Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup Qualification: Poland vs Netherlands
Kickoff Time: 2025-11-15 03:45 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
This is a match in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In Group G, Poland is trailing the Netherlands by three points. Due to a significant 13-goal difference in net goals, Poland must secure a large-margin victory over the Netherlands to take control of their qualification chances. According to the squad list released by the Polish Football Association, the forward line is led by Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski. This season, the 37-year-old Lewandowski remains in form, scoring seven league goals with limited playing time and even netting a hat-trick in the last league match. The midfield is spearheaded by Inter star Piotr Zielinski. However, due to injuries, Zielinski has been relegated to a substitute role this season, starting only once in the league. In defense, the most notable player is Aston Villa’s Matty Cash, known for his attacking contributions as a full-back, with two league goals to his name this season, including one against Manchester City. Based on their performance in this qualifying series, Poland’s offense has been consistently stable, scoring in all six matches.
The Netherlands boasts the second-best attacking record in the European Qualifiers, having scored 22 goals so far, second only to Norway’s 29 goals. According to the squad list released by the Royal Dutch Football Association, the forward line is led by Liverpool star Cody Gakpo, who has contributed three goals and two assists in the league, along with one goal and one assist in the UEFA Champions League. The midfield is exceptionally talented, featuring players like Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), and Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur). It is no exaggeration to say that the Dutch midfield is among the top three in world football. The biggest highlight in defense is the return of Manchester United center-back Matthijs de Ligt. This season, de Ligt has maintained a perfect attendance record in the Premier League and is expected to be the stabilizing force in the Dutch defense. Additionally, the Dutch defense includes key players from top European clubs such as Virgil van Dijk, Denzel Dumfries, and Jurrien Timber. Thanks to their efforts, the Netherlands has conceded only three goals in this qualifying series and kept clean sheets in their last two matches.
There is a significant gap in strength between the two teams. For instance, in their previous encounter, Poland, deploying a five-defender formation, managed only 26% possession and was consistently on the defensive. Had it not been for goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski’s heroic performance with four saves, Poland would have suffered a heavy defeat. In other words, Poland sacrificed their offense in the last match to secure a draw. However, given the current qualification scenario, Poland must take the initiative and aim for a victory in this match to have a chance of securing the top spot in the group and direct qualification. This proactive approach will inevitably reduce their defensive numbers, creating more gaps that the powerful Dutch team is likely to exploit. In this upcoming clash, the Netherlands is expected to secure a comfortable victory.
Poland’s Last 5 Games: WWWDL
25-10-13 Lithuania 0-2 Poland
25-10-10 Poland 1-0 New Zealand
25-09-08 Poland 3-1 Finland
25-09-05 Netherlands 1-1 Poland
25-06-11 Finland 2-1 Poland
Netherlands‘ Last 5 Games: WWWDW
25-10-13 Netherlands 4-0 Finland
25-10-10 Malta 0-4 Netherlands
25-09-08 Lithuania 2-3 Netherlands
25-09-05 Netherlands 1-1 Poland
25-06-11 Netherlands 8-0 Malta
Head-To-Head Record
25-09-05 Netherlands 1-1 Poland
24-06-16 Poland 1-2 Netherlands
22-09-23 Poland 0-2 Netherlands
22-06-12 Netherlands 2-2 Poland
20-11-19 Poland 1-2 Netherlands
Prediction: Netherlands to win