Poland v Scotland LIVE: Nations League team news, line-ups and ...
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy
Scotland face Poland in the final match of their Nations League group stage campaign, with Steve Clarke’s side looking to avoid relegation from Group A1.
The Scots secured a home win over Croatia at Hampden Park last week to end their long winless run, thanks to a goal from John McGinn, and that result left them level on points with tonight’s opponents but still at the bottom of the group.
Clarke’s men know that nothing other than a win will do this evening, and they face a Poland side that was beaten 5-1 by Portugal in Porto last week.
However, the Scots know they will need to be better – and more clinical – than they were when these two sides met in September, when a last-minute penalty gave Poland a 3-2 win at Hampden Park.
We’ll have all the latest build-up, news and reaction below:
This will be the 13th meeting between these two sides, with the first taking place in June 1958. Overall, Scotland have won just two, with Poland winning four and six ending as draws.
In their last meeting in September, Poland ran out 3-2 winners thanks to a last-minute penalty from Nicola Zalewski.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 18:00
Poland have lost just two of their 12 meetings with Scotland in all competitions (won four and drawn six), losing friendly matches against them in June 1958 (1-2) and March 2014 (0-1).
Scotland have lost just one of their six away games against Poland in all competitions (won two and drawn three), going down 1-0 in a May 1980 friendly.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:50
Stick or twist?
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke must decide whether to start with the team that beat Croatia or mix things up.
He has already hinted he is considering resting Ben Doak despite the 19-year-old’s star turn on Friday.
John McGinn came off the bench to net the only goal and is pushing for a recall while Lyndon Dykes is a strong contender to start up front following Tommy Conway’s first start.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is hoping to shake off illness, otherwise Robby McCrorie is in line for a debut.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:40
Calculators at the ready
To finish second, Croatia would have to lose at home to Portugal, who have handed some key players an extra few days off after sealing top position with a 5-1 win over Poland.
But this is where it starts to get complicated. Scotland and Croatia’s head-to-head record is identical, and one-goal wins in each game would leave them level on goal difference.
Scotland would need a two-goal win in either game, or to overtake them on goals scored, or away goals scored.
If all those are level, Scotland would go second courtesy of their away win in Warsaw. Theoretically of course.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:30
Win or bust
In some ways, the task for Scotland is simple. They need to win to jump above Poland and avoid bottom spot in section A1. Otherwise they head back down to league B.
There is plenty else at stake. Scotland started the month among the third seeds for the World Cup qualifying draw and victory would likely take them into pot two, or even pot one.
They would need to finish second to do that, and would also qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals in the process.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:20
Steve Clarke felt his Scotland side ended their long wait for a win with arguably their poorest performance of the UEFA Nations League campaign – but were due the break they received from Croatia’s disputed red card.
Croatia looked the more dangerous side until Petar Sucic received a second yellow card in the 44th minute for a lazy studs-up challenge on John Souttar, having earlier been booked for an innocuous foul on Billy Gilmour.
Scotland’s final ball let them down as they tried to force home the numerical advantage and Croatia even had the best second-half chance before substitute John McGinn knocked home the only goal in the 86th minute.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:10
The match report from last time out...
John McGinn came off the bench to end Scotland’s 10-game run without a competitive victory by firing an 86th-minute winner against 10-man Croatia.
Scotland had struggled to make the most of their numerical advantage after Petar Sucic was sent off in the 44th minute.
Croatia had looked the more threatening side in the first half and still managed to create the best chances after the break before the ball fell for McGinn 12 yards out after the Croatia goalkeeper could only Ben Doak’s ambitious effort into his path.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:00
Scotland were desperately unlucky in the reverse fixture and will be determined to get a result here after positive performances against Croatia and Portugal since September.
Poland 1-1 Scotland.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 16:50
Poland XI: Bulka; Piatowski, Walukiewicz, Kawior; Kaminski, Urbański, Romanczuk, Zieliński, Zalewski; Bogusz, Piatek.
Scotland XI: Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; Doak, McTominay, Christie; Conway.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 16:40
Scotland have no new injury concerns after their win over Croatia last week, so expect to see a similar line-up to last time out.
Craig Gordon will likely continue in goal with the same back four, while Billy Gilmour and Kenny McLean likely to anchor midfield.
John McGinn may have earned himself a spot in the starting eleven after his winning goal, though it remains to be seen if he will play deeper or in a more advanced role as he has done for his club recently.
Ben Doak – who assisted McGinn – and Scott McTominay will retain their places on the right and centre of the forward line. Upfront, Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway will hope he did enough to retain his place, though Lyndon Dykes could make a return.
Poland have a number of injuries within their squad, with Robert Lewandowski currently out alongside Jan Bednarek and Bartosz Bereszynski. In addition, Fenerbahce midfielder Sebastian Szymanski was injured in the warm-up before Friday’s match.
Chris Wilson18 November 2024 16:30
