunday as the host nation takes on Ecuador in the opening game.
Twitter / @LaczyNasPilkaThe Poland football team were escorted on their way to the Qatar World Cup by F1 fighter jets[/caption]
Twitter / @LaczyNasPilkaNo risks were taken after the deadly missile strike on the Ukraine border on Tuesday[/caption]
Poland begin their tournament against Mexico next week
On Thursday, two army aircraft flanked superstar Robert Lewandowski and his team-mates, who are looking to guide Poland to the knockout stages for the first time since 1986.
The reason for the top-class escort was the death of two Polish citizens on a farm four miles from the Ukrainian border on Tuesday.
An emergency Nato meeting followed the passing of the two farmers.
But Poland’s president Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday that a Ukrainian air defence missile had most likely caused the “unfortunate accident”.
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NATO’s secretary general also hinted that there was no indication of a deliberate attack from Russia.
But that didn’t stop the impressive defensive escort to the Polish border on route to the Middle East.
The Twitter account for the national team posted: “We were escorted to the southern border of Poland by F16 planes!
“Thank you and greetings to the pilots!”
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The Poles finished comfortably behind England in qualifying but then received a bye in their play-off semi-final, ironically due to Russia being disqualified following the invasion of Ukraine.
That left them with just a home tie against Sweden to make it to the World Cup, and they duly triumphed 2-0 over Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co.
They take on Mexico on Tuesday in their first Group C clash.
Saudi Arabia lie in wait after that on Saturday, November 26.
Then things get really tricky as Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team takes on tournament favourites Argentina.
