International Friendly: Poland Face Chile in Final Warm-Up

Poland vs Chile

With the 2022 World Cup set to start in just five days there is little time left to prepare, but Poland’s coaches have a chance for a last look at their squad when they host Chile in a warm up game on Wednesday. 

Poland’s most recent outing was a Nations League match in Wales, which they won 1-0 courtesy of a Karol Swiderski goal, consigning the Welsh to relegation. Meanwhile Chile drew their last game, 2-2 with World Cup hosts Qatar. This International Friendly: Poland vs Chile pitches together two well matched teams with plenty of household names on show, but neither have been pulling up trees recently. 

Poland have drifted to 26^th in the FIFA World Rankings, just three places above non qualifiers Chile, and that makes the Poles an outsider at the 2022 World Cup. But at least they are there.    

Talking Points

Poland aiming to break through the glass ceiling

The hosts had semi final appearances at the World Cup in 1974 and 1982 but they haven’t make the knockout phase since their Round of 16 appearance at the 1986 tournament and, with a talent like Robert Lewandowski in their ranks that is something of a disappointment. Poland are in Group C in Qatar, alongside Argentina (ranked third by FIFA), Mexico (12^th) and Saudi Arabia.

Head coach Czeslaw Michniewicz has plenty of talent at his disposal alongside the Barcelona goal machine; with the likes of Wojciech Szczesny, Piotr Zielinski and Matty Cash in their ranks. They have a decent chance of finally emerging from their group, but they must edge out the dangerous Mexicans. Lewandowski was sent off during Barcelona’s recent 2-1 victory over Osasuna and Poland fans will be glad he has got that out of his system because their nation’s destiny rests on his shoulders. Poland’s all time record goal scorer has scored six in qualifying and he is primed and ready for Qatar.     

The Poland vs Chile betting odds back a Poland win but they face a team with plenty of experience on the world stage.

Chile’s Old Guard missing out

Chile suffered a poor campaign in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, finishing seventh out of ten with only Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela beneath them. They will be sadly missed in Qatar, but there will be some Chilean legends featuring in the Poland vs Chile highlights on Wednesday night.    

Gary Medel at 35, Arturo Vidal at 35 and Alexis Sanchez at 33 may well have missed their last chances to play in a World Cup Finals tournament but they still have plenty of energy in their legs and a wealth of experience at club and country level. As you’d expect Chile dominated their last game against Qatar, but could only scratch out a 2-2 draw. After Sanchez gave them an early lead Vidal had to step in with a 78^th minute equaliser to spare the South American’s blushes. 

At the younger end of Chile’s group of players Ben Brereton Diaz has just been withdrawn from the squad. The 23 year old has scored four goals in 17 internationals, and has been starring for Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship. Diaz will be keen to get back on the turf after his club side suffered a 3-0 drubbing in the East Lancashire Derby against Burnley on Sunday; but Blackburn have pulled him out, saying his domestic workload has been too heavy. That might open up an opportunity for Colorado Rapids striker Diego Rubio who has been called up to the squad for this match and the follow up against Slovakia.

History

While Poland have been in the background recently, Chile have enjoyed recent success in South America; they were back to back Copa America champions in 2015 and 2016 and, somewhat further back in time, had a third placed finish in the 1962 World Cup.   

These two nations have met just once before, playing out a 2-2 draw in 2018 while neither country has been in great form recently. Poland have won two, drawn one and lost three of the last six, while Chile have been on a wretched run, losing five on the bounce before their draw with Qatar.

The Poles are patchy at home, with three wins from seven, while Chile have suffered three defeats in their last four away games.

Betting Tip

Poland are favourites to win this warm-up, but at SBOTOP odds of 3.30 Chile are in the frame, as is the draw at 2.92. The hosts should have enough to head to Qatar with a win, but they will hope to protect their prize asset, maybe giving Lewandowski 45 minutes.

For an alternative bet, Over 2.00 goals at a price of 1.83 might have legs. Four of Poland’s last six games have yielded two or more goals while every one of Chile’s last six have hit that mark.

 

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