World Cup 2022: Poland Look to Enter Play-offs on Positive Note

Poland vs Hungary

Poland are almost certainly heading for the World Cup 2022 play-offs. While they are just three points behind Group I leaders England heading into the final round of group games, they would need minnows San Marino to pull off an almighty miracle to overtake the English.

Still, Poland will look to enter the play-offs on a high as they host Hungary in Warsaw. The World Cup 2022 betting odds will favour the Poles, who have been in impressive form of late.

However, the Hungarians will enter the match full of confidence after holding England to a draw followed by a morale-boosting win over San Marino last time out.

Talking Points

Poland look to push unbeaten run to seven games

Paulo Sousa and his Poland squad will head to the World Cup 2022 play-offs — Poland manager Paulo Sousa and his coaching squad react from the bench during a World Cup qualifier versus Andorra

Poland finally seem to have put a disastrous run of results behind. After winning just once in a stretch of 10 games with five defeats, they have now gone unbeaten in their last six games – all World Cup qualifiers – with five wins and a draw, which came against group leaders England.

Poland coach Paulo Sousa survived the rough start to his tenure and is back to getting the best out of his squad, led of course by the great Robert Lewandowski. The Bayern Munich star and Ballon d’Or frontrunner continued to make World Cup 2022 highlights with a brace in Poland’s recent 4-1 win over Andorra. He is now up to eight goals in qualifying, which is tied for second in Europe.

Arkadiusz Milik, who partnered Lewandowski up front, also got on the scoresheet for his country for the first time in over a year, which is another promising sign for the Poles. The Marseille striker is picking up some form and now has two goals in his last three appearances.

Poland are one of the highest scoring sides in European qualifying with 29 goals. Aside from Lewandowski, Adam Buksa and Karol Swiderski have also shone in this qualifying campaign with five and four goals, respectively.

Buksa missed out on the final two qualifiers due to injury, while Swiderski – who came on as a substitute for Milik against Andorra – could be in line to start against Hungary.

Hungary eager to end qualifying on a high

Hungary’s wait for their first World Cup appearance since 1986 goes on after a disappointing qualifying campaign. The Magyars are currently in fourth place in Group I, a point behind Albania, to whom they lost 1-0 twice.

However, the Hungarians are at least trying to finish qualifying on a high. They held group leaders England to a 1-1 draw in their meeting at Wembley, which was a terrific result. They then went out and hammered minnows San Marino 4-0 at home.

Dominik Szoboszlai bagged a brace against San Marino as he continues to find his best form. The 21-year-old RB Leipzig playmaker has now scored five goals in his last six appearances for club and country.

Szoboszlai, who unfortunately missed Euro 2020 due to injury, will be tasked to lead the Hungarian attack along with captain Adam Szalai. The 33-year-old is the country’s co-leading scorer in qualifying with three goals.

Meanwhile, Hungary’s clean sheet against San Marino was their first in qualifying since their first meeting against San Marino back in March. And they did so despite missing two key players in goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and centre-back Willi Orban.

The absence of the RB Leipzig duo will be more keenly felt against Poland, especially with Lewandowski on the prowl.

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History

Poland have a horrific head-to-head record against Hungary. They have won just eight times against the Magyars, who have 20 wins by comparison. Meanwhile, they have drawn eight times.

However, it should be noted that Hungary’s dominance came in the past. They have only one win in their last nine meetings against Poland, which came in a 2007 friendly. Poland, on the other hand, have won five of those nine matches.

The two countries have met just once in the last 10 years, and that came in their first qualifying match in March. After Hungary went 2-0 up thanks to Roland Salai and Adam Szalai, Poland came from behind twice – with Lewandowski scoring a late equaliser – to salvage a 3-3 draw in Budapest.

Betting Tip

	Poland vs Hungary	1X2 Poland @ 1.58
	November 16, 03:45 (GMT+8)

SBOTOP odds have Poland priced at 1.58 to pick up a win in their final group game. Hungary are pegged at 4.90, while a draw is at 3.80.

With Lewandowski still in sensational form, it’s hard to bet against Poland getting the win. They will be buoyed by home support and with Hungary having nothing to play for, the Poles should roll to a comfortable win.