EURO 2024: Poland vs Austria

A Crucial Clash in Euro 2024 Group D

The highly anticipated Euro 2024 Group D match between Poland and Austria will take place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Friday, June 21, 2024. Both teams are looking to bounce back from opening-round defeats and keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive.

Poland's Injury Concerns

Poland's coach, Michal Probierz, highlighted the importance of having Robert Lewandowski on the pitch, stating that his presence can significantly impact the team's performance. Lewandowski and defender Pawel Dawidowicz sustained injuries during a warm-up friendly against Turkey last week.  Poland's chances of victory would be significantly boosted by Lewandowski's presence, as they have struggled to score in recent matches.

Austria's Impressive Performance Against France

Despite their 1-0 loss against France in their opening match, Austria can take positives from their performance. The Austrians dominated possession, completing more passes and creating more scoring opportunities than their opponents.  This suggests that Austria are a well-organized and possession-oriented team under the guidance of coach Ralf Rangnick.

Head-to-Head Record

Poland and Austria have a long history of matches, with Poland having a slight edge in their head-to-head record. Ahead of the clash, both teams are eager to bounce back from their losses and secure a crucial win.

Prediction

The Opta supercomputer predicts a win for Austria, with Ralf Rangnick's side victorious in 46.4% of pre-match simulations. Poland win 27.5% of the time, while a draw occurred in 26.1% of the simulations.  However, the return of Lewandowski could be a game-changer for Poland, and they will be determined to bounce back from their opening-round defeat.

Ultimately, this match has the potential to be a closely contested affair, with both teams desperate for a win to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive. Fans can expect an exciting and hard-fought encounter between these two European powerhouses.

The Bad Tackle

TBD