2026 FIFA World Cup – European Qualifiers – Group G
24 March 2025, Stadion Narodowy
POLAND…..2
MALTA……..0
Goals: 27’, 51’ Karol Świderski (POL)
Malta lost their second game in a row in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, despite putting in a strong performance against Poland on Monday night.
Poland started the match on the front foot and nearly scored in the third minute, but Jakub Kamiński’s shot just missed the post.
Malta responded quickly in the sixth minute. Some tidy passing from the back gave Ilyas Chouaref space to burst forward, but his shot was pushed away for a corner by Poland goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski.
Poland continued to press, especially down the left side. In the 14th minute, Mateusz Bogusz broke free and took a shot, but Malta’s keeper Henry Bonello made a brilliant save.
Poland finally got the breakthrough in the 27th minute. A cross from the right was deflected, landing at the feet of Karol Świderski, who finished from close range to give Poland the lead.
Malta had another good chance in the 33rd minute, but the shot went wide. A few minutes later, James Carragher intercepted the ball and tried a long-range effort, but it was saved by Skorupski.
Before the break, Bonello made a couple more important saves to keep the score at 1-0.
Just a few minutes into the second half, Poland doubled their lead. After a misplaced pass by Malta, Jakub Moder set up Świderski, who scored his second of the night with a left-footed strike.
Poland kept the pressure on in the second half. Świderski nearly got a hat-trick in the 71st minute, but Bonello denied him again with a top save. In the 78th minute, Kamiński had a one-on-one chance, but Bonello stayed strong to block the shot.
Chouaref, who was Malta’s biggest threat throughout the match, tried another shot from distance in the 87th minute, but Skorupski saved comfortably.
Malta finished the match with 10 men once again, after Chouaref was shown a red card for a challenge in midfield.
Despite the 2-0 defeat, Malta showed some promising moments against a strong Poland team.
Malta’s next Group G match will be at home against Lithuania on 7 June 2025.
Poland Line-up
1 Łukasz Skorupski (GK), 5 Jan Bednarek (C) (4 Mateusz Wieteska 46’), 8 Jakub Moder, 10 Sebastian Szymański, 11 Karol Świderski, 13 Jakub Kamiński (18 Bartosz Bereszyński 87’), 14 Jakub Kiwior, 15 Kamil Piątkowski, 19 Przemysław Frankowski (2 Matty Cash 66’), 21 Mateusz Bogusz (17 Bartosz Slisz 46’), 23 Krzysztof Piątek (9 Robert Lewandowski 66’)
Coach: Michał Probierz
Malta Line-up
1 Henry Bonello (GK), 3 Ryan Camenzuli, 5 James Lee Carragher, 6 Matthew Guillaumier (C), 7 Joseph Mbong (18 Adam Magri Overend 66’), 9 Ilyas Chouaref, 10 Teddy Teuma, 13 Enrico Pepe (2 Jean Borg 83’), 20 Paul Mbong (14 Kyrian Nwoko 46’), 22 Zach Muscat (19 Carlo Zammit Lonardelli 58’), 23 Alexander Satariano (11 Basil Tuma 58’)
Coach: Emilio De Leo
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)
Yellow Cards:
Malta – Zach Muscat, Basil Tuma, Ilyas Chouaref
Poland – Przemysław Frankowski, Bartosz Slisz
Red Card:
Malta – Ilyas Chouaref
