On Monday evening, Poland will face Malta at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali for their final fixture in Group G of the World Cup Qualifying – Europe. The match is crucial for Poland, who find themselves three points behind the Netherlands after a recent draw.
Match Overview: Malta vs Poland
Poland’s last match ended in a 1-1 stalemate against the Netherlands, which has complicated their chances for automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup. They require a win against Malta, coupled with a Netherlands loss to Lithuania and a significant goal swing. Despite this, Poland is assured of a playoff place due to their current standing in the group.
Group Status
- Poland: 2nd place with 2 points ahead of Finland.
- Malta: Already eliminated but looking to improve their standing against Lithuania.
In their previous encounter, Poland achieved a commanding 2-0 victory over Malta, marking their dominance in head-to-head clashes. In fact, Malta has lost all five of their last matches against Poland, failing to score a single goal during this period.
Recent Performances
Malta secured a surprising 1-0 victory over Finland in Helsinki, marking their first win in World Cup Qualifying since 2021. This win came in their seventh qualifying match and ended a lengthy absence from the winner’s circle.
Poland’s Current Form
Poland has maintained an unbeaten record in their last five matches across all competitions, bolstered by notable players like Robert Lewandowski, who will make his 163rd appearance for the national team.
Team News
Poland welcomes back Bartosz Slisz and Przemyslaw Wisniewski, who return from suspension. However, the status of Sebastian Szymanski, who was injured early in the last game, remains uncertain.
For Malta, coach Emilio De Leo sees the return of Ryan Camenzuli and Teddy Teuma from suspensions. Teuma is expected to take a starting role alongside key attacker Irvin Cardona.
Potential Lineups
Malta’s Possible Starting XI:
- Bonello
- Muscat
- Borg
- Shaw
- Corbalan
- Satariano
- Guillaumier
- J. Mbong
- Teuma
- Chouaref
- Cardona
Poland’s Possible Starting XI:
- Grabara
- Kedziora
- Ziolkowski
- Kiwior
- Cash
- Slisz
- Zielinski
- Skoras
- Zalewski
- Kaminski
- Lewandowski
Prediction
Considering Poland’s strong form and Malta’s struggle for consistency, a win for the visitors is anticipated. The expected scoreline is Malta 0, Poland 2. Poland’s attacking prowess poses a significant challenge for Malta, who aim to end their campaign on a positive note.
