Since taking charge of Poland in Jan, PS has gone full mad scientist testing out 30 players in 5 games (with 27 subs) with very little carry-over from one line-up to the next. If you can make out anything from that chart, kudos to you! 😁

He has tested out: 🇵🇱 a 3-striker formation (Lewy, Piatek & Milik vs. Andorra) 🇵🇱 5 different CBs 🇵🇱 a variety of wingbacks and wingers

In terms of predicting a starting XI, there are a few names that are obvious (Szczesny, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Lewy) and the rest honestly have a non-zero chance of being benched.

I have no clue what PS is thinking re: some positions and now we have some players with small knocks. Rybus was unable to train and only played 10 mins vs. 🇮🇸 - Puchacz (4.0 M) may have overtaken the LWB position. Bednarek also missed the 🇮🇸 game, worth monitoring.

It seems Sousa prefers the 352 formation which converts to a more compact 442 or 4411 when defending. From a Fantasy perspective, Puchacz (4.0 M) or Bereszynski (4.5 M) - *if they start! - could offer decent value for a cheap defender.

I don't like guesswork when it comes to predicting starting XIs - which is why I waited until now to write this - but here are a few potential lineups I think we might see (but again, don't hold it against me if I'm wrong 😂) ...

352 with 2 strikers up top - Lewy + Swierczok (5.5 M), Kedziora slotting into RCB and potentially Bereszynski at RWB. Jozwiak (6 M) has prob been one of the better performers over the last 5 games but he's often a super sub. (add Frankowski to RWB discussion in this pic)

It's clear PS prefers 2 strikers up top. Swierczok played more forward vs. 🇮🇸 (he played much better vs. 🇷🇺 though) with Lewy dropping back. The idea is that 2 strikers frees up a bit more space for Lewy, which has been an issue in Poland's preferred 4231 of the last few years.

This makes the injuries to Arek Milik and Krzysztof Piatek that much more disheartening ... while Swierczok had a great season for Piast Gliwice, those are different levels we're talking about!

A variant which we might see (but hasn't really been tested) is a 352 with Lewy playing more up top (he drops back quite a bit more for 🇵🇱 than Bayern) supported by Zielinski. I know PZ played more forward for Napoli this season and it translated to more g+a. (8 G, 11 A)

I doubt it happens but this variant prob gets the best players we have all on the pitch at the same time (Swierczok is a bit raw at NT level, but had a good season) ... in the 🇮🇸 game, you could see Lewy dropping back a bit and Zielinski making more forward runs than usual.

Sousa has talked about translating some of Zielinski's success at Napoli to the NT ... at 7 M, Zielinski is a pretty good pick I'd say (though again his play at NT level hasn't always translated to g+a). 🇵🇱 0 G + 1 A in 10 Euro qualifiers (old mgr) 🇵🇱 0 G + 1 A in 3 WCQs so far

He will be on plenty of set pieces and it looks like Sousa is counting on him to be more decisive in getting into good positions (to boot - a goal vs. 🇮🇸 in his 45 mins).

I'll be honest, I was a bit surprised at the seemingly 'experimental' side Sousa put out vs. 🇮🇸 yesterday. But now that I think about it and looking at the crazy chart I posted, I don't think this XI will be far off what we see on Mon vs. 🇸🇰

Note that this is just sofascore being sofascore. This was most certainly a 352 with Kedziora at RCB, Puchacz LWB, Krych and Moder in the middle, Frankowski RWB and Lewy-Swierczok partnership up top.

So I'll repost the starting XI I think we'll see vs. 🇸🇰 (or something close to it) unless Sousa has really kept his cards to close to his chest and has duped us all. 😂😁 Frankowski or Jozwiak could start at RWB vs. 🇸🇰 while we might see Kedziora RCB and Bereszynki RWB vs. 🇪🇸.

TL DR version... 🇵🇱 Lewy is Lewy... while he drops back more for 🇵🇱 he is still absolutely world class and can score a brace any game 🇵🇱 Zielinski being counted on for more offensive output/influence 🇵🇱 Puchacz - if he starts - could be a sweet 4.0 M bargain

TL DR version, cont'd... 🇵🇱 Bednarek at 4.5 M is a popular pick I see.. don't expect goals as I've seen suggested, Glik (5.5 M) is far more likely to get a header goal 🇵🇱 Szczesny is nailed but I don't know if I trust the Poland D for CSs too much tbh 🙃

TL DR version, cont'd... 🇵🇱 352 the most likely formation but expect some personnel changes between the games + risk of some guys being benched due to Sousa's tinkering (at least thus far)

Hope you enjoyed reading this thread! 🇵🇱⚽️ RTs & Likes are welcome! 🍻