Poland vs Austria. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more
Poland will face Austria in the UEFA EURO 2024 second-round match of Group D at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The fixture will take place on Friday, June 21, beginning at 21:30 IST.
Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.
Poland News & Current Form:
In their qualifying group, Poland only managed to secure third place and failed to advance directly to Euro 2024. Notably, their group wasn’t the toughest, with Albania and the Czech Republic finishing ahead, while they have surpassed Moldova and the Faroe Islands. However, the Eagles managed to advance to the final tournament in Germany through the UEFA Nations League playoffs, defeating Estonia with a score of 5:1 and Wales in a penalty shootout (0:0, 5:4 on penalties). This marks the fifth consecutive European Championship qualification for the White and Reds, though they’ve only advanced past the group stage once, reaching the quarterfinals at Euro 2016. During the qualification cycle, there was a coaching change. Fernando Santos was replaced by Michał Probierz, a decision that has proven beneficial.
Ahead of Euro 2024, Poland played two friendly matches, winning both. The team under the guidance of Probierz defeated Ukraine 3:1 and then overcame Turkey three days later (2:1). However, these victories came at a high cost. In the match against Turkey, captain and star player Robert Lewandowski suffered a thigh muscle strain, causing him to miss the first tournament match. Additionally, the participation of Karol Świderski is in doubt due to an ankle sprain sustained in the same match. Arkadiusz Milik was also injured against Ukraine and did not make the Euro squad. It appears that the coaching staff overloaded the players during the training camp.
Adam Buksa scored the Polish team’s lone goal in their first-round match against the Dutch
In their first Euro 2024 match, Probierz’s team suffered a deserved defeat against the Netherlands (1:2). Adam Buksa scored the first goal for Poland, converting a corner in the 16th minute with an assist from Piotr Zieliński. However, then the Reds conceded an equaliser before halftime, with Cody Gakpo capitalising on a defensive error in the 29th minute. Wout Weghorst sealed the win for the Netherlands in the 83rd minute, having come on as a substitute just two minutes prior. The Oranje dominated possession (65% vs. 35%) and took 20 shots on goal compared to Poland’s 11.
The performance of the Eagles was significantly impacted by the absence of their star player Lewandowski. The FC Barcelona forward missed the first group stage match due to injury but is likely to participate against Austria. Lewandowski is Poland’s all-time top scorer (81 goals) and has a strong track record in major tournaments, with five goals in 11 matches at the Euros and two goals in seven FIFA World Cup matches. At recent tournaments, the Polish national team has heavily relied on Lewandowski: he scored three of the team’s four goals at Euro 2020 and was involved in all of the country’s goals at the 2022 Mundial (two goals and one assist). Even if Robert returns, he won’t be at his peak performance, and the potential absence of central defender Bartosz Salamon due to injury could weaken the defence.
“We lacked quality in crucial moments. There were different phases in the match. There were times when we were dangerous, but also phases where we easily lost the ball. It’s a pity we couldn’t hold on for a draw. I can only thank the fans for their support. We won’t stray from this path,”
shared Polish coach Michał Probierz.
Now, the team finds itself in a difficult position, much like their upcoming opponents Austria. Both teams sit at the bottom of Group D after narrow losses to the Netherlands and France, respectively. Both teams fought hard against the favourites and could have secured points. Poland possesses a strong attacking line capable of creating and converting chances. In recent games, the team has shown confident play, and in the upcoming match, they will need to demonstrate their strength to secure a victory.
Don`t miss out 👉: Euro 2024 Ones to Watch: Players, stats, market values and more
Austria News & Current Form:
The Austrian national team has yet to play in the World Cup in the 21st century, but the Reds have been more frequent participants in the European Championship. Euro 2024 will be their fourth appearance in the last five tournaments. In the previous European Championship, Austria achieved their best result in history, reaching the round of 16 and only losing to eventual champions Italy in a penalty shootout.
