Poland vs Wales Predictions

• Wales have one eye on this weekend’s Word Cup playoff
• Poland have won six of their last nine matches
• Wales have seen both teams score in five of their last six

Tough timing for Wales

This game acts as a curtain-raiser to the new Nations League campaign, but the importance of that will be lost on the Welsh. As soon as they finish up their commitments in Poland, Rob Page and his team will likely turn their focus to Scotland’s clash with Ukraine that evening. The Welsh will play the winner of that game this weekend for a spot in Qatar.

With a potential World Cup appearance on the line, it’s hard to blame the Welsh if their Nations League opener feels like a distraction. They’ll need to be all in for that huge showdown, which could cost them in this clash.

Boost for Poland

The hosts haven’t had the best Nations League record, having won just two of their 10 matches in the tournament so far. However, Poland have been in impressive form since the Euros, losing only once in nine games since last summer’s tournament. They’ve won six of those nine, which points to them making a strong start to the new Nations League campaign.

That good run includes a 2-0 win over Sweden in March, which booked Poland’s spot at the World Cup. With their full focus on a strong campaign in the Nations League – which offers a back-door into the 2024 Euros – Poland should build on their good run.

Zielinski to fire hosts to win

While we should see most of Wales’ big names, it’s tough to see them going full tilt in this clash given what is at stake at the weekend. They will struggle to deal with a Poland side who have won four of their last six home competitive matches.

The hosts also have plenty of threats who can take advantage of any distraction from the Welsh. Poland obviously have Robert Lewandowski up top, but there’s also Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski. The midfielder struck in their last game against Sweden and he finished the club season with a strike against Spezia. He’s set to start out wide and drift in against Wales and that should give him plenty of space to capitalise on.

Poland should get plenty of joy going forward, but they meet a Wales side who have seen both teams score in five of their last six. Given that, I’m backing Zielinski to strike in a 3-1 victory.