Poland vs Netherlands: Oranje have a strong chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The Netherlands are unbeaten in 6 matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding only 3; if they win in Warsaw at 02:45 on November 15th, the Oranje will be close to qualifying for the World Cup. Poland will be without Jan Bednarek.
The Netherlands are close to securing a place in the 2026 World Cup and need just one more win at the Warsaw National Stadium. Poland have home advantage and Robert Lewandowski is in good form, but the Oranje's stability and squad depth clearly tip the scales in favor of the visitors.
Match information
| Tournament | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 World Cup Qualifiers - European Zone | Warsaw National Stadium | 02:45 AM on November 15th, Vietnam time |
Form and context
Poland are second in Group G with 13 points after six matches, three points behind the Netherlands. Jan Urban's team have won their last two matches, including a 2–0 victory over Lithuania, but a 1–2 defeat to Finland in June still raises questions about their consistency.
The Netherlands are unbeaten after six matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding only 3. Three consecutive wins, including two 4–0 victories against Malta and Finland, show that the Oranje are hitting their stride at this crucial stage of the race.
Recent confrontations
The Netherlands have won 10 of their last 21 encounters, while Poland have won 3. Two of the last four matches ended in a draw, including a 1-1 draw in September. However, the current form strongly favors the visitors.
Decisive forces and factors
Poland are pinning their hopes on Robert Lewandowski – the focal point of every attack and the player who scored a hat-trick for Barcelona last week. The supporting duo of Szymanski and Kaminski promise to provide ammunition, but the absence of Jan Bednarek due to injury in defense is a worrying weakness.
The Netherlands welcome back Matthijs de Ligt, but the Premier League trio of Virgil van Dijk, Jurrien Timber, and Micky van de Ven are likely to remain in their positions. Frenkie de Jong will partner with Ryan Gravenberch to control the tempo, while the attack, featuring Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, and Donyell Malen, will provide constant pressure during transitions. Depay has scored 54 goals for the national team, making him a key player in Ronald Koeman's system.
Predicted lineup
Poland: Dragowski; Wisniewski, Kedziora, Kiwior; Cash, Slisz, Zielinski, Skoras; Szymanski, Lewandowski, Kaminski.
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong; Malen, Kluivert, Gakpo; Memphis.
Tactics and hotspots
Poland will likely maintain a three-centre-back system, closing down the inner flanks to limit the mobility of Malen and Gakpo. They will press intermittently, prioritizing low-to-medium block pressing to wait for counter-attacking moments through Lewandowski.
Ronald Koeman's Netherlands prioritize ball control, building play from the defense and quick transitions. Dumfries could be the main attacking threat on the right wing, while Gakpo can move inwards to create chances. The key area is midfield: De Jong and Gravenberch against Zielinski and Slisz. If Poland cannot neutralize De Jong, it will be difficult for them to control the tempo of the game.
Assessment
The Oranje are in excellent form: unbeaten, with strong firepower and a solid defense. Poland have home advantage and a decisive Lewandowski, but a shortage of personnel in defense and limited consistency make them vulnerable to the constant pressure from the visitors.
Predict the scorePoland 1–2 Netherlands.
