Preview: Poland vs. Albania - prediction, team news, lineups

After losing their opening game in the section, the hosts need a quick response.

Match preview

A 3-1 defeat in Prague against the Czech Republic was not the ideal start that Poland and new manager Fernando Santos were hoping for.

With the top two qualifying from each group though, losing the toughest game in the group may not be too damaging, especially if they can secure three points here.

Albania represent Poland's biggest threat to a top-two finish, so this fixture has taken on great significance despite still being so early in the group.

The side will hope they can continue a strong run of recent qualifying success, reaching the last four European Championships and last four major tournaments.

Six wins in a row against Albania should give Poland confidence that they can bounce back, especially as two of those came recently, in 2022 World Cup qualifying.

Those two wins were vital in seeing Poland finish two points above Albania to seal a playoff place, but they may hope it is not quite as close this time around.

With only five nations in Group E, this will be Albania's first game of the campaign having been the odd side out on Friday.

Taking any points home from Warsaw will be a huge boost before they face the minnows of the group Moldova and the Faroe Islands in the summer.

However, they do not enter the section in the best of form, after a poor UEFA Nations League showing saw them finish with two points from a possible 12, only avoiding relegation due to being drawn in the same group as Russia, who were expelled.

Since ending their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with six wins from 10 and being unfortunate to miss out on a playoff place, Albania were winless in 10 matches before beating Armenia in their last outing - a friendly in November.

Poland Euro Champ Qualifying form:

L

Poland form (all competitions):

W

D

W

L

L

L

Albania form (all competitions):

L

D

D

L

L

W

Team News

Matty Cash went off injured for Poland inside 10 minutes of the defeat against the Czechs on Friday and has been sent home from the squad.

Robert Gumny or Nicola Zalewski will be the two vying to replace the Aston Villa man at full-back, with both in good form at club level at Augsburg and Roma respectively.

Kacper Kozlowski is another member of the squad who has had to leave early due to injury, joining Bartosz Bereszynski and Kamil Piatkowski on the absentee list.

Damian Szymanski's late goal in Prague could see him rewarded with a start on home soil here.

Not being able to call upon Chelsea's Armando Broja is a huge blow for Sylvinho and Albania.

It also makes it somewhat surprising that attacker Xhuliano Skuka, who earned a move to French side Metz in January, was left out of the squad.

Empoli defender Ardian Ismajli has had to pull out of the squad with injury, but fellow Serie A duo Kristjan Asllani and Nedim Bajrami will be available and should provide the creative spark for the visitors.

Albania's only domestic-based player Andi Hadroj could start, but he will battle for a place at right-back with Ivan Balliu.

Poland possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Frankowski, Bednarek, Kiwior, Zalewski; S Szymanski, D Szymanski, Linetty, Zielinski; Swiderski, Lewandowski

Albania possible starting lineup:

Berisha; Balliu, Kumbulla, Veseli, Hysaj; Abrashi, Asllani, Bajrami; Asani, Cikalleshi, Uzuni

We say: Poland 2-0 Albania

In Santos's first home game as manager, there will have to be improvement on Friday's performance, and there should be more to come from the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski.

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