The Football Faithful
·18 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·18 November 2024
It’s all to play for as Scotland travel to Poland on Monday night in their final fixture of the Nations League’s group campaign.
Steve Clarke’s side are bottom of the group but a 1-0 win over 10-man Croatia has given Scotland an outside chance of reaching the quarter-finals. However, potential promotion is not all that is at stake. The Tartan Army must win in Poland to avoid relegation to the second tier.
Here is everything you need to know about the clash.
Poland: WLLDL
Poland head into the contest reeling from a 5-1 thrashing to group winners Portugal. A Robert Lewandowski-less Poland side were level at half-time in Porto but collapsed after the break to concede five goals.
Michał Probierz’s side have been vulnerable defensively and have shipped 14 goals in their five Nations League games – failing to keep a clean sheet. Level on four points with Scotland, Poland will avoid automatic relegation to the second tier if they avoid defeat. The third-place teams in the group will face a play-off against runners-up from League B to preserve their top-tier status.
Scotland: LLLDW
After earning their first point of the campaign with a goalless draw with Portugal last month, Scotland secured a much-needed win over Croatia on Friday night. John McGinn scored the decisive goal off the bench at Hampden Park against a Croatia side who had Petar Sucic sent off before the break.
The win snapped a run of 10 competitive games without a win for Scotland, whose Nations League campaign has been a story of encouraging showings without results.
Scotland’s fate is back in their own hands, though the Tartan Army could finish anywhere from second to fourth in the group. Steve Clarke’s side are clear in their requirement, however, anything less than a win in Poland will end in Nations League relegation.
Scotland 2-3 Poland, September 5th 2024, Nations League
Scotland suffered heartbreak on matchday one as a 97th-minute winner for Poland undid a spirited comeback at Hampden Park.
After trailing 2-0 to goals from Sebastian Szymański and Robert Lewandowski, Scotland fought back to level through Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay. However, deep into stoppage time a rash challenge from Grant Hanley handed Poland a penalty. Nicola Zalewski made no mistake with the spot-kick to snatch the points in the final seconds.
Poland: Bulka; Piatkowski, Bednarek, Kiwior; Bereszynski, Urbanski, Zielinski, S. Szymanski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Piatek
Scotland: Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; McGinn, Gilmour; Doak, McTominay, Christie; Dykes.
Christian Dingert (Germany)
Viaplay holds the rights to all of Scotland’s competitive home and away matches until 2028.
19:45 GMT.
Poland – 11/8
Draw – 12/5
Scotland – 19/10