A great team behind world cup The Shocks will try to continue their stellar run Qatar Today Saudi Arabia plays against Poland. With their victory over Argentina still fresh in their memories, Herve Renard’s side will secure their place in the last 16 with a win.
Proving that victory over one of the pre-match favorites for the title was no fluke will be against a Polish side led by Barcelona’s own Robert Lewandowski. However, Group C already looks like it will be decided when Mexico face Argentina later on.
A goalless draw kicked off the World Cup for the Poles and their long wait in the knockout rounds will continue unless they gather some momentum and likely need a win today. The game will be shown live on TV on BBC One and you can watch it all live on the Standard Sport blog!
Live Update
Saudi Arabia declared a holiday following Tuesday’s win over Argentina. Another win today would secure them a place in the knockout stages – a week off?
The atmosphere in the venue is created. Can Lewandowski do it with Messi?
Lewandowski to end drought?
Robert Lewandowski is still waiting for his first World Cup goal!
It looked likely to appear in the opener against Mexico, but his penalty was saved by Guillermo Ochoa, who seems to have played in every World Cup.
Argentina will play the final game of the group stage – Poland need their main players to play this afternoon.
Szczesny: We can’t attack from the back
Poland received some criticism for their straightforward style after their game against Mexico, but judging by Wojciech Szczesny’s comments ahead of this match, don’t expect much to change!
“We’re not a country where you can pass the ball from defender to striker,” Szczesny said.
“We don’t have that quality like the others, we don’t have the technical ability to play a beautiful game from the back. So we have to resort to long balls.
“That’s why first of all it has to be at all costs to get the ball into the opposing half, because only then can we try to do something there. It wasn’t done because of chaos or anything like that, but everything went according to plan. That’s how we play.”
Milik gets the nod
Milik was featured in the big team news in Poland and they hope it will give them more attacking momentum.
Both Bereszynski and Bielik were doubtful, but both have overcome injury problems to start.
As expected, Saudi Arabia was without Al-Shahrani and Al-Faraj and was forced to switch sides to beat Argentina.
saudi arabia team news
Saudi Arabia Eleven: Al Owais, Abdulhamid, Al Amri, Al Bulayhi, Al Burayk, Alanjei, Al Malki, Kanno, Al Brikan, Al Dawsari, Al Sehri.
poland news
Poland Eleven: Szczesny, Bereshinski, Kiviel, Glick, Cash, Zielinski, Krychowiak, Belik, Frankowski, Milik, Lewandows base.
poland needs a result
Poland were drawn to a goalless draw with Mexico in their opening game, with Robert Lewandowski missing a penalty at the crucial moment.
With Argentina on the horizon, you feel like Poland have to get the three points to have a real chance of progressing from the group.
Big improvement is needed in the final third – they had a rather weak game against Mexico.
A lot to live up to…
Saudi Arabia must somehow try to replicate what they did against Argentina. A bit of a challenge, considering it was one of the biggest World Cup shocks ever,
There was a public holiday going home after that win – if they had won again today, there might not have been another holiday!
If that happens, they’ll have six points and almost progress to the last 16.
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