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Euro 2024 Qualifying Wales vs. Poland Prediction & Betting Tips

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Overview

  • (55') J. James
  • (98') C. Mepham
Yellow Card
  • (50') J. Piotrowski
  • (72') N. Zalewski
  • (120'+1') C. Mepham
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    George

    Euro 2024 Qualifying Wales vs. Poland Prediction & Betting Tips

    In the highly anticipated Euro 2024 qualifying playoff final this Tuesday, Wales and Poland will clash with not just a place in the tournament at stake, but also national pride and the continuation of their respective footballing narratives. Both teams come into this match with a mixture of hope, expectation, and a considerable amount of pressure, given their recent football histories and the implications of this match for their future in international football.

    Date: 26/03/2024

    Kick-off time: 19:45

    Location: Cardiff City Stadium

    Wales are on the verge of qualifying for this summer's Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, aiming to add another chapter to what has been a golden era in Welsh football. Since 2016, Wales have defied expectations by qualifying for three of the last four major international tournaments, a remarkable achievement considering they had only qualified for a single international tournament prior to this run. This transformation from underdogs to regular contenders on the international stage is a testament to the evolution of football within the nation.

    The qualification campaign for Euro 2024, however, has not been straightforward for Wales. Competing in a challenging group that included footballing powerhouses such as Croatia and Turkey, Wales finished 3rd, showcasing a mix of resilience and inconsistency. The team, under the guidance of manager Rob Page, has faced criticism and scrutiny, particularly in the past 18 months. Page's tenure saw him on the brink of dismissal, but a remarkable turnaround in the team's performance has silenced critics, at least for now.

    Wales' squad boasts a blend of youthful talent, highlighted by players like Ethan Ampadu, Jordan James, and Brennan Johnson. These players represent the future of Welsh football and embody the team's aspirations for continued success on the international stage.

    Poland, on the other hand, enter the playoff final with their own set of challenges and expectations. Having qualified for all of the last four European Championships and both of the last two World Cups, Poland's failure to secure a straightforward qualification for Euro 2024 came as a shock to many. The team's qualification campaign was marred by inconsistency and underperformance, culminating in a 3rd place finish in a group they were expected to dominate.

    The past 18 months have been particularly tumultuous for Polish football, with the sacking of manager Czesław Michniewicz following the 2022 World Cup and the brief, troubled tenure of Fernando Santos. Santos' reign was characterised by criticism over his tactical approach, squad selection, and a perceived disengagement from Polish domestic football. His eventual sacking paved the way for Michał Probierz, who has since stabilized the team and rekindled hopes of qualification.

    Poland's squad remains a formidable force, with talents such as Jakub Kiwior, Piotr Zieliński, Nicola Zalewski, and the world-renowned striker Robert Lewandowski. These players are the backbone of the team and carry the expectations of a nation eager to maintain its presence on the European football stage.

    The upcoming match between Wales and Poland is more than just a playoff final; it's a battle of two nations seeking to affirm their status in European football. For Wales, a victory would solidify their golden era and prove their recent successes are not mere anomalies. For Poland, a win would not only secure qualification but also signal a return to stability and the potential for success under Probierz's leadership.

    The head-to-head record between these two sides, with Poland winning the last six encounters, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the match. Wales will be keen to overturn this historical dominance and break their losing streak against the Poles, while Poland will look to maintain their psychological edge over their opponents.

    Tactically, both managers face the challenge of balancing defensive solidity with the need to create scoring opportunities. Rob Page's Wales have shown they can be impressive going forward, but their inconsistency in defence has raised questions. The likes of Ampadu, James, and Johnson will need to be at their creative best to penetrate Poland's defence and provide service to their forwards.

    Michał Probierz's Poland, with their blend of experienced and emerging talent, will rely heavily on the prowess of Lewandowski upfront, supported by the creativity of Zieliński and Zalewski in midfield. The battle in the midfield will be crucial, with both teams looking to control the tempo of the game and create chances for their forwards.

