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

Mexico vs Poland Match Prediction & Analysis

By the time this game comes around, on the third day of the World Cup, Mexico vs. Poland is arguably the tightest clash we’ll have seen up until that point.

USA vs. Wales on the second day is likely to be close fought, but neither have the quality that Mexico or Poland possess.

Mexico have a strong reputation at the World Cup, having progressed to the knockout stages in each of the last seven tournaments. They’ve never been further than the Quarter Finals, however.

Poland don’t quite have the consistency of Mexico in recent years, having missed five of the last eight World Cup tournaments. They do have a better history of progression, however, having finished in 3rd place twice.

They have a squad filled with European talented, although much will be placed on the shoulders of Robert Lewandowski, one of the world’s finest strikers.

The winner of this one will be favourites to progress to the knockout phase alongside Argentina.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Mexico Preview

FIFA Ranking: 13

Predicted Finish: Round of 16

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Group stage masters in recent World Cups

     Plenty of experience at the back and going forward

Reasons to be fearful:

     Didn’t perform particularly well in their qualifying round

     Lack of top-class stars across the pitch

Despite having never won the World Cup, or even progressed past the Quarter Finals, Mexico are a nation that you would not want to come up against during the group stage.

You can guarantee that they will make every game a tight one, fighting for every ball and minute of the match. 

While they don’t have stars playing at the top of the game in Europe, they have experienced, battle-hardened professionals who always punch above their weight in tournament football.

Guillermo Ochoa is the veteran goalkeeper, Hector Herrera and Andres Guardado still run the midfield while Hirving Lozano and Raul Jimenez have pedigree upfront.

If they can click from back to front, they’ll cause any opponents a problem or two. 

Star Man – Hirving Lozano

Lozano has 16 goals in his 60 appearances for Mexico, including the winner against Germany at the 2018 World Cup. He’s not a prolific goalscorer, but a scorer of important goals.

Poland Preview

FIFA Ranking: 26

Predicted Finish: Group Stage

Reasons to be cheerful

     Always have a chance with Robert Lewandowski

     Have qualified for four consecutive major tournaments

Reasons to be fearful

     Haven’t won their opening World Cup game since 1974

     Key players are approaching or over 30 years old

Unlike Mexico, Poland place a great importance on one player.

Robert Lewandowski is without question their best player, and is crucial to any hopes that they have at this tournament. Without him, they wouldn’t have even qualified.

That they have qualified for four major tournaments consecutively is down, largely, to the brilliance of a striker that has been labelled as one of the best in the world for a number of years.

The rest of their squad is solid if not quite exceptional. Juventus keeper Wojciech Szczęsny is reliable between the sticks, Kamil Glik has the potential for outstanding performances in defence while Krzysztof Piątek and Arek Milik have found form in Serie A.

Poland ideally need to win this game if they are to qualify.

Star Man – Robert Lewandowski

Who else? The striker has 76 goals in 134 appearances for his country and enters the tournament in fine form after 18 goals for Barcelona so far this season.