Poland faces a tricky task to get the first win of the tournament against Saudi Arabia registering a shock win over Argentina.
Robert Lewandowski’s penalty was saved by Guillermo Ochoa as the Pols played a goalless stalemate against Mexico while the Falcons pulled up a major upset in the World Cup against the South American giants.
POL vs SAU Match Details
Date: Saturday, 26 November 2022
Time: 16:00 (AST) / 18:30 (IST)
Venue: Stadium 974, Doha
POL vs SAU Match Preview
In a tight game against Mexico, Poland needed their talisman Robert Lewandowski to make a difference on the pitch. To be fair to the Barcelona striker, he was facing Ochoa who has been one of the best shot-stoppers in the tournament history. The keeper guessed the right away to prevent him from giving his side the lead in a game Lewandowski was totally devoid of service. Mexico looked the better side in terms of creating chances but nothing separated the two nations in the end. The point obtained is not much to gain an early advantage to qualify for the next round although it is always good to have something than nothing. Without keeping much possession of the ball or enjoying more time in the opposition box, Poland’s agenda will be to improve on this term in the next game. While El Tri will be facing a wounded Argentina team in the second group-stage game, the Red and Whites are tied against Saudi Arabia. It could have been the matchup Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side wished to get the three points in but Herve Renard's side’s extraordinary win over supposed group favorites has deceived all calculations. Poland could only hope they can do better against this daring team to get the result they badly needed to secure a qualification place. For that, they need to get Robert Lewandowski involved to try and break the Falcon’s resilient defense. A win over here will spring them to the top of the chart if Mexico loses before facing La Albiceleste themselves in the final group game.
Nobody saw it coming as Saudi Arabia delivered a shock result in the 2022 World Cup by beating Argentina 2-1 in the opening group stage game against all odds. Herve Renard's side men put up a gallant performance in denying the two times winner any ground to thrive. Their defensive work was immaculate with the pressing and the high-line strategy frustrating Argentina’s willing runners throughout the game. Mohammed Al-Owais man of the match performance in between the sticks with five saves, Mohamed Kanno’s dominance and Hassan Al Tambakti’s command in the back four contributed to the nation’s historical victory. Saudi Arabia were down by a goal before half-time through a 10th-minute penalty conversion from Lionel Messi but coach Renard’s motivating speech at half-time changed the outcome in the second half. Striker Al-Shehiri got past the challenge of Christian Romero to equalize for his side before Salem Al Dawsari scored a contender for the goal of the tournament 13 minutes after the restart. There was an atmosphere of joy and disbelief at the same time among the Saudi supporters as they got to witness a piece of history. The Falcon’s task will be now to retain the smile on their fans by shutting down another world-class forward in the next game. Against Poland, Herve Renard's side will wish to stick to their job against a less threatening team but whom they have lost in every meeting. Another miraculous result here will surely put them in the knockouts for only the second time in World Cup history.
POL vs SAU Team News
Krystian Bielik and Bartosz Bereszynski were carrying knocks for Poland from the last match but both are expected to be fit for this significant game. Despite the dull draw, coach Czeslaw Michniewicz is unlikely to make significant changes to the side with Robert Lewandowski desperate to get on the score sheet for the very first time on the World Cup stage.
For Saudi Arabia, left-back Yasser Al-Shahrani was flown back home after successful surgery on his jaw injury. He collided with the goalkeeper with both going for the ball. Mohammed Al-Burayk is likely to replace him but on the right flank with Saud Abdulhamid switching to the opposite side.
Also Read | FIFA World Cup 2022: Saudi Arabia - World Cup Records and Stats and Saudi Arabia’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
POL vs SAU Predicted Lineups
POL: Wojciech Szczesny; Matty Cash, Jakub Kiwior, Kamil Glik, Bartosz Bereszynski; Sebastian Grzegorz Krychowiak; Jakub Kaminski, Piotr Zielinski, Nicola Zalewski; Robert Lewandowski
SAU: Al-Owais; Al-Burayk, Al-Boleahi, Al Tambakti, Saud Abdulhamid; Al Malki, Mohamed Kanno, Al-Abed; Al Dawsari, Al-Shehiri, Al Buraikan
POL vs SAU Dream11 Prediction
GK: Al-Owais (7.5)
DEF: Cash (8.5), Al Tambakti (7), Glik (8), Abdulhamid (7)
MID: Krychowiak (7.5), Zielinksi (9), Al Dawsari (9)
FW: Al-Brikan (8.5), Lewandowski (9), Al-Shehri (9)
Vice-captain: Al Dawsari
Captain: Robert Lewandowski
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