Portugal vs Poland: 2024 UEFA Nations League Preview
Poland will travel to Estadio Do Dragao on Friday to play Portugal in this UEFA Nations League fixture. Portugal hopes to continue its recent streak of back-to-back wins. They have not lost a game since July 26. Poland has also been decent with its form as well but currently sits in the third spot of the group standings. They have not won their last three matches. How will this marquee match unfold?
Match Details
Match: Portugal vs Poland
Stadium: Estadio Do Dragao
Date & Time: Nov 15, 2024 at 7.45 pm UK
Portugal vs Poland: Preview
The Reds may have seen their flawless Nations League run halted last month, but they remain firmly in control of Group A1. Despite some missed chances in their 0-0 draw with Scotland at Hampden Park, Roberto Martinez’s side retained a three-point lead, thanks to Croatia’s late slip-up in a draw against Poland. Still, that draw with Scotland means that even a win may not be enough for Portugal to lock in the top spot if Croatia overcomes the Scots.
For Poland, who haven’t claimed a win over Portugal in their last six meetings, the road has been rocky. Their Euro 2024 qualifiers saw them finish behind Albania and Czechia and manage only a single point from two matches with Moldova. However, under new Manager Michal Probierz, they edged past Wales on penalties, though an early exit from Euro 2024 followed soon after. They did manage a respectable draw against France in their final match.
Portugal vs Poland: Team News
The Reds head into this international window facing a shortage in defense, with Ruben Dias and Goncalo Inacio both out due to injuries. Antonio Silva, despite limited playtime at Benfica, is expected to step in as the most seasoned choice, as it’s unlikely that coach Roberto Martinez will start both uncapped players, Tiago Djalo and Tomas Araujo, together in the back line. In attack, Portugal will be without Diogo Jota and Goncalo Ramos, and they’re also missing several key midfielders: Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, and Pedro Goncalves.
On Poland’s side, they’re also missing a crucial player—star Striker Robert Lewandowski, who withdrew with a lower back injury. With Arkadiusz Milik not included in the squad, Karol Swiderski and Krzysztof Piatek could compete for the lead striker role, or Head Coach Probierz may opt to start them both upfront. Poland’s midfield is also shorthanded, missing Jakub Piotrowski and Kacper Kozlowski, and Verona’s Pawel Dawidowicz is still out after sustaining an injury against Croatia last month.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Dalot, Antonio Silva, Araujo, Nuno Mendes; Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Bernardo Silva; Neto, Ronaldo, Leao. Poland: Bulka; Frankowski, Piatkowski, Bednarek, Kiwior, Zalewski; S. Szymanski, Moder, Zielinski; Swiderski, Piatek.
Conclusion
Portugal is poised to make a return to the Nations League finals, last reaching in their 2018-19 title-winning campaign. After a confident 3-1 win over Poland in Warsaw last month, Portugal heads into the return leg with strong momentum to secure a spot in the finals. For Poland, a late victory in Scotland and a thrilling 3-3 comeback against Croatia kept them in the mix. That point keeps Poland in the running for a top-two finish, but a loss to Portugal will end their chances, no matter how Croatia fares, due to their head-to-head disadvantage.
