Poland have advanced to the round of 16 in Qatar despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Argentina. Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez ensured Lionel Scaloni’s men qualified as group winners.
However, Poland’s group stage campaign was rather underwhelming after only managing four shots on target in three World Cup matches. A staggeringly low tally.
Three of those came during their only win of the group stage, 2-0 versus Saudi Arabia, and the fourth came via Robert Lewandowski’s penalty against Mexico, which was saved by Guillermo Ochoa. Czesław Michniewicz’s side failed to achieve a single shot on target throughout their lacklustre contest with Argentina.
Poland have averaged just 34% possession across the three group stage games. With such limited time in possession of the ball, it’s hardly surprising that they are suffering going forward.
World Cup winners, France, await Michniewicz’s men in Doha at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday. They will need to be more aggressive and positive in attack in order to stand any chance of providing a threat to Didier Deschamps’s fourth-ranked team, according to FIFA’s list.
Mark Marston | GWFN
