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

Poland will be seeking to record back-to-back victories in Group E when they visit Moldova on Tuesday.

The hosts, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back after being defeated by Albania during the weekend.

Match preview

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Having fallen to their lowest-ever world ranking of 181st in October 2021, Moldova are making gradual improvements under Serghei Clescenco's management.

The 51-year-old, who earned 69 caps for Moldova during his playing career, took his home nation to within the brink of promotion from the bottom tier of the UEFA Nations League, but they were ultimately pipped by Latvia on goal difference.

Despite being ranked as high as 38th in FIFA's world rankings system in April 2008, the Tricolours have never truly come close to qualifying for a major tournament, with a couple of fourth-placed finishes in qualifying groups representing their best efforts.

After collecting only two points from their opening three matches of this particular campaign, albeit with one of those coming in impressive fashion by holding Czech Republic to a goalless draw, their chances of competing in Germany next summer appear to be slim. A positive result against Poland on Tuesday is surely an absolute necessity to improve their fortunes.

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Poland, on the other hand, have every chance of qualifying for their fifth successive major tournament despite losing to Czech Republic in their opening match in March.

The White-Reds recovered well to claim a crucial 1-0 victory against Albania at the National Stadium in Warsaw in March, before impressively beating Germany at the same venue in a friendly on Friday night.

Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior scored the only goal of the game after 31 minutes, with Fernando Santos - who won the European Championship with his home nation Portugal in 2016 - showcasing his tactical strengths by successfully shutting up shop for the rest of the encounter.

While that result has the potential to serve as a springboard for the 68-year-old's reign with Poland, it will count for nothing if they do not back it up with another win in Chisinau on Tuesday, especially having seen Czech Republic move four points clear of them at the top of Group E.

Team News

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Voluntari defender Igor Armas appears to have had his international career effectively ended while Clescenco is in charge, having been omitted from the squad by his former teammate once again despite earning 83 caps since making his debut in 2008.

As the only player in double figures in terms of international goals, Ion Nicolaescu will carry the burden of being his country's most potent attacker.

Poland, meanwhile, will travel without Jakub Błaszczykowski after the Wisla Krakow midfielder called time on his international career after starting his last ever game for his country against Germany on Friday.

Similarly, Kamil Glik, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Kamil Grosicki have not been included since bowing out of the recent World Cup at the last-16 stage, with Santos keen to embark on a new era.

However, Robert Lewandowski very much remains Poland's main man, but it remains to be seen who will partner the Barcelona forward on Tuesday. Arkadiusz Milik will be hoping to receive the nod should Santos want to utilise two out-and-out strikers.

Moldova possible starting lineup:
Railean; Posmac, Craciun, Mudrac; Revenco, Caimacov, Rata, Motpan, Cojocari; Nicolaescu, Damascan

Poland possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Frankowski, Salamon, Bednarek, Kiwior; Zalewski, Linetty, Zielinski, Kaminski; Swiderski, Lewandowski

We say: Moldova 0-1 Poland

Moldova have clearly tightened things up a little since appointing Clescenco, with their goalless draw against Czech Republic in March showing they are not the pushovers they have been in previous qualifying campaigns.

However, Poland should be full of confidence after defeating Germany on Friday, and we can envisage another tight victory for them to bolster their hopes of claiming a top two spot in Group E.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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