El Tri will look to kick off their eighth consecutive World Cup campaign with a victory as Mexico vs Poland opens Group C play at the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The Mexicans have made it out of their group for the last seven world cups they’ve qualified for, and they hope this World Cup is no different.
Despite being much maligned publicly over the last few months, Mexico will still get a clean slate and an opportunity with their first match against Poland. Poland will be looking for a chance at the round of 16 as well. The last time they made the knockouts was in Mexico in 1986. They have only qualified for the World Cup three times since.
Mexico vs Poland Preview: Lineups and Predictions
🇲🇽 Oye @HenryMartinM, ¿ya estás listo para nuestro debut en #Qatar2022? #MéxicoDeMiVida pic.twitter.com/ux2GWqQNsk
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) November 21, 2022
Mexico vs Poland Predicted Lineups – Mexico
4-3-3, Right to Left
- GK: Ochoa
- DF: Sanchez, Araujo, Montes, Gallardo
- MID: Alvarez (DM), Guardado, Herrera
- FWD: Vega, Funes Mori, Lozano
Mexico may choose to swap out Herrera and go with more of a dual pivot with Gutierrez and Alvarez, but they lose bite and experience by doing so. Raul Jimenez’s fitness will be the significant question mark, as Funes Mori is the likely backup in the scenario. Jimenez has struggled mightily with consistent health since the skull fracture sustained in 2020. It’s hard to see Jimenez being fit for this one, so we chose to go with Funes Mori. The key to the match for Mexico will be whether or not their backline can handle Piotr Zielinski and Robert Lewandowski, who both likely start tomorrow.
Mexico vs Poland Predicted Lineups – Poland
3-4-3, Right to Left
- GK: Szczesny
- DF: Bednarek, Kiwior, Kilik
- Zurkowski, Krychowiak, Bielik, Zalewski
- Zielinski, Lewandoski, Szymanski
All eyes will be on the star Barcelona forward, Robert Lewandowski. Lewa will draw the attention of multiple El Tri defenders. But that’s where a powerful player like Piotr Zielinski comes into play. He’s been excellent for Napoli throughout his career and has six goals plus five assists already this season.
Who Has the Edge?
I will give this one to Poland. They are physically superior to Mexico and have the technical ability to match it. Mexico has street smarts, savvy, and more unpredictable play. So far, physically superior teams have been successful in this World Cup. But this is also one of those games where if Mexico’s bus is parked well in front of Lewandowski, Mexico’s pace out wide will give them opportunities.
Hirving Lozano looks to be the most dangerous player in this match for Mexico. Lucky for “Chuky,” Poland will likely have a large gap of space that the fullbacks will vacate, leaving him plenty of room to get on the ball and drive at a backline that doesn’t possess the speed to keep up. Those are the moments that Mexico will look to create and the moments that they must punish Poland to be successful. The question is if they can create enough of them to win.
Final Prediction: Poland wins 2-1, Lewandowski is too dominant for Mexico to handle.
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