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World Cup: Poland to play France in round of 16

04.12.2022 09:00
Poland’s national football team is set to take on France on Sunday in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
Poland players, led by captain Robert Lewandowski (second from right), during a training session in Qatar ahead of their World Cup game against defending champions France.
Poland players, led by captain Robert Lewandowski (second from right), during a training session in Qatar ahead of their World Cup game against defending champions France.Photo: EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI

The match kicks off at 4 p.m. Polish time at Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha.

The Polish team has advanced to the last 16 of the tournament despite losing 0-2 to Argentina in its final group-stage game on Wednesday.

Poland progressed to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years, with four points from three group-stage games.

Poland, captained by star striker Robert Lewandowski and coached by manager Czesław Michniewicz, tied 0-0 with Mexico in their opening game at the World Cup in Qatar on November 22 and then beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in their second fixture four days later.

Poland are ranked No. 26 worldwide by world football's governing body FIFA. Meanwhile, France are at No. 4 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 November 20 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