Poland, out of World Cup, want morale boost against Japan

Soccer Football - World Cup - Poland Training - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia - June 27, 2018. Robert Lewandowski and his teammates attend a training session. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) - Poland's under-performing players, who have fallen at the first hurdle of the World Cup, need a psychological boost when they meet a buoyant Japan on Thursday, veteran midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski said.

"It's not an easy moment for the team psychologically speaking," Blaszczykowski, who has appeared 100 times for his country, told reporters on Wednesday.