Sunday’s evening kick-off finds Northern Ireland start their Euro 16 campaign with a tough opening clash with free-scoring Poland.
Michael O’Neill’s men arrive in France with an enviable record, surely taking confidence from a run of 12 matches without defeat. Indeed, their defence has earned four clean sheets in the last five, offering encouragement ahead of a meeting with a fearsome Polish attack.
In Robert Lewandowski, the Poles have the leading goalscorer during qualifying with 13 strikes. That tally helped Poland to 33 goals in all – more than any other qualifying nation. A total of 14 goals in six friendly matches heading into the tournament would suggest that Adam Nawałka’s unit have the form to earn victory in this opener, although they’ve failed to win their last two outings, slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Netherlands before being held by Lithuania.
