Poland's playoff pedigree won't matter against Albania, Urban warns

March 25 - Poland go into their World Cup playoff semi-final against Albania with a strong recent record in such games, but coach Jan Urban said on Wednesday that past successes mean little as they prepare to face a familiar opponent. Read more at straitstimes.com.

March 25 - Poland go into their World Cup playoff semi-final against Albania with a strong recent record in such games, but coach Jan Urban said on Wednesday that past successes mean little as they prepare to face a familiar opponent.

Poland reached the last World Cup through the playoff route, also qualifying for Euro 2024 that way, with many of the current squad having come through those pressure games.

"Yes, they have experience, of course they do," Urban told reporters ahead of Thursday's game in Warsaw.

"If that's the card they want to play, I think that when they go out on the pitch, that experience is in them.

"But they won't be thinking about having played such matches before, they'll be thinking about what we've planned, how we want to play against this team.

"You're in the match, analysing what's happening on the pitch. There's responsibility, stress, fatigue, there's no time for such things. You don't think about things like that."