The World Cup qualifier between Poland and Malta is poised to be a significant match for both teams. Poland, coming off a narrow 1-0 victory against Lithuania, aims to assert its dominance in Group G . Despite securing the win, their performance raised concerns due to a lack of finishing efficiency, as evidenced by their 24 shots on goal . In contrast, Malta faces an uphill battle after a disappointing loss to Finland. With a poor away record—three losses in four games and 13 goals conceded—the Maltese side is expected to struggle against the higher-ranked Polish team .
Poland are second in this World Cup qualifying group after the first round of matches. The Eagles will be confident of a second win when hosting Malta who are bottom of the table. Here's our match prediction.
Also in Group G are Lithuania and the Netherlands. Poland had to work hard to get their opening win on Friday. A second-half goal by Robert Lewandowski gave them a 1-0 win.
Not since 2014 have the Poles failed to reach the finals. They should be able to at least finish second in this group and go into the play-offs. Only one of their last 14 home World Cup qualifiers has ended in defeat.
Poland possible starting lineup: Skorupski; Wieteska, Bednarek, Kiwior; Cash, Urbanski, Moder, Szymanski, Frankowski; Swiderski, Lewandowski
Malta possible starting lineup: Bonello; Pepe, Carragher, Muscat; J. Mbong, Guillaumier, Satariano, Camenzuli; Teuma, Nwoko; P. Mbong
Predictions favor Poland heavily for this encounter at Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw. Analysts anticipate a comfortable victory for the hosts, with predictions ranging from a conservative 2-0 to an optimistic 4-0 win . Expected lineups suggest that Poland will adopt a 3-5-2 formation featuring star striker Robert Lewandowski while Malta is likely to employ a defensive 3-4-2-1 setup . The stark difference in team strength and recent form suggests that Poland's chances of securing three points are significantly high.
Despite Malta's poor qualifying record (21 defeats in the last 25), their defense has shown recent, albeit limited, improvement against weaker teams. However, they face a sterner test at Stadion Narodowy, where Poland, eager to improve their goalscoring form, are likely to dominate.The Maltese will likely employ a deep-lying defensive strategy, hoping to frustrate the Polish attack and potentially snatch a point on the counter, an unlikely scenario given their historical struggles. Poland, under increasing pressure to convert possession into goals, will see this match as a prime opportunity to boost their confidence and rectify their recent profligacy in front of goal. The key battle will likely be in midfield, where Poland's technical superiority should allow them to dictate the tempo and create numerous chances. Malta's hope rests on disciplined defending, a slice of luck, and perhaps an unexpected moment of brilliance, but the odds are heavily stacked against them. A comfortable victory for Poland, with multiple goals, seems the most probable outcome.
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