Prediction: Wales vs Poland

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 9/10

Bookmaker: Betfair

Wales are set to host Poland at the Cardiff City stadium on Sunday evening in what will be a crucial match for both as they strive to avoid relegation to League B of the UEFA Nations League.

Wales

The contest is certain to be a tough one for both teams, but the greater pressure will be on the hosts who must win to climb on the ladder and avoid the drop. It will not be an easy task for the team that’s so far managed to grab only one point from five matches, by drawing 1-1 at home against Belgium and losing 2-1 away to Poland, 1-2 at home to Netherlands, 3-2 away to Netherlands, and 2-1 away to Belgium on Thursday.

That one point cannot, of course, put them anywhere else but at the bottom of the table in League A Group 4 of the competition. On the other hand, Robert Page and his men will be feeling unlucky as well, having suffered all four defeats so far by a single goal margin, and they’ll be feeling particularly pleased about the fact that they’ve managed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, where they’ll be facing England, Iran and the USA in Group B.

Team News

Having begun the Belgium clash on the bench, captain Gareth Bale will surely be named to start against Poland and his attacking prowess will be needed alongside striker Kieffer Moore.

Defender Chris Mepham and midfielder Ethan Ampadu are both suspended, and in their absence, Page is expected to name Ben Cabango in the back line and Joe Morrell in the middle of the park.

Poland

Poland got themselves into this situation, where they need a result on the final day to survive, by losing to Netherlands in Warsaw on Thursday as Feyenoord winger Cody Gakpo and Ajax’s Steven Bergwijn bagged a goal each to set the scoreline at 0-2, while Robert Lewandowski was kept quiet at the other end by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, Manchester City’s Nathan Ake and Ajax’s Jurrien Timber.

Before that, having beaten Wales in Poland by 2-1, Czeslaw Michniewitz’s team went on to lose 6-1 away to Belgium, draw 2-2 away to Netherlands, lose 0-1 at home to Belgium. That means that they have four points to their name with a -7 goal difference and obviously cannot afford to be beaten in Cardiff.

Like Wales, Poland players and staff will be keeping one eye on the tournament in Qatar, where they’ll be up against Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico in Group C.

Team News

Midfielder Szymon Zurkowski has served a one-match suspension and is available for selection on Sunday, but Michniewitz is not expected to make any changes to the team that started against Netherlands.

Lewandowski will obviously be spearheading the attack, with Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski and Sebastian Szymanski in support.

Conclusion

As has been said above, this should be a very difficult match for both sides. They’re arguably of similar quality, both boasting a top-class attacking player in their ranks with plenty of decent ones around him.

It’ll be a big occasion for the home side, however, and borne by the support from the stands, they just might have what it takes to edge out Poland and remain in the top tier of the Nations League. On the other hand, it’s hard to imagine Lewandowski going another match without putting his name on the scoresheet.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 9/10

Bookmaker: Betfair