Poland defender Kamil Glik could be in contention to face Senegal as be bids to return from the shoulder injury which was expected to keep him out of the World Cup. The Monaco player looked set to be replaced after the injury in training but is now expected to return by the final group game – if not sooner. Senegal lost defender Saliou Ciss on the eve of the tournament to injury. Caen’s Adama Mbengue was the late call-up to replace him. Poland and Snegal meet this Tuesday at the Otkrytie Arena Stadium. The match kicks-off at (4pm BST) on Tuesday 19 June.
Overview
Poland and Senegal each have a star forward on the back of a spectacular club season – Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane respectively. Captain Lewandowski was a sensation in qualifying for Poland, scoring more than anyone else in the European groups, with a record 16 goals in only 10 games – more than half of Poland’s total of 28 goals.
He was the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 29 league goals for Bayern Munich – 41 in all competitions. On the eve of the World Cup, Poland’s post office released five million stamps with his name, face and RL9.
Poland only kept two clean sheets in qualifying and had the worst defensive record of all the European group winners – and they could be tested greatly by Liverpool striker Mane.
Mane scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Reds, including 10 in the Champions League – joint second with team-mates Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, only below Cristiano Ronaldo’s 15.
Head-to-head
- This will be the first ever encounter between Poland and Senegal.
- Poland are unbeaten in their three games against African opposition at the World Cup (W1 D2). These three games have produced only one goal.
Poland
- This is Poland’s eighth World Cup, but their first appearance since 2006. They last reached the knockout stages in 1986, failing to advance from the group stages in each of their last two appearances (2002 and 2006).
- Poland have lost six of their last eight World Cup games (W2). They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in those last eight games, their last shutout dating back to their 1-0 win against Portugal in 1986.
- Poland have won only one of their seven opening games at the World Cup (D3 L3), a 3-2 win against Argentina in 1974. In fact, they have not scored a single goal in their last five openers.
- Robert Lewandowski was the top scorer in the 2018 European World Cup qualifiers with 16 goals. He netted 57% of Poland’s goals (16 out of 28). The only other Pole to score more than one goal was Kamil Grosicki (3).
- This is Adam Nawalka’s second major tournament as Poland manager after taking his country to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, a tournament in which Poland remained unbeaten (W2 D3). He also played in five of Poland’s six games at the 1978 World Cup.
Senegal
- Senegal have qualified for their second World Cup, after their inaugural participation in 2002 where they reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Turkey.
- Senegal were unbeaten in their only previous group phase appearance at the World Cup (W1 D2), which included a victory in the opening game against defending champions France (1-0).
- Diafra Sakho was the only Senegal player to score more than one goal in the third round of African qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. Meanwhile, no player delivered more assists than Sadio Mane in that qualifying section (3).
- This will be Aliou Cisse’s second major tournament as Senegal manager after the 2017 African Cup of Nations (quarter-finalist).
Team Comparison & History
Prediction
Poland scored six goals in the first half of their last three matches and expect that early production to continue in Moscow. Polish fans have reason to be concerned about their team’s defence, but with the proper adjustments, the backline talent of Lukasz Piszczek and Michal Pazdan should be enough for Poland to prevail. Prediction: Poland 2-1 Senegal
Probable Line-Ups
Poland Line Up predicted to Snegal
Snegal Line Up Predicted to Poland
Squad
Poland
Goalkeepers: Bartosz Bialkowski (Ipswich Town), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City), Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus).
Midfielders: Jakub Blaszczykowski (VfL Wolfsburg), Jacek Goralski (PFC Ludogorets Razgrad), Maciej Rybus (FC Lokomotiv Moscow), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli), Karol Linetty (UC Sampdoria), Grzegorz Krychowiak (West Bromwich Albion), Kamil Grosicki (Hull City), Slawomir Peszko (Lechia Gdansk), Rafal Kurzawa (Gornik Zabrze).
Forwards: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Arkadiusz Milik (Napoli), Lukasz Teodorczyk (RSC Anderlecht), Dawid Kownacki (UC Sampdoria).
Senegal
Goalkeepers: Abdoulaye Diallo (Rennes), Alfred Gomis (SPAL), Khadim Ndiaye (Horoya)
Defenders: Lamine Gassama (Alanyaspor), Saliou Ciss (Valenciennes), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Kara Mbodji (Anderlecht), Youssouf Sabaly (Bordeaux), Salif Sane (Hannover), Moussa Wague (Eupen)
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham United), Alfred Ndiaye (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Badou Ndiaye (Stoke City), Cheikh Ndoye (Birmingham City), Ismaila Sarr (Rennes)
Forwards: Keita Balde (Monaco), Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City), Moussa Konate (Amiens), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Mbaye Niang (Torino), Diafra Sakho (Rennes), Moussa Sow (Bursaspor).
Your Comment Here …Senegalese players are very confidence but,they should be strong enough against Poland .
world cup is quite confusing this year as small team are fighting against the top teams.