Poland vs Faroe Islands

Poland’s chances of advancing into next summer’s Euro 2024 are in jeopardy as they meet qualifying Group E whipping boys Faroe Islands in a must-win clash at the PGE Narodowy.

An underwhelming 2022 World Cup last-16 elimination had coerced long-serving manager Czesław Michniewicz to step down as Poland coach, with ex-Portugal boss Fernando Santos taking his place shortly after. However, the 68-year-old tactician has amends to make after overseeing just one win from his opening three competitive games in charge of Poland (L2), courtesy of a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Albania in the second round of Group E. Santos’ men have lost their remaining two Euro 2024 qualifiers via a combined score of 6-2, including a dreadful 3-2 defeat at below-par Moldova last time out. Stuck three points behind 2nd-placed Albania, the Poles must rekindle their form in September to bolster their chances of qualifying for a third consecutive European Championship.

The visiting Faroe Islands can hardly throw a spanner in the works as they’ve lost back-to-back Group E matches to the Czech Republic and Albania, conceding precisely three goals on both occasions, following a 1-1 draw at Moldova in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier. Already nailed to the bottom of the standings, the visitors could be staring down the barrel of a third straight winless Euro qualifying campaign. Their hopes of avoiding that fate in Warsaw are as good as dead, at least based on the fact they’ve lost both previous encounters against Poland by 4+ goals ‘to nil.’ Furthermore, you’d need to go back to September 2020 for the Faroe Islands’ last win on the road, courtesy of a 1-0 triumph at Andorra. They have since gone winless in 17 consecutive internationals on hostile turf (D8, L9).