World Cup

World Cup 2018 – Team Analysis – Poland

Our Group H previews continue with Poland, who will be making their eighth appearance at a World Cup finals this summer.

Matching their third-placed finishes in 1974 and 1982 might be a tall order, but this second “golden generation” of Polish players will be aiming for progression to the knockout stages at least in what will likely be their last World Cup at the peak of their powers.

Poland’s ageing squad has myriad fitness concerns: their best centre-half, Kamil Glik, will miss his country’s first two group matches, while Jakub Blaszczykowski and Arkadiusz Milik have had injury-hit seasons with Wolfsburg and Napoli respectively.

In Robert Lewandowski, though, Poland possess a goal-scoring forward at the top of his game: no player scored more World Cup 2018 qualifying goals than the Bayern Munich striker.

Poland start their World Cup campaign with a match against Senegal in Moscow on Tuesday 19 June before an encounter with Colombia five days later. Adam Nawalka’s side round off their group itinerary with a fixture against Japan in Volgograd on Thursday 28 June.

Road to Qualification

Poland’s qualification campaign was a story of late goals and, of course, Robert Lewandowski.

The Poles got off to a slow start on the road to Russia, being held 2-2 by bottom seeds Kazakhstan in Astana.

A Lewandowski hat-trick was enough to see off Denmark in Warsaw, before their talismanic striker hit a stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 victory over Armenia.

Victories over Romania and Montenegro – Lukasz Piszczek with an 82nd-minute winner in that match in Podgorica – lifted Poland to top spot in their six-team group before another Lewandowski treble helped the Poles to a second success over a poor Romania side.

A shock 4-0 defeat to Denmark proved to be a temporary setback as Poland comfortably overcame Kazakhstan and Armenia, before qualification was finally sealed with a 4-2 win over Montenegro in Warsaw – once again, Poland struck late with two goals in the final five minutes.

Belgium, Germany, Spain and Portugal were the only UEFA nations to score more goals than Poland (28) in qualification, but the Poles’ total of 14 goals conceded was the worst tally among the 13 European countries who made it to Russia.

Poland kept only two clean sheets in their ten qualification fixtures.

Most starts: Piotr Zielinski, Robert Lewandowski (10), Kamil Glik, Lukasz Piszczek, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Kamil Grosicki (9), Lukasz Fabianski, Michal Pazdan (7), Artur Jedrzejczyk, Grzegorz Krychowiak (6), Karol Linetty (5)

Most goals: Robert Lewandowski (16), Kamil Grosicki (3)

Most assists: Piotr Zielinski (6), Jakub Blaszczykowski, Kamil Grosicki (3), Robert Lewandowski, Lukasz Piszczek (2)

Poland’s six friendly results since November 2017 have been a mixed bag: as well as recording victories over South Korea and Lithuania, the Poles have drawn with Chile and Uruguay and lost to Mexico and Nigeria.

Nawalka’s go-to formation in qualification was 4-2-3-1, but the Poland coach has favoured a 3-4-3 system in subsequent friendlies.

The Key Targets

Robert Lewandowski is perhaps generously priced on McDonald’s FIFA (£9.5m), given his qualification record.

With Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi all costing £2.5m more, there is a strong case to be had for the Bayern Munich striker’s inclusion into our Fantasy teams – particularly in group matches against Senegal and Japan.

Only Mohammad Al-Sahlawi of Saudi Arabia and UAE’s Ahmed Khalil matched Lewandowski’s total of 16 qualification goals, with both having played more matches and encountered inferior opposition.

With his 16 strikes coming from 38 attempts, Lewandowski had a better conversion rate than Messi, Ronaldo and Harry Kane.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker has scored on four occasions in Poland’s last three friendlies and is first in line for penalties and free-kicks.

Lewandowski, who has 89 goals in his last three Bundesliga seasons, is priced at £8.1m on Fantasy iTeam.

Kamil Grosicki (£5.6m on Fantasy iTeam | £7.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) stands to benefit from Nawalka’s formation switch, should the Poland coach persist with a 3-4-3: the Hull City midfielder will likely form part of the front three with Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski (£5.7m on Fantasy iTeam | £8.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) if that materialises.

Grosicki scored on three occasions and registered as many assists during World Cup qualification and looks Poland’s biggest goal threat from midfield: 14 of his 19 goal attempts came from inside the penalty box during qualifying (by way of contrast, 20 of Zielinksi’s 23 attempts were from outside the area).

No Poland midfielder made more crosses or key passes than Grosicki during qualification.

Grosicki will share corner-kick duties with Zielinski, who supplied six assists in his ten qualifying appearances (only three players in Europe created more goals).

