World Cup
2025-03-24 - Poland vs Malta
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA World Cup Qualifier
Monday 24th March 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Poland
Becoming a consistent nation to play in the major tournament Finals is clearly a strong period of time for the Poland national team, although the group of recent years have not been able to match the successes that were put together by the nation between 1974 and 1986. There is a feeling that Poland are perhaps in a period of transition right now and a poor Nations League performance followed a disappointing exit at Euro 2024.
Relegation to League B of the Nations League was confirmed back in November and Poland only made it through to Euro 2024 via a Penalty Shoot Out win in a final Play Off before the Group Stage exit in Germany. They needed a late goal from long time talisman Robert Lewandowski to beat Lithuania 1-0 at home in their opening World Cup Qualifier and Poland need to back that up before facing Netherlands and Finland.
Poland had won 1 of 9 games played in all competitions before the late win over Lithuania, while they had lost 2 of 3 home Nations League games in the first half of the 2024/25 season. The team have won 5 of their last 7 home Qualifiers, although Poland were held to draws in 2 of the 5 home Euro 2024 Qualifiers played.
Malta
Only four nations were Ranked lower than Malta when the World Cup Qualifiers were drawn out and the main ambition in this section may be finishing above Lithuania. A home loss to Finland on Match Day 1 of the World Cup Qualifiers underlines that statement, although Malta will feel they have 'nothing to lose' whenever they face Poland, Finland or Netherlands.
The team will have a chance to earn promotion to League C of the Nations League next year, but Malta finished behind Moldova in their League D Group. They did win at Andorra in that Nations League Group, which will give Malta confidence having failed to earn a single point away from home in the Euro 2024 Qualifying Group.
Malta had won 3 in a row in all competitions before a goalless draw with Andorra and the narrow loss to Finland in the opening World Cup Qualifier. They have lost 7 of their last 8 away Qualifiers with the exception being a 2-2 draw at Cyprus.
Kurt Shaw is suspended after being sent off against Finland.
Head to Head
Poland have won all 4 previous matches against Malta, although they have not played one another since December 2003.
They have met once in Poland with the home team winning 6-0 in the 1982 World Cup Qualifiers.
Prediction
After the Nations League Quarter Final matches were concluded, Poland will know that Netherlands look to be the biggest rivals in this World Cup Qualifying Group for an automatic spot in the next Finals in 2026.
However, there is also a feeling that Poland are struggling for consistency right now and the 1-0 win over Lithuania came courtesy of a very late goal.
Recent form has not been the most impressive and Poland may have a real rival to finish in the top two if Finland can rediscover some of the form that earned them a place in the Euro 2020 Finals.
The concentration has to be on winning this Qualifier and Poland should have enough in the final third to break down Malta, even if they are unlikely to blow past the visiting team.
Malta may not pick up a lot of positive results in Qualifiers, but they have shown some resiliency and will look to frustrate Poland. It may actually work for a while, but the feeling is that the home team can find a goal and that should be good enough to earn a vital three points ahead of bigger Qualifying matches to come.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Poland 2-0 Malta
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Poland Win to Nil at 1.80 with Bet365
