MACIEJ ZURAWSKI once scored five goals in a game. It was for Wisla Krakow away to Katowice in a Polish league match back in September 2001. In his memory Zurawksi reckons it took him around an hour to complete his haul, although he is doing himself a disservice. It was actually only half that time. He scored his first in the 16th minute, added three more before half-time, then got his last in the 47th minute. When you score five goals in half an hour you have every right to believe it is a record that will stand the test of time. One never to broken. And then comes along another Pole in the form Robert Lewandowski who manages to score five goals in just nine minutes. Zurawski has to smile.

“With Bayern [Munich] he is doing things that are impossible,” said the former Celtic forward of his compatriot. “I watched him score five goals in a game. I did this once, too, but in the Polish league so I know what that feels like. But it took me an hour [sic] to score them all, not nine minutes like Lewandowski. So I was very slow compared to him. Before I was pleased with my achievement but now I’m not so happy!”

He’s joking, of course, but it is a story that adds an extra layer to the burgeoning reputation Lewandowski is carefully crafting. When Scotland line up against Poland on Thursday night for their vital Euro 2016 qualifier all eyes will be on the 27 year-old with the world seemingly at his feet.

There is a tradition at Bayern where the players and manager congregate at the local beer hall during Oktoberfest. It is largely a promotional event on behalf of one of the club’s sponsors – a local brewery – but it always looks a lot of fun, too. And there this week was Lewandowski getting into the spirit of things, his lederhosen on, a giant stein of beer in his hand, his stunning wife Anna – a fitness trainer who has represented Poland at karate – alongside him, having a pint as well. Just where did it all go wrong, Robert?

He does not seem a man in any great need of sympathy but Zurawski, his predecessor in the Polish national team, offers some up anyway. It is only recently that Lewandowski has started to show the same prolific prowess for his country as he has done for years at club level – until two years ago his only competitive international goals had been against San Marino and Greece – but now that he has started rattling in them at a ferocious rate, the expectation is he can never stop.

Poland stand on the cusp of qualification for Euro 2016 and if they can manage that without a direct contribution from their star striker then nobody back home will bat an eyelid. Should they somehow fall short, however, then the blame will fall squarely on one man.

“I was worried about him in the national team initially because he wasn’t scoring goals,” added Zurawski of Lewandowski. “He was playing very well with Borussia Dortmund but then he would join up with Poland and have chances but not take them. The Polish people didn’t like him back then as they expected more from him. He was scoring regularly in the Bundesliga but in the national team it was only once every few games.

“So Lewandowski was not loved so much by the Polish people before but now everyone loves him. He scores in every game one, two or three goals like a machine. The fans now expect more and more from him. Now if he doesn’t score in a game, they are very disappointed. So Lewandowski is always under pressure from everyone. They all look to him to win a match, and he is the captain, too, which brings extra responsibility.

“Against Scotland on Thursday, everyone will expect him to score. People can say it is a team game, and there are other players who can do things, but the reality is everybody will look to Lewandowski to score at least one goal. If he doesn’t score but Poland wins, then that’s okay. But if he doesn’t score and Poland doesn’t win, he gets the blame. So that is hard for him.”

Poland, though, come to Scotland in a strong position. “It’s a better situation for Poland. They want to win, of course, but they don’t need to. For Scotland, it is probably their last chance so they have to win. They need to attack and score goals. It is more comfortable for Poland. But Scotland at least are playing in front of their own mad fans and that will be a big help for them.”

- Maciej Zurawski was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is a proud sponsor of Scotland.