Though Zielinski failed to register a single goal during qualification, the Napoli midfielder has been on the scoresheet twice in friendlies contested in 2018.

The Long Shots

Zielinksi’s appeal could be reduced by the return to fitness of striker Arkadiusz Milik (£7.0m on Fantasy iTeam | £8.5m on McDonald’s FIFA).

Milik gives Nawalka the option of playing 4-4-2, with the Napoli forward paired with Lewandowski up front. Zielinski, who plays in an advanced role in a 3-4-3, would thus be deployed in a deeper position in central midfield with Milik in the side.

Two anterior cruciate ligament injuries suffered in the space of 12 months have stalled Milik’s club career since Euro 2016, where he and Lewandowski formed a successful partnership in attack.

Milik only made three Serie A starts for Napoli in 2017/18, the same number he made for Poland during qualification.

The 24-year-old striker has featured in Poland’s last four friendlies, however, and started in attack with Lewandowski in the 12 June friendly victory over Lithuania.

Jakub Blaszczykowski (£5.6m on Fantasy iTeam | £8.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) has also had an injury-plagued season, having started only six Bundesliga matches for Wolfsburg.

The veteran midfielder has, like Milik, returned to fitness just in time for the World Cup and is another Fantasy option on the flank. Blaszczykowski provided three assists during qualification and has 20 international goals to his name, though his underlying statistics (for crosses, key passes and goal attempts) suggest Zielinski and Grosicki are still the preferable midfield options for Fantasy managers.

Maciej Rybus could be an interesting differential for players of Fantasy iTeam in particular. Listed as a £5.5m defender in this game, Rybus could be deployed “out of position” on the left of midfield should Nawalka persevere with a 3-4-3.

No Poland defender fired over more crosses or had a better chance creation rate during qualification.

Rybus, who provided the assist for Lewandowski’s first goal in the 4-0 win over Lithuania, is priced as a £7.0m midfielder by McDonald’s FIFA.

The Poland defence would otherwise be an area to avoid, given the numbers of goals they conceded during qualification and with key centre-back Kamil Glik (£5.8m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) likely to miss his country’s first two group fixtures through injury.

Jan Bednarek (£5.5m on Fantasy iTeam | £4.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) is the likely beneficiary of Glik’s absence and at the very least is an “enabler” at such a budget price.

Further Analysis

Our comprehensive World Cup guide can be found here.

Group A Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group BIran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain

Group CAustralia, Peru, France, Denmark

Group DArgentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group EBrazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia

Group FMexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea

Group GBelgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

Group HSenegal, Japan, Poland, Colombia

Our editor’s Fantasy World Cup tips as told to Proper Sport

Fantasy iTeam

Fantasy Football Scout is supporting Fantasy iTeam, a free World Cup game available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch and Android. We have an official Fantasy Football Scout League open to UK users only, with a £1000 of Amazon vouchers to give out, split between the top three performers. There’s also the small matter of £10k worth of prizes available in the main competitions: Overall World Championship and Manager of the Gameround.

Click here for details and here to sign up.

Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 1887.

Please note, users must be over 18 and based in the UK to join our league.

World Cup Data
We’re delighted to offer World Cup data as an early addition to our regular season offering to help those playing Fantasy games over the summer.

We’ve secured Opta data, not only for the tournament itself, which begins on June 14 but also from the Qualifying Rounds for Europe and South America and for international friendlies involving the participating nations. This includes all the matches played right up to the tournament kick-off.

Just to stress, this World Cup offering comes packaged with the regular Fantasy Football Scout membership.

Check out this new trailer previewing the World Cup content below…

594 Comments Post a Comment
  1. money face bandwagon
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    I cant seem to find morocco gk om fantasy. Anyone having this problem?

    1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      El kajoui is the one you're looking for

    2. 420king
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      El Kajoui

    3. Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      They are going without one for the cup.

    4. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      El kajoui

    5. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Alkejoui

    6. Sune
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Jaouielka

    7. money face bandwagon
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all

  2. Sune
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    #2 Messi Draft:

    El Kajoui
    Hakimi, Hegazy, Kimmich, Meunier
    Eriksen, Meza, Willian
    Mitrovic, Cavani, Messi

    Uzoho, JRod, Inui, Mojica

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Too Messi.

      1. Sune
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        🙂

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Decent

  3. JohnnyMagrinho
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Looking most likely that Portugal will line up with both Ronaldo and Guedes up front or is Silva most likely to get that supporting role?

