Jude Bellingham’s Euros record lasts just six days as Kacper Kozlowski becomes youngest player in tournament history
POLAND teenager Kacper Kozlowski has become the youngest player ever to appear at the European Championships after coming on against Spain.
The 17-year-old broke England star Jude Bellingham’s record, which lasted just SIX days.
The Pogon Szczecin midfielder has made his Euros debut aged 17 years and 246 days after being introduced by Poland manager Paulo Sousa in the 55th minute.
Bellingham, aged 17 years and 349 days, had broken the record earlier in the tournament when he came on for England against Croatia.
The previous record holder was Jetro Willems, who was 18 years and 71 days when he started Holland’s Euro 2012 opener against Denmark.
Kozlowski did a good job after coming on, helping Poland secure a 1-1 draw against the three-time European champions.
Alvaro Morata opened the scoring for Spain in the first half after VAR judged the ex-Chelsea striker to be onside.
Robert Lewandowski equalised for Sousa’s side after the break with a trademark header before Spain’s Gerard Moreno hit the post from the spot.
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It’s remarkable to think Kozlowski is even playing at the Euros following his serious car crash 18 months ago.
The midfielder was left with a broken pelvis and three broken vertebrae in his lower back.
Kozlowski told Goal in May: “I couldn’t train for almost half a year, which is the worst thing that can happen as a young player.
“But after I got back to individual training, I felt like things were back on track and going in the right direction.
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“It was a difficult time in my life, but I focus on the here and now and not on the past.
“It is a fact that I missed a few matches, but frankly, I have been working even harder since then.
“Mentally, it might help me in the future to have gone through this.”
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