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World Cup: Poland to play Saudi Arabia in second group-stage game

25.11.2022 22:00
Poland’s national football team is set to take on Saudi Arabia on Saturday in its second game at the World Cup in Qatar.
Poland players, led by captain Robert Lewandowski (centre), in training in Qatar ahead of their World Cup game against Saudi Arabia.
Poland players, led by captain Robert Lewandowski (centre), in training in Qatar ahead of their World Cup game against Saudi Arabia.Photo: EPA/Mohamed Messara

The match kicks off at 2 p.m. Polish time at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan near Doha.

Poland tied 0-0 with Mexico in their first game at the World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia are the early leaders of Group C containing Poland after a shock 2-1 win over Argentina.

Poland boss Czesław Michniewicz said on Friday that star striker Robert Lewandowski would continue to take penalty kicks for the national team despite failing to convert a spot kick in its World Cup opener against Mexico.

Michniewicz told a news conference that Poland would not change tactics against Saudi Arabia only because the opening game did not entirely go their way, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

"We have clear heads because we have closed this subject," Michniewicz said. "We don't succumb to pressure."

Michniewicz's men are scheduled to face off against Argentina at Stadium 974 in Doha in their final group-stage fixture on November 30.

Poland are ranked No. 26 worldwide by world football's governing body FIFA. Meanwhile, Argentina are in third place; Mexico are ranked 13th, and Saudi Arabia are at No. 51 in the FIFA table.

Teams from 32 nations will play a total of 64 matches at eight stadiums in Qatar during this year's World Cup, which kicked off on Sunday and runs until December 18.

According to a study by experts at London's Alan Turing Institute, Brazil are in the best position to win the World Cup in Qatar, while Poland are the 16th-most likely winner.

Poland qualified for the 2022 World Cup after defeating Sweden 2-0 in a playoff at home in late March.

The Polish team failed to advance to the knockout phase of the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing 1-2 to Senegal and 0-3 to Colombia in the group stage. Poland won their final game, beating Japan 1-0, but finished bottom of their Group H and made an early exit from the tournament more than four years ago.

Poland finished third in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany and were also third in Spain in 1982.

(gs) 

Source: TVP, IAR, PAP