      1. Yankee Toffee
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Best to avoid until GW2 imo

      2. Prøfeßör …
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Guedes.

      3. Gullit
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Probably Portugal will play vs. Spain with:
        Rui Patrício
        Cédric (Ricardo?)
        Pepe
        José Fonte (B.Alves?)
        Guerreiro
        William Carvalho
        João Moutinho
        João Mário (B.Fernandes)
        Bernardo Silva
        Gonçalo Guedes
        Cristiano Ronaldo

      4. JLAEST
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I’d bet Andre Silva starts over Guedes. I would however avoid any Portuguese assets at this point.

    • Atimis
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Should I change something ?

      El Kajoui
      Meunier/Trippier/Danilo
      James/Eriksen/Ziyach/Carrasco
      Jesus/Cavani/Lukaku

      Uzoho/G.Varela/Meza/Kudriashov

      Maybe some German/France/Spain mid or striker needed? Or try to fit in Kimmich?

      1. Yankee Toffee
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Double Belgium attack?

        1. Atimis
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Cant find better mid option in price of Carrasco - maybe Ljajic?

          1. Atimis
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Or Miranchuk maybe?

            1. Yankee Toffee
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Cueva, Forsberg, Siggy

              1. Atimis
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                Belgium with good fixtures tho

    • caldracula
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A) Griezmann, Isco, Rebic, C.Sanchez

      B) Cavani, Lewandowski, Nandez, Inui

      1. Sune
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        B

    • thisisdiz
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Please convince me. Best 4.5 defender?

      1. Yankee Toffee
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Hegazi but I would find .5 and get Granqvist

      2. GoonerByron
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Hakimi for me..

        Also - Varela, Dalsgaard

      3. Gullit
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Varela (if confirmed fit) has better chances of clean sheets, imo.

    • Aston-villain
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Trippier or Rose
      Lewa or Suarez

      1. Yankee Toffee
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        No to all m8

      2. Neetan
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Trip

      3. GoonerByron
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Trippier definitely..

        Suarez > Lewa but think he's too expensive.

      4. Differential C (Mark)
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Trippier
        Suarez and Lewa are both great, flip a coin

    • Funkyav
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Anyone know when the FFS world cup predicted lineups will be released?

    • Emiliano Sala
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Which one?
      A) mbappe and lukaku
      B) griezmann and mertens
      C) cavani and mertens

      1. MarvelouSuccess
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        A just

      2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        C

    • Differential C (Mark)
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Mbappe+Akinfeev -> Werner+SeungYu(Korea)

      A)Yay
      B)Nay

      Cheers!

      1. GoonerByron
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Massive no

    • GoonerByron
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Ozil just posted that he's back and fit for the first training session today

    • Buck The Trent
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Is Suarez worth 1.0 more than Cavani ?

      I looked at the stats from the last 2 friendlies and Suarez is way aheaf in terms of goal attempts, shot on target, penalty box touches and chance created

      1. Buck The Trent
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        *ahead

      2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Sounds like you have answered your own question 🙂

      3. Sune
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Check out goals scored in qualifiers.

      4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        cavani more likely just to score. Suarez can score but also involved in team play so will likely get assists too.

    • Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A. Jesus + Mueller
      Or
      B. Werner + Coutinho?

      1. MarvelouSuccess
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        B is more nailed on

    • Chucky
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Griezmann or Kaku? Thanks

      1. MarvelouSuccess
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Griezy

      2. WALOR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Lukaku

      3. Differential C (Mark)
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I'd have said Griezy yesterday, but after a seeing a few Belgium games (the whole 90, not highlights), the Kaku seems to be the undisputed target man for Belgium. He's bound to score a bunch in WC.
        Unbelievably, I'd go Kaku.

      4. Sune
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Kaku.

      5. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        cheers all...

      6. WALOR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Lukaku in WC qualifiers:
        11 goals 1 assist in 8 matches

        Griezmann:
        4G 4A in 10 matches

    • Tmel
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      What bets are people laying for the WC? Any interesting ones?

      1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I've done a spread bet on number of penalties scored - hoping VAR will go a bit mental.

      2. GoonerByron
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        For mess around bets I've done..

        No 0-0s in the group stages - 50/1
        No 0-0s in the whole tournament - 100/1
        No own goals in the whole tournament - 100/1

        Punts on top goalscorer each way (4 places) on Cavani 28/1, Suarez 28/1 and Muller 33/1

        1. Salah'd n Sauce
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Hopefully you land something in all of that

        2. MarvelouSuccess
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          The no own goals bet looks tasty since own goals aren't that common

          1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            5, 2, 4 and 3 in the last 4 WCs - is unlikely there will be zero, but 100/1 does look fair value.

