If Poland are to make an impression at the 2022 World Cup, striker Robert Lewandowski will need to play a major role. He’s already a national record holder in terms of appearances made and goals scored, but the Barcelona man will need to be on top of his game in Qatar.
The player himself has admitted that Poland are in a ‘very tough group’ but just what can we expect from Lewandowski and the side in this year’s tournament?
Poland’s Opponents
The draw for the opening rounds of the 2022 World Cup has placed Poland in Group C alongside Argentina, Mexico and Poland. The Argentines are among the favourites to win the competition and they will provide the toughest test in this section.
Saudi Arabia are the weaker of the four teams and, with two countries progressing to the knockout stage, the final qualifying place could come down to a straight battle between Poland and Mexico.
With that in mind, the opening round of fixtures in this group will be the most important of all. Argentina will take on Saudi Arabia while Poland and Mexico will face off in Doha on November 22nd. If there is a winner of that game, they will have an exceptionally strong chance of making the Round of 16.
The Independent Verdict
Early betting markets for the World Cup show Argentina as clear favourites to win Group C. Behind them, the sportsbooks are having trouble splitting Poland and Mexico who are joint second favourites in many places.
Saudi Arabia are the rank outsiders, according to the odds of the World Cup group stage expert predictions supplied by the ArabianBetting.com website. As the tournament gets underway, the odds will switch to the live markets and they will update as each match comes to an end.
Revised figures will be in place and visitors to the website can assess them in real time. Added to the knowledge bank here are news stories, opinion articles and guides to betting on the World Cup.
It’s also possible to put that information to the test by getting involved with the markets. Each sportsbook referenced by ArabianBetting is set up to accept eligible new customers who completed a quick and secure sign up form.
In return for registration, many operators publish a welcome promotion and there may also be ongoing offers for the life of the account. Qualifying bets will be needed and a range of funding providers can help with initial deposits.
Those who continue to play can find additional advantages moving forward. In-play betting, mobile apps and the potential to live stream international football may also be on the table.
It can be a ‘go-to’ website for all forms of football betting, but have the sportsbooks called this correctly in terms of Poland’s chances?
How far can Poland go?
Poland can take some comfort from previous results involving their Group C opponents. They have played Mexico on eight occasions, but their paths have only met once at a World Cup. In the group stages in Argentina, back in 1978, the Poles emerged as 3-1 winners.
Poland have yet to take on the Saudis in a major tournament but the sides have met on four separate occasions. The last time was in 2006 when Poland won 2-1 in an international friendly.
The final day of the group sees Poland take on Argentina. Head to head results reveal 11 previous games between the two countries and the results are fairly even. In terms of World Cup matches, Poland won 3-1 after beating Brazil in 1974 on their way to a third place finish.
Four years later, Argentina won the World Cup on home soil and they dispensed with Poland via a 2-0 group stage victory.
Head to head results are interesting, but they may not have too much bearing on the tournament this year. As the team are in a tough group and it’s all about who can raise their game on the day says Lewandowski. Poland will not want to play Argentina on the final day while needing a result. That means they should be targeting at least a point in the opening fixture against Mexico. It’s a tricky test and the country’s leading scorer will also be the most important player in Qatar
image – “Footbal impresion” (CC BY 2.0) by radimersky