In the qualifying cycle, Austria found themselves in a challenging Group F but finished second behind Belgium, securing a direct ticket to Germany. Following this, Austria played five friendly matches, including a notable 2:0 victory over Germany in November. In March of this year, the Eagles played two matches and secured victories in both. They first triumphed over Slovakia (2:0), scoring early in the first minute through Christoph Baumgartner and sealing the win with a late goal from Andreas Weimann. In their second match, Austria thrashed Turkey (6:1), with Michael Gregoritsch scoring a hat-trick. Their attacking play was outstanding, and the defence remained reliable.
In June, the Reds defeated Serbia 2:0 and drew with a score of 1:1 with Switzerland in their last preparatory match. Baumgartner was involved in all three goals during the June matches, scoring twice and assisting once.
Austria’s gameplay and results have significantly improved in recent years. In their last 18 matches across all competitions, they have only suffered two defeats, against Belgium and France. The appointment of Ralf Rangnick as head coach marked the starting point of the collective’s progress. The experienced specialist, who can be considered the founder of the famous Red Bull system, restructured the team, focusing on physical preparation and aggressive pressing. When a team loses the ball, they immediately engage in tackling rather than retreating to regroup.
Maximilian Wöber scored an own goal, contributing to Austria’s loss against France
In their first Euro 2024 match, the Eagles faced the 2018 World Cup champions and 2022 World Cup runners-up, France. Maximilian Wöber scored an own goal in the 38th minute, putting Austria behind. Following the auto-goal, the team restructured, and a triple substitution in the 59th minute introduced Marcel Sabitzer, Baumgartner, Patrick Wimmer, and Marko Arnautović into the attacking lineup. Ultimately, Rangnick’s charges controlled the ball more than their opponents (51% vs. 49% possession). Their robust play in qualifying shows that the Reds can compete with teams of similar calibre. The match saw a total of 21 shots on goal, with only six on target, resulting in a somewhat lacklustre game, with the own goal and the nose injury of Kylian Mbappé being the standout events.
The Austrian national team is considered one of the potential surprise packages of the tournament, and their upcoming match against Poland is crucial to living up to those high expectations. A defeat for either team will likely end their hopes of progressing to the playoffs.
To complete their happiness, the Red Eagles need an optimal squad. The major setback is the injury to David Alaba. However, the Real Madrid CF player has been included in the squad as a coach, ensuring his captaincy spirit will be there to support his teammates mentally. Also missing from Euro 2024 is Xaver Schlager, who had an outstanding season with RB Leipzig and was a key player in the midfield.
Don`t miss out 👉: Euro 2024 Ones to Watch: Players, stats, market values and more
Poland form guide: W-W-W-W-W-L
Austria form guide: W-W-W-W-D-L
Poland vs Austria Head-To-Head Record:
| Poland | Draw | Austria |
| 6 | 2 | 3 |
- June 12, 2008: Austria 1 – 1 Poland (UEFA EURO);
- March 21, 2019: Austria 0 – 1 Poland (UEFA EURO);
- September 9, 2019: Poland 0 – 0 Austria (UEFA EURO).
Poland vs Austria Predicted XI:
Poland’s possible starting lineup (3-5-2): Szczęsny; Bednarek, Salamon, Kiwior; Frankowski, Szymanski, Romanczuk, Zielinski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Buksa.
Austria’s possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Pentz; Posch, Danso, Wober, Mwene; Seiwald, Grillitsch; Laimer, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic.
Statistical preview of the match Poland vs Austria:
- The Polish national team holds 28th place in the FIFA ranking of national squads, while the Austrian collective is ranked 25th.
- Poland’s First XI average age is 28.3 years, and Austria’s First XI average age is 27.4 years.
- Halil Umut Meler has been appointed as the centre referee. The match official has already served 24 games this season, showing an average of 4.7 yellow cards and also whistles 24 fouls per game.
- In the last 5 games, Poland conceded an average of 1.00 goals per game and scored an average of 2.20 goals per game.
- In the last 5 games, Austria conceded an average of 0.80 goals per game and scored an average of 2.20 goals per game.
