Poland World Cup 2022 guide: Key players, injuries, tactics & tournament prediction

Poland head to the 2022 World Cup with one of the world's best players and the aim of making it out of the groups for the first time in 36 years.

They qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2010 with a 2-0 win over Sweden in the play-offs and were put in a group with Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

It's not an easy draw, but their fourth consecutive group stage exit would be met with considerable disappointment, especially given they have the abilities of Robert Lewandowski at their disposal.

Here's what to expect from Poland at the 2022 World Cup.

When are Poland's group games?

• Mexico vs Poland (November 22, 16:00 GMT)
• Poland vs Saudi Arabia (November 26, 13:00 GMT)
• Poland vs Argentina (November 30, 19:00 GMT)

• Poland vs Mexico H2H record: Played 3, Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 1
• Poland vs Saudi Arabia H2H record: Played 0
• Poland vs Argentina H2H record: Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1

• Argentina World Cup 2022 guide: Key players, injuries, tactics & tournament prediction
• Mexico World Cup 2022 guide: Key players, injuries, tactics & tournament prediction
• Saudi Arabia World Cup 2022 guide: Key players, injuries, tactics & tournament prediction

Who is in Poland's confirmed 26-player squad for the World Cup?

Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Kamil Grabara (Copenhagen), Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna)

Defenders: Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa), Kamil Glik (Benevento), Robert Gumny (FC Augsburg), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw), Jakub Kiwior (Spezia), Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont), Bartosz Bereszynski (Sampdoria), Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Nicola Zalewski (AS Roma).

Midfielders: Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Lens), Kamil Grosicki (Pogon Szczecin), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab), Jakub Kaminski (VfL Wolfsburg), Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan), Damian Szymanski (AEK Athens), Sebastian Szymanski (Feyenoord), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli), Szymon Zurkowski (Fiorentina).

Forwards: Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus), Krzysztof Piatek (Salernitana), Karol Swiderski (Charlotte FC)

Which Poland players are missing the World Cup through injury?

Brighton midfielder Jakub Moder was the only major casualty in the Poland squad before selection. He started the World Cup play-off against Sweden but tore his ACL soon afterwards and has yet to recover.

Unfortunately, he was joined on the sidelines by goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski, who broke his ankle during the final round of club fixtures before the tournament and was forced to withdraw.

Who are Poland's best players?

Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowksi is Poland's captain, all-time top scorer, has a record number of caps and is easily their star man. If he's as good in Qatar as he has been for Barcelona, that alone could be enough to take his team to the knockout stages.

Piotr Zielinksi

Lewandowski won't be able to do much without good service, but Piotr Zielinski should be able to provide it. The Napoli man has been in excellent form this season and will be the heartbeat of the team.

Wojciech Szczesny

Wojciech Szczesny has been a stalwart in the Poland side for a number of years and will be again in Qatar. In the Juventus man, Poland have a safe pair of hands between the sticks.

Jan Bednarek

He may not have played much for Aston Villa since joining but Jan Bednarek is a key player in the Poland backline.

Poland predicted starting lineup

Manager Czeslaw Michniewicz has utilised a number of different formations in recent times but it seems likely that he'll go with a back three in Qatar.

Poland predicted XI: Szczesny; Bednarek, Glik, Kiwior; Cash, Krychowiak, Bielik, Zalewski; Szymanski, Lewandowski, Zielinski.

Poland's form going into the World Cup

Poland's Nations League campaign was a mixed bag with them beating Wales twice, drawing with the Netherlands and nearly getting a point at home to Belgium, They were outplayed at home to the Dutch and away to the Belgians, however.

Poland's last five results (all competitions)

Belgium 6-1 Poland
Netherlands 2-2 Poland
Poland 0-1 Belgium
Poland 0-2 Netherlands
Wales 0-1 Poland

Where will Poland finish in the World Cup?

Poland will likely find themselves in a straight shoot-out with Mexico for the second spot in Group C, behind Argentina and ahead of Saudi Arabia.

Poland have the quality to give the Mexicans a real run for their money, but whether they can beat them is another matter.

Mexico are bringing a strong squad and may just have more in the tank than the Poles, who look destined for another early trip home.

Prediction: Group stage exit