Poland have let in five goals over their two tournament matches so far. Both teams have found the back of the net in seven of Poland’s last nine matches, including both of their games at this tournament. France previously overcame Poland with a 3-1 win at the 2022 World Cup. Now, Poland are poised for their final appearance at this tournament.
Being knocked out early is tough, especially when only eight teams are eliminated in the first round. Yet, Poland achieved this unwanted feat after defeats to the Netherlands and Austria, dashing their hopes of a top-three finish early on.
Poland’s last match is against the team that knocked them out in the last World Cup—France, who secured a solid 3-1 win against them in Qatar. Although the French team is nearly certain to move into the last 16, their failure to defeat the Netherlands means they’re still jockeying for the top spot in their group.
France Might Have to Step Up the Pace France’s manager Didier Deschamps is known for his cautious approach, but he might need to let his team play more freely in this match. The French are currently behind the Netherlands in their group, and they need to improve their goal difference to secure the top position should both teams win their final matches.
The team finishing second in Group D would probably have to overcome Portugal and then either Spain or Germany just to get to the final, which adds pressure not to take this game lightly. France are expected to handle a Polish team that has struggled defensively, conceding five goals in their two matches in Germany.
Griezmann Poised to Score With a potentially more aggressive strategy, France will aim to sharpen their attack, especially if Kylian Mbappe isn’t fit to play. Antoine Griezmann, who stepped up in Mbappe’s absence, is yet to score despite a promising expected goals tally of 1.8 from the first two matches, including three shots on target against the Dutch.
Griezmann had solid opportunities in both previous matches, and facing the weakest defence in their group, he’s a good bet to start his scoring at this tournament. Back him to score anytime at 2/1.
While Poland might not be the most exhilarating team, they have scored in both of their tournament games so far, including their last match against France. With both teams scoring in seven of Poland’s last nine matches, expect a more open game than anticipated. France to win and more than 2.5 goals seems a smart bet.
