Euro 2020: Group E – Poland vs Slovakia

Poland meet Slovakia at Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the opening Group E clash of Euro 2020.

With Spain not playing Sweden until Monday (14 June) evening, whoever wins this clash will go top of Group E for at least four hours.

 

Team News

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Arkadiusz Milik is ruled out for Poland after suffering a knee injury in training which has forced him to withdraw from the squad.

Manager, Paulo Sousa otherwise has a fully fit squad available for selection, including Southampton’s Jan Bednarek who is a slight fitness doubt following a recent injury which has impacted his training regime.

Slovakia have a full squad in contention with exception of Ivan Schranz who is absent with a thigh injury suffered in their final pre-tournament warm-up friendly against Austria.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Poland’s first meeting against Slovakia in a major tournament.
• Poland have won just one of their last five matches against Slovakia in all competitions (W1, D1, L3).
• Slovakia are unbeaten in three of five previous ‘away’ clashes against Poland (W2, D1, L2).
• Poland have scored first in just two of their five matches in 2021 across all competitions (W1, D3, L1).
• Slovakia have lost just one of their last eight matches in all competitions dating back to November 2020 (W3, D4, L1), with all four draws coming in 2021.

 

Prediction

Coming into this match with 23 goals in 10 of their last 13 matches since September 2020, Poland definitely will fancy their chances of a win if can start on the front foot, yet they have conceded 15 goals in those games so will need to be defensively wary if want clean sheets too,

Slovakia meanwhile are entering their first tournament under Stefan Tarkovic who only took charge last November, yet he has managed to ensure that his team are unbeaten in seven of eight games under him with a 4-1-4-1 formation which should cause Poland some issues if drop into a 5-4-1 formation defensively.

This game therefore feels to me like a match that could easily go either way because if Poland score first, I can see them going on to win yet if Slovakia can frustrate them and are clinical, a draw could well be the best bet and Milik’s absence will certainly affect the Polish squad.

Prediction: Poland 1-1 Slovakia

Result: Poland 1-2 Slovakia