France vs Poland, FIFA World Cup 2022, Today Match Prediction

France vs Poland Match Prediction & Analysis

France looked every bit as good as we expected them to at times during the Group Stage, although there were moments when you wondered if they were just lacking something that took them all the way in 2018.

There are the injuries, of course. With Benzema, Kante and Pogba all missing, three of their most experienced players are not available to them. However, they’ve shown their squad to be one of the best at this tournament.

In truth, no team has looked better than France at this World Cup. Brazil has shown flair, England and Spain have scored goals aplenty, while Argentina appear to be growing. France remain one of the favourites, though.

Poland will have been counting their lucky stars that they have made it through Group C, while Argentina beating them in a one-sided game to finish above the Poles. 

With Mexico breathing heavily down their necks, Poland had goal difference to thank in the end. They cannot afford to play as badly, nor as passively, as they did against Argentina.

TEAMS PREVIEW

France Preview

FIFA Ranking: 4

Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Were able to rest many regulars during final group game

     Have won their last six Round of 16 games

Reasons to be fearful:

     Haven’t settled on a consistent defence

     This has been a tournament of shocks so far

On paper, France couldn’t have asked for many opponents more straightforward than Poland for their first knockout round of this World Cup.

Didier Deschamps’ side have shown glimpses of their quality throughout the tournament, such as putting Australia to the sword and edging past Denmark.

Mbappe has, of course, looked fantastic and is one of five joint-top scorers so far. Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann have provided able support throughout.

France’s main question marks will come at the back. Raphael Varane is arguably their best defender, although has only recently returned from injury. With Saliba and Konate on the bench, they have an embarrassment of riches available to them.

Play to their potential and France will sail through to the Quarter Finals.

Star Man – Kylian Mbappe

The French superstar was afforded a 60-minute rest in their final group game, so should be fresh enough to continue his goalscoring hunt here.

Poland Preview

FIFA Ranking: 26

Predicted Finish: Round of 16

Reasons to be cheerful

     Confidence will be high after qualifying

     Shocks can happen

Reasons to be fearful

     Only had five shots of target at this tournament

     Were dreadful against Argentina in their last game

Poland will be grateful that Mexico also won only one of their three games in Group C, ending the North American country’s record of appearing in seven consecutive knockout stages.

While Poland never looked convincing themselves, that 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, essentially giving them a greater goal difference than Mexico, sent them through in the end.

Anyone watching their drab defeat to Argentina may well have felt that they didn’t deserve to go through. They sat back for the entire game, barely crossing the halfway line and failing to trouble Argentina at the back.

They will need to be an awful lot better to come close to France in full flight.

Star Man – Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski is one of the world’s greatest strikers, but will struggle to get the ball if his teammates can’t find him. He only needs one chance to score.