    • MarvelouSuccess
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      G2G?

      El Kajoui

      Godin Meunier Danilo Dalsgaard

      Coutinho Eriksen Rodriguez

      Lukaku Griezmann Cavani (C)

      Bench

      Uzoho Sabaly Aldawsari Inui

    • el polako
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      All this stats and I am still shitting myself before Senegal game....

      1. MarvelouSuccess
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Hope Mane doesn't light up the world cup

      2. el polako
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        *these
        *defecating

    • Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      What will France's starting XI be now since the injuries?

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        They've brought in Bruno Cheyrou and Anthony Le Tallec as cover.

        1. Yankee Toffee
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Where's Cantona?

          1. Make Arrows Green Again
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Kung fu kicking a seagul

      2. 420king
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        looks like Hernandez, Umtiti, Varane, Pavard, Kante, Pogba, Tolisso, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe for Australia

        1. Eden Wizard
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Nice starting X haha

          1. 420king
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            I didn't make it up. That's how they trained today 😀

            1. Yankee Toffee
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Cheers, haha 10!

              1. cylus11 ( Manager) - Russia…
                • 13 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                Hey mate how you been.
                Tim Howards Beard

            2. Eden Wizard
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              10.......

    • Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Is anyone doing Sun Dream Team? There's a work league so having to do this one as well.

      Some absolute bargains it seems, no limits to number of players per team, and 20 transfers for the entire season, to use whenever you like.

      How's this for a first draft?

      Alisson
      Kimmich Meunier Miranda
      Isco Coutinho Hazard Muller
      Mbappe Neymar Jesus

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I've done 2 teams

        Brazil block
        Belgium block

        Then daisy chaining the attacking players

    • JOZ
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Pick two of:
      1. Lewandowksi,
      2. Lukaku,
      3. Cavani?

      1. MarvelouSuccess
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        2 and 3 have easier group games

        1. JOZ
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          But for first game there's not much between Cavani vs. Egypt and Lewandowski vs. Senegal...

        2. Salah'd n Sauce
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          I've been between Lewandowski and Cavani for a while. Can't make my mind up.

          1. JOZ
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah, it's a tough one.

            1. Salah'd n Sauce
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              See my nonsense logic I've applied on page 3 lol

    • Daghe Munegu
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      What do you think ?

      Will WC gw3

      Akinfeev
      Meunier Russian 4.5 Russian 4.5
      Lo Celso KDB Coutinho Belhanda
      Neymar Mbappé Hazard

      El Kajoui Pavard Varela Nandez

      1. JOZ
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I would have at least two of Lewandowksi, Lukaku, Cavani...

      2. MarvelouSuccess
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Weak defense

    • Gazpilicueta
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      will FFS have premium picks articles?

    • Gringo Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Meunier/Granqvist or Godin/Trippier

      1. Salah'd n Sauce
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        A

      2. MarvelouSuccess
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        A is safer

    • KT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Can you substitute intra day ie sub out a player who plays at 2pm for someone playing at 5pm?

    • abraham22
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      What's the view now with Spain? Had them down as my pick to take home the trophy. But hard to see that now. Thinking of avoiding completely for the first week.. live with having no cover in the second week and wildcard in the best looking players if Spain still have something to play for in the final group game.

    • QuintonFortune25
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Does the sacking of the Spain manager have a negative impact on their fantasy options? I've currently just got Isco. Is he still a good option?

    • Daniello
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Is Lingard nailed?

      1. Funkyav
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        nope

    • I Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A) Ziyech, Carrasco, Danilo
      B) Eriksen, Belhanda/Meza, Dalsgaard

      1. InvertedWinger
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        B

    • Catsandhats
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I've now got mu head around when all the transfers work and the different rounds, just two things to clarify:

      1) you essentially get a wildcard between the end of the group stages and the last 16 round (unlimited transfers) but I also see you get a wildcard to use aswell, so I assume its best to use this wildcard in the group stages? maybe after round 1 or 2?

      2) I hear mention of an effective 'double game week' for some players, and that some people were worried they didn't have a player that played in both - when are these and what teams?

      Also, I can only see a button for max captain and bench boost, could I have accidentally used my wildcard already by swapping around my team?

      1. 420king
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        1. Yes but some will use it before QF when we only get 3 transfers
        2. No dgws here

        You have not accidentally used your WC, the button will only appear after you used all your FTs.

        1. Catsandhats
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks a lot!

    • Emiliano Sala
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Griezmann or mbappe?
      Forget the price

      1. I Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Griezmann. On pens.