2018 World Cup Odds and Prediction: Poland Team Betting Preview
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David Bastl
2018 World Cup Poland Betting Odds
Poland is ranked 10th in the FIFA world ranking coming off a Euro Quarter-final loss in penalty kicks to the eventual champions from Portugal. Their best finish at the World Cup was third place, achieving that in 1974, and more recently 1982. They are managed by Adam Nawalka, a former national team player and their captain is Robert Lewandowski. Sports Interaction currently has Poland paying +126 to advance out of the group, and +4600 to win the World Cup.
Poland Players to Watch
By far the most important player on the Poland roster is Robert Lewandowski. The Bayern Munich striker will have to provide the majority of the offence if this team has any success on its biggest stage. Lewandowski is one of the best all-around goal scorers in the world and showed it during qualifying, scoring a European-high 16 goals. Also, watch for defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak. Although he’s had a difficult year club wise (loaned to West Brom midseason) he’s a talented player defensively, and will help a defence that will struggle at times in this tournament.
Poland World Cup Formation and Projected Starting 11
Poland tried a new 3-5-2 formation in the November friendlies against Uruguay and Mexico, but Coach Nawalka will likely implement a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 format. Look for Wojciech Szczesny; Lukasz Piszczek, Kamil Glik, Michal Pazdan, Maciej Rybus; Grzegorz Krychowiak, Karol Linetty; Jakub Blaszczykowski, Piotr Zielinski, Kamil Grosicki; and Robert Lewandowski to make up the starting 11.
Poland Strengths
Top scoring by one of the game’s best players Robert Lewandowski. Manager Adam Nawalka calls him “the best striker in the world.” Lewandowski will make his presence known on the pitch, and will have a decent supporting staff in the mid-field trying to get him the ball at every opportunity.
Poland Weaknesses
This team will allow goals. Defence is and will be a concern. Poland conceded 14 goals in qualifying for the World Cup – the most of all group winners. That is a crazy stat considering Poland had the second-best defence at Euro 2016 until the quarter-finals. There has to be improvement in that category. Also, there is still some talk on who should, and who will be the starting goaltender – as both Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski battle for the number one spot.
Poland News
Who would replace Robert Lewandowski if he gets injured, is a major question being circulated around the soccer community. The best answer from World Soccer.com “quite simply, there is no such player. Poland will need him fully fit in the summer.” Also because of Poland’s location geography, expect a “home crowd” at each of its games in Russia this summer.
Poland Betting Prediction
The best-case scenario for this team is they win this group. Poland is currently paying +175 to win Group H. Even if they do not win this group, they are likely to finish in the top two spots and advance past the group stage. Positioning will be important as Group H is matched up with Group G (Belgium, England, Panama, and Tunisia). In winning the group, they would be in a position to play the second best team in this group. Look for Poland to play over the game totals in this year’s World Cup betting odds. During qualifying, they averaged nearly three goals a game, and as mentioned conceded more than any other group winner. The combination of scoring goals and conceding them is the perfect formula for this result.
Currently at Sports Interaction, Lewandowski is paying a respectful +3000 to win the Golden Shoe as tournament’s top goal scorer – an accomplishment that could happen if the Poles get to at least the round of 16. The key game that could determine the group winner, Monday, June 25 vs. Colombia.