Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup Qualification match.
Poland opened their qualifying campaign with a professional, if unspectacular, 1:0 win over Lithuania, and fans can expect a similar script in Warsaw when the Maltese national team come to town. While flashy football wasn’t on display, the Polish side did just enough — and against another underdog, they’re unlikely to deviate from the pragmatic approach.
Poland
In that match, Poland managed 1.73 xG but only converted in the final 10 minutes. Still, they were rarely threatened defensively, conceding just 0.66 xGA and only two shots on target. Defensively solid and tactically restrained, Poland remain a side more focused on structure than style — particularly after their recent relegation from the Nations League's top tier.
Malta
Malta, meanwhile, nearly snatched a result against Finland, despite a 0:1 defeat. After the break, they were the better side, creating 1.13 xG to Finland’s 0.09, showing they can apply pressure even without marquee talent. However, the red card suspension of Steve Borg forces changes to a defence already lacking depth, and the expected back five in Warsaw is a stopgap at best.
