World Cup 2022: Poland Next for Super Saudis!

Poland vs Saudi Arabia 

The stars of Qatar will be on our screens again on Saturday when Saudi Arabia take on Poland in their second Group C match at the Education City Stadium. 

Poland are hot favourites to win this clash, but in the first round of the competition they   played out a goalless draw with Mexico while Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia pulled off the shock of the century with a 2-1 victory over Argentina. So the World Cup 2022 clash between Poland and Saudi Arabia has plenty riding on it for both teams, another surprise win for the Saudis would remarkably see them through to the Round of 16, while a Poland victory would put Csezlaw Michniewicz’s team in a strong position. 

The World Cup 2022 betting odds are backing an Eagles win but, as a star-studded Argentina discovered to their cost, nothing in this World Cup can be taken for granted.  

Talking Points 

Still waiting for Lewi’s World Cup goal

He’s the most lethal striker in world football, but we are still waiting for Poland’s Robert Lewandowski to break his World Cup duck. We all thought the moment had come when Poland were awarded a penalty in their match with Mexico in Doha, but El Tri’s veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa saved Lewi’s spot kick and the wait went on.

Surely this match against Saudi Arabia will provide the Poland hitman with his best opportunity yet and it would be a brave punter who would bet against him. His chances were limited against Mexico as Poland were under the cosh for much of the game, but the Europeans will look to dominate their next opponents from the off. Poland’s clash with Mexico was billed as a six-pointer between two teams targeting second place in Group C, but Argentina’s loss to Saudi blew the group wide open and now Poland can take the initiative with a win on Saturday.  

Juventus striker Arkadiusz Milik is likely to start alongside Lewandowski in a game Poland simply must win to give themselves a good chance of making the last 16. That will allow Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinksi, who started against Saudi Arabia in an advanced role, to take his position behind the front two and that is where he is most effective.

Michniewicz has a full fit squad to call on, but he will make a late check on centre-back Kamil Glik who sustained two blows to the head against Mexico.

Can Saudi do it again?

It’s the most watched moment of the 2022 World Cup so far, and when Al-Dawsari turned two Argentine defenders before curling a beauty beyond Emiliano Martinez and into the net, the Saudi Arabia fans went crazy. It’s a piece of action they will watch for years to come, but now they must concentrate on their World Cup campaign which is more alive than they could ever have dreamed of.   

With 30 per cent possession Saudi Arabia were up against it for much of the 90+ minutes and the shot count of 15 to three in favour of Argentina told a story of South American dominance, but the Saudis’ scored two of their three attempts on goal and defended like tigers, and a national holiday was declared in honour of the win. 

But they will be without one of their stars for the rest of the tournament after defender Yasser Al-Shahrani suffered a broken jaw after clashing with goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais. Surgery has been successful but Al-Sharani will sit out the rest of the campaign and there is also a doubt over the fitness of Salman Al-Faraj who limped off with a hamstring strain. 

But, for now, Saudi Arabia sit proudly at the top of Group C and Renard’s men will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way.

History

The Saudi’s ranked 51^st in the world by FIFA, are making their sixth appearance at the World Cup finals and they made the Round of 16 in their first campaign back in 1994.

Poland are now at their ninth finals and the Eagles have twice come close to glory, reaching the semi-finals in 1974 and 1982. 

These two teams have never met before but, in terms of recent form Poland have won two, drawn two and lost two of the last six games while the Saudis have won two, drawn three and lost one 

Betting Tip 

The draw is at SBOTOP odds of 3.60 and another Saudi Arabia win is at 4.30, so the markets are certainly not ruling out another shock result. 

At 26^th in the world rankings Poland are 25 places above their opponents but players like Lewandowski and Zielinski are on a different planet from their next opponents. If the World Cup 2022 highlights for this match show anything other than Eagles dominance, then their fans will rightly be dismayed.  

Can the Super Saudis spring another big surprise? Sure they can. Will they? I don’t think so.     

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.