A look at the country’s demographics, football history and its squad status prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Number of inhabitants: approx. 37 million.
Continent: Europe
Confederation: UEFA
National Football Association: PZPN.
Number of members: around 400,000. (1% of total population)
International trophies won: 1x Olympic Games
Best World Cup result: 3rd place in 1974 and 1982.
Key Players
In the past: Blaszczykowski, Zewlakow, Lato, Lubanski, Boniek.
Key current players: Lewandowski, Bednarek, Zalewski, Zielinski.
Coach, formation and possible lineup
Coach: Czeslaw Michniewicz. (since 2022)
Typical formation: 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2
Possible lineup:
- GK: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus)
- LCB: Kamil Glik (Benevento)
- RCB: Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa)
- CB: Jakub Kiwior (Spezia)
- LM: Nicola Zalewski (AS Roma)
- RM: Przemyslaw Frankowski (RC Lens)
- CM: Szymon Zurkowski (Fiorentina)
- CM: Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab)
- ACM: Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)
- ST: Karol Swiderski (Charlotte FC)
- ST: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Age Report
Players aged 25 or under in the current lineup: 4
Players aged 32 or over in the current lineup: 4
There are 4 players in this lineup rhat will (most likely) be playing their last World Cup this year: Szczesny, Glik, Lewandowski and Krychowiak.
Four players in this lineup can play (at least) two more: Kiwior, Zalewksi, Swiderski and Zurkowski.
The remaining 3 players (Bednarek, Frankowski and Zielinski) could play in one or two more World Cups.
Youngest player: Nicola Zalewski, born 23 January 2002 (20)
Oldest player: Kamil Glik, born 3 February 1988 (34)
Average squad age: 27.7
World Cup Qatar – Group C
Fixtures:
Tuesday 22 November Mexico vs Poland
Saturday 26 November Poland vs Saudi Arabia
Wednesday 30 November Poland vs Argentina
Our view:
In a group with Mexico, Saudi Arabia and most notably Argentina, Poland will be battling the former two for second place. It will probably be the last World Cup for Robert Lewandowski, at least one where he can make a real difference, so expect him to do just that.
When that happens, Poland is always a candidate for the next round, and perhaps even the one after that. Against the solid organization put on the pitch by Mexico and Saudi Arabia, Poland will definitely need his class to create goals and goal-scoring opportunities.
Prediction: Group stage exit
Image Karolina Grabowska through Pixabay