- Poland cannot win at continental tournaments in regulation time for six matches (3 draws, 3 defeats). At the same time, it is worth noting the persistence of the Poles: they have not left the field at the European Championship without scoring for seven consecutive meetings. There is every chance that this streak will be broken on Friday, as the team has significant problems in attack due to injuries.
- The Austrian national team has suffered two defeats in the last ten games.
What has been said before the match:
Adam Buksa, forward of the Polish team, expressed his thoughts after the match with the Oranje, acknowledging the strength of their opponents:
“I have a lot of respect for the Dutch, they played a fantastic game. But we also had a good performance. We were clear outsiders not only in this game but in this group as a whole, so I think we can be proud of our contribution today. But, of course, in such competitions only points matter.”
“I am very happy to score this goal. I’ve always dreamed of playing in tournaments like this, so to score here is a great story for me. But I have mixed emotions because, after the first goal, we conceded two and didn’t score. After the first game, we should keep our heads high and hope we play well in the second meeting. We can take three points against Austria, why not?”
Poland’s head coach Michał Probierz addressed the match, expressing both gratitude and a commitment to improvement:
“First of all, I would like to say thank you to all Polish fans – those who were at the stadium and those who watched the game on TV. Your support means a lot to us. I told the players that in some moments we didn’t hold the ball long enough and didn’t move forward enough. It’s a shame, as we can usually do that.”
“Of course, we are not giving up. We have to do everything we can to win the two remaining games. I think we can get stronger in this tournament. We played aggressively and were well-organised, showing our potential. With continued effort and focus, we can achieve better results in the upcoming matches.”
Maximilian Weber of the Austrian team offered a thoughtful reflection on the team’s recent match. The player’s introspective words underline his commitment to personal improvement and the team’s collective determination as they navigate through the competition.
“It was a bitter evening for me. Now that I’ve had a night to reflect and sort things out, I’ve been grateful for the support from my teammates, coaching staff, family, and friends, who have helped me regain my focus and perspective.”
“Leading the nation in such a high-stakes match adds an extra layer of responsibility. It’s crucial to swiftly bounce back from setbacks like this. Once I’ve processed everything, I can fully redirect my focus to the EURO tournament. I’m determined to show that I can perform better and contribute more effectively to our team’s goals.”
“As we look ahead, our next challenge carries immense importance for our group stage aspirations—a classic six-pointer. We’ve already seen that Poland presents a formidable challenge, different from our encounter with the Dutch and France. It’s a test of our adaptability and resilience as a team.”
Poland vs Austria Prediction:
Both sides suffered defeats in their opening fixtures at the tournament, thus the upcoming match is of crucial importance for the teams. Both Poland and Austria desperately need a win, as there will be no better chance to gain three points.
Along with this, any mistake can cost the national teams the whole championship, so they will probably try to minimize the risks in the first place. As the past European Championship matches show, both clubs prefer a defensive-oriented style. Only two of the 11 matches that the Austrians played at the Euros saw at least three goals scored in regulation time. Poland has played a few more matches at the European Championship – 15, and many of them have a similar pattern: in 12 outings during this period no more than two goals were scored. The three previous head-to-head meetings between the teams were also low-scoring, with the last one ending 0:0.
The coaching class is going to play a big part here and Rangnick certainly has a lot more experience. His team displays a more well-organized football, having a higher overall level of players in each line. In the last 18 matches, Rangnick’s Wonder Team have only had 2 setbacks (2:3 against Belgium and 0:1 against France on Monday). The team looked quite decent against star-studded France in their most recent match and the Reds’ strong play in qualifying shows that the Austrians can definitely handle a comparable opponent. Jakub Kiwior and the team had problems moving the ball and creating chances against the Netherlands, and the Austrian coach’s trademark gegenpressing is going to be a huge challenge for the unstable Poles, who are experiencing personnel hardships. We expect the Austrians to be closer to victory in a match that will not be rich in attacking action.
Parimatch News staff prediction:
We say: Austria will not lose and the match total will be less than 2.5 – Yes.
Don`t miss out 👉: Denmark vs England: Preview and Prediction