  The Polyakov$-$Nambu$-$Jona-Lasinio model has been quite successful in
describing various qualitative features of observables for strongly interacting
matter, that are measurable in heavy-ion collision experiments. The question
still remains on the quantitative uncertainties in the model results. Such an
estimation is possible only by contrasting these results with those obtained
from first principles using the lattice QCD framework. Recently a variety of
lattice QCD data were reported in the realistic continuum limit. Here we make a
first attempt at reparametrizing the model so as to reproduce these lattice
data. We find excellent quantitative agreement for the equation of state.
Certain discrepancies in the charge and strangeness susceptibilities as well as
baryon-charge correlation still remain. We discuss their causes and outline
possible directions to remove them.
