Wales v Poland predictions: Dragons firepower can help them beat the drop

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wales v Poland in the Nations League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Premier Sports 1 & S4C, 7.45pm Sunday

Best bet

Wales
1pt 17-10 Coral

Team news

Wales
Gareth Bale is in line for a starting role after coming off the bench against Belgium on Thursday. Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies, Harry Wilson and Joe Allen are out injured, while Ethan Ampadu and Chris Mepham are suspended.

Poland
Poland may name the same team that lost 2-0 to the Netherlands on Thursday. Szymon Zurkowski is back in contention after serving a one-game ban.

Match preview

Defeat to Belgium on Thursday means Wales must beat Poland at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday evening if they are to retain their top-tier Nations League status.

The Dragons will have been disappointed to collect just a single point from their five games to date, but results have perhaps been a little harsh on the Welsh.

Wales competed pretty well against a strong Belgium side in Brussels, and despite the hosts dominating the ball, Rob Page’s men still managed ten shots on Thibaut Courtois's goal.

Prior to that defeat the Welsh were again narrow losers when going down 3-2 in the Netherlands.

That contest was settled by a 93rd-minute winner from Memphis Depay, but it was once again a game in which Page’s side were competitive and it has to be a positive that they scored twice away to one of Europe’s strongest nations.

Narrow defeats have been a continuing trend for the Dragons in the Nations League and all four of their defeats have come by a single-goal margin.

The sole point Page’s side collected came in a 1-1 home draw against Belgium, when the Dragons had a goal chalked off and registered 14 shots on target in a lively display.

Wales’s results may suggest they will struggle to beat Poland but their performances indicate otherwise.

Poland have failed to score in their last two Nations League matches - they managed just six shots on target in defeats to the Netherlands and Belgium - and they have conceded 12 goals in five matches in the competition.

Page will be keen to avoid relegation from the Nations League, especially with the World Cup looming large on the horizon.

There is still competition for places and spots up for grabs in both the Wales manager's squad and starting line-up. And dreams of Qatar and their Nations League position should ensure that motivation is at a peak in the Dragons camp.

Gareth Bale started on the bench against Belgium on Thursday, but the former Real Madrid man seems likely to be recalled to the starting line-up against Poland.

Wales can also call on Kieffer Moore, Dan James and Brennan Johnson in attack and the Dragons have the firepower to end their Nations League campaign on a high.

Key stat

Poland have conceded 12 goals in their last five Nations League matches.

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