After helping rank outsiders Barnsley defy the odds and finish in the top six of the Sky Bet Championship, Michal Helik will be looking to propel Poland to Euros glory at this summer's tournament.
Michal Helik
Michal Helik has been outstanding for Barnsley this season, helping to transform the club from a relegation-threatened side, into a promotion chasing outfit. He has helped sure up a leaky defence and will be hoping to do the same as he makes his first appearance at a major tournament for Poland.
Barnsley conceded 19 fewer goals this season than they did in the season prior to Helik joining the club, the Polish centre-half recording the joint second-most interceptions and the fourth-most clearances in the second tier this season, as well as netting five goals for the Tykes.
What is expected goals (xG)?
- Expected goals (xG) is a metric that measures the quality of any given scoring opportunity
- Expected assists (xA) measures the likelihood that a given pass will become a goal assist
Poland conceded just five goals in qualifying, so it shows how impressive Helik has been this season that he has been included in the squad, and he will be looking to help his nation out of a group comprising of Spain, Sweden and Slovakia.
If Poland are to make it beyond Group E then they need to make sure they are solid defensively, and Helik has been exactly that this season.
