MY ACCOUNT
Wales are faced with the tough task of balancing preparations for a first taste of top-tier Nations League football with readying themselves for a shot at reaching only a second-ever World Cup — all in the space of five days.
The winners of the play-off semi-final clash between Scotland and Ukraine can prevent the Dragons from reaching football’s international showcase in Qatar later this year, with Cardiff City Stadium the scene of a winner-takes-all contest on Sunday.
And with the prospect of a first World Cup appearance since a quarter-final run in Sweden in 1958 on the cards, Wednesday’s clash with Poland will likely be reduced to the role of a warm-up for Rob Page’s side — or even an outing for the youngsters in the travelling Welsh camp.
Even so, the pull of this weekend’s upcoming decider should not detract from the marvel of Wales’ achievement in setting up such a fixture.
An unbeaten campaign in the last edition of the Nations League — featuring double victories over Finland and Bulgaria, as well as a win and an away draw with the Republic of Ireland — saw Wales promoted to the upper bracket of Europe’s biennial competition.
Though the result in Poland has no bearing on whether or not there will be Welsh representation in Qatar this winter, a solid start to a group phase featuring big-hitters Belgium and the Netherlands — as well as Robert Lewandowski’s Poland — could bode well for Wales’ hopes of attending their third successive European Championships in 2024.
Having said that, much will depend on how UEFA decide the third instalment of the Nations League will weave itself into the qualifying format for Euro 2024.
Team news
Outgoing Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has joined up with the national side following his club’s Champions League final win last Saturday.
Bale, 32, spent the evening on the bench but it is understood a major role for the ex-Tottenham man in Wroclaw is unlikely with the play-off final on the horizon.
Similarly, Page will likely opt to rest midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.
Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson is set to miss out following his team’s win in the Championship play-off final last Sunday, though Huddersfield wideman Sorba Thomas — on the losing side at Wembley — could feature in an inexperienced team.
The stats
Poland’s qualification for the World Cup via their own play-off win against Sweden righted their course after a dismal Nations League term last time out.
The Eagles managed just seven points from their six games, with a goalless draw at home to Italy the only positive result besides wins over relegated Bosnia.
Wednesday’s hosts have also won each of their last four fixtures against Wales by a goal to nil. In fact, a goalless draw in Warsaw in October 2000 was the last time the Dragons managed as much as a point.
Their last win came seven meetings ago in a 2-0 success in the spring of 1973.
Predictions
Riding a wave of optimism under new boss Czesław Michniewicz, hired as a replacement for outgoing Paulo Sousa earlier in the year, the Poles will be full of confidence against a Wales side very much looking to the weekend.
Bale, Page and Co may well have to choose their battles this week — and the Welsh fans make the trip to Poland could well witness a sacrifice.
