Netherlands are aiming for their fourth win this season in the Nations League against Poland which will take them closer to the playoff spot.
The Dutch secured a stunning 3-2 win against Wales in their last Nations League game in June whereas Poland suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Belgium.
POL vs NED Match Details
Date: Thursday, 22 September 2022 / Friday, 23 September 2022
Time: 20:45 (CET) / 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Stadion Narodowy, Warshaw
POL vs NED Match Preview
Poland moves into the last pair of group stage games for the Nations League with less hope to move into the playoffs next year, sitting third behind Belgium and Netherlands with four points in their group. It is the Dutch they face next at home having drawn against them in the reverse fixture three months ago. Poland began their 2022/23 Nations League campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Wales but then fell to two defeats against Belgium, including a 6-1 crushing defeat in Brussels, in addition to the share of points in this meeting. Before those defeats, the Pols lost only once in seven games. Six points off the top place have prevented Poland’s journey deep into the competition so the games against Netherlands and Wales are a good test to have before they pack their bags for the World Cup in Qatar starting in November this year. Paired with Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South American giants Argentina in Group C of the mega event these games will show Poland’s status at present. Captain Robert Lewandowski has only one strike in the Nations League this season although his glimmering club form and Piotr Zielinski starting his season brilliantly with Napoli should give the Barcelona man the required service to score more in two pivotal games coming up. Against the Netherlands, the home side’s motive will be to stay in League A with a win although that has not arrived for them in the last four meetings with the Dutch. The only point Poland managed was the 2-2 draw in the first meeting this season. The Eagles went 2-0 up inside 50 minutes in Rotterdam eyeing their first win in this fixture but the hosts struck back with two goals in space of four minutes to rescue a point that eventually took them to the top of the chart.
Like every other nation from Europe in the World Cup, the Netherlands are desperate to make the most of these pre-tournament games to land in Qatar in perfect shape. The Dutch are well placed in their Nations League group to advance further in the competition by ranking first with 10 points on board. However, Louis van Gaal’s side games in June have been less controlled and more often required dramatic comebacks to gain points on the road. Those turnarounds prove the orange shirt’s mentality of not backing down from difficult situations but a little bit of stability is required while taking the challenge of Senegal, Ecuador and hosts Qatar in the World Cup this November. The Netherlands have scored plenty of goals in the Nations League this season although it is keeping clean sheets which have become an issue. The 2-0 win over Norway back in November last year was the last time the defense remained goal-proof in this period. Nevertheless, the Dutch remain unbeaten since Louis van Gaal took charge after the dismal European Championship in 2021 winning nine of their 13 games so far under the manager. Netherlands started their Nations League campaign with an impressive 4-1 victory over Belgium and 2-1 win against Wales prior to the 2-2 draw against Poland. An incredible game against Wales in the second tie followed where the Dutch were up 2-0 only for the Dragons to make it 2-2 in added time. The home side then snatched back the lead in the last kick of the game through Memphis Depay to seal all three points. They wish to carry the excellent momentum in the first game against Poland whom they are successful against in recent meetings. The visitors in the evening are yet to lose in this meeting since 1979 gaining six victories and four draws in ten games. The only time Poland got better of the two was the 2-0 victory that year in the qualifiers for the European Championship.
Recent Form
POL: LDLWW
NED: WDWWD
POL vs NED Team News
Poland are missing right-back Matty Cash due to a muscle injury with Sampdoria man Bartosz Bereszynski making the right flank of his own. His Aston Villa teammate Jan Bednarek is suffering from an injury as well but is expected to play some part in the last two group stage games of the Nations League. Jakub Kiwior made his international debut against the Netherlands in June and is likely to play them again from the start alongside Kamil Glik. Torino’s Karol Linetty will replace the injured Jacek Goralski in the midfield. Coach Czeslaw Michniewicz has altered the formation of the team several times since he took charge back in January this year predominantly in this tournament. A change to a 4-2-3-1 system could be used to get the best out of talisman Robert Lewandowski who has already scored eight goals in 11 appearances at his new club, Barcelona.
Louis van Gaal has not included Atalanta’s Jans Hateboer and Club Brugge’s Noa Lang in the list for the Nations League game this month. The pair feature for the matches played in June. 19-year-old Ajax’s right back Devyne Rensch is in the national camp for the second time. Memphis Depay is not the first-choice player for his club Barcelona but continues to be a major contributor for the Netherlands. He is expected to start in the forward line with PSV’s fascinating forward Cody Gakpo and Ajax’s scoring winger Steven Bergwijn.
POL vs NED Predicted Lineups
POL: Wojciech Szczesny; Bartosz Bereszynski, Kamil Glik, Jakub Kiwior, Arkadiusz Reca; Grzegorz Krychowiak, Karol Linetty; Przemyslaw Frankowski, Piotr Zielinski, Nicola Zalewski; Robert Lewandowski
NED: Jasper Cillessen; Denzel Dumfries, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Tyrell Malacia; Steven Berghuis, F. de Jong, Toon Koopmeiners; Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo,
POL vs NED Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Cillessen (8)
DEF: Dumfries (9), De Ligt (7), Kiwior (8.5), Blind (8)
MID: Frankowski (7.5), De Jong (8.5), Zielinski (9)
FW: Depay (9), Lewandowski (9), Gakpo (9)
Captain: Robert Lewandowski
Vice-captain: Memphis Depay