    The Euro 2024 qualifying playoff final between Wales and Poland is set to be a tightly contested match, with both teams aware of the significance of the occasion. For Wales, it represents an opportunity to continue their remarkable journey on the international stage. For Poland, it is a chance to overcome recent instability and reaffirm their status as a European football power.

    Brennan Johnson To Score Anytime

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    Brennan Johnson To Score Anytime @ 5/2
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    Both Teams To Score

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    Wales To Score 2+ Goals

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    Wales To Score 2+ Goals @ 2/1
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    Team News

    Wales Team News:

    Rob Page opted to keep striker Kieffer Moore on the bench from the start against Finland with Brennan Johnson is a false 9-like role and it feels like he'll stick with that here, particularly given they're likely to have less of the ball than they did in that game.

    Dan James made an impact off the bench and if anyone is likely to force their way into the starting lineup then it would be him, but the likelihood is that both David Brooks and Harry Wilson keep their places, as Rob Page sticks with the same XI that started against Finland.

    Poland Team News:

    Like Wales, Poland are likely to stick with the same XI that started their semi-final win over Estonia. The lineup saw Poland play with a back five with two up top, with Arsenal's Jakub Kiwior and Southampton's Jan Bednarek in the back three, with Nicola Zalewski at left-wing back, Piotr Zieliński in midfield and Robert Lewandowski up front.

    Matty Cash, however, is a major doubt after leaving the pitch injured as a substitute.

    Form Guide (Last Five Games)

    Wales faced Finland in their playoff semi-final on Thursday night and ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. Goals from David Brooks, Neco Williams, Brennan Johnson and Dan James sealed what was, in the end, a pretty one-sided victory for the Welsh against a fairly poor Finland team.

    The result means Wales are now unbeaten in their last five games, winning three and drawing two of those, having registered consecutive 1-1 draws with Turkey and Armenia after wins against Croatia (2-1) and Gibraltar (4-0).

    Wales are also unbeaten in their last five games on home soil, winning three and drawing two of those.

    Poland had a similarly easy night in their playoff semi-final as they beat Estonia 5-1. Poland had probably the easiest draw of any team in the Euro 2024 playoffs against a side that arguably should not have been in that position, but nevertheless they comfortably dispatched an Estonia side that played over an hour with ten men as goals from Przemysław Frankowski, Piotr Zieliński, Jakub Piotrowski and Sebastian Szymański, on top of an Estonia own goal, got the job done.

    Poland's form is now identical to that of Wales, with the Eastern Europeans having won three and drawn two of their last five games. Prior to the win over Estonia, Poland beat Latvia 2-0 after drawing with the Czech Republic (1-1) and Moldova (1-1) which came after a 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands.

    Away from home Poland have fared poorly, having won one and lost three of their four games on the road since the 2022 World Cup.

    Footy Accumulators Prediction

    This is a very evenly matched encounter and while Poland probably shade it on paper, it feels like Wales might be the better side collectively. Poland haven't shown enough under new manager Michał Probierz to suggest they've radically improved from Santos' reign, and with the game taking place in Cardiff it feels like Wales have enough to get over the line. Wales were in a similar position against a largely superior Ukraine side less than two years ago and got the job done, so we think they'll repeat that here. We predict: Wales 2-1 Poland.

    Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action. Footy Accumulators is the #1 football betting site for the latest on betting in the UK - download the Betting Hub app for more!

    Header logoEuro 2024 Qualifying - Group D

    PosClubPWDLGDPTS
    1
    Team logoTürkiye
    8521+717
    2
    Team logoCroatia
    8512+916
    3
    Team logoWales
    8332012
    4
    Team logoArmenia
    8224-28
    5
    Team logoLatvia
    8107-143
    Last updated 10/10/2024

    Header logoEuro 2024 Qualifying - Group E

    PosClubPWDLGDPTS
    1
    Team logoAlbania
    8431+815
    2
    Team logoCzechia
    8431+615
    3
    Team logoPoland
    8323011
    4
    Team logoMoldova
    8242-310
    5
    Team logoFaroe Islands
    8026-112
    Last updated 10/10/2024

    Where To Watch

    The game will be available to watch for U.K. viewers on BBC's red button feature and online on BBC iPlayer.

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