Scotland v Poland LIVE: Latest Nations League scores and updates ...
Scotland were left reeling after finishing bottom of their group at Euro 2024 with just one point, and will play for pride and points when Poland visit
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Scotland face Poland at Hampden Park in the opening match of their Nations League campaign on Thursday night, looking to put a summer of disappointment behind them.
Steve Clarke’s side finished bottom of their group at Euro 2024 with just one point, but despite calls for a sacking or a resignation, Clarke leads the team once more in a Nations League group that also contains international heavyweights Portugal and Croatia.
Scotland will face the Selecao on Sunday, but first comes a test against the ‘easiest’ opposition in the group. Clarke has called up several uncapped players, including Liverpool loanee Ben Doak and Ryan Gauld, whose only other call-up came in September 2014.
And Poland will be looking to bounce back from a similarly disappointing Euros campaign of their own, where they finished bottom of an admittedly more difficult group in Germany.
Follow all the latest build-up, updates and reaction from the Nations League below:
Here’s a look at the schedule for this international break and which teams play each other in the Nations League:
Thursday, 5 September
Scotland vs Poland (19:45)
Northern Ireland vs Luxembourg (19:45)
Friday, 6 September
Wales vs Turkey (19:45)
Saturday, 7 September
Republic of Ireland vs England (17:00)
Sunday, 8 September
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland (17:00)
Portugal vs Scotland (19:45)
Monday, 9 September
Montenegro vs Wales (19:45)
Tuesday, 10 September
England vs Finland (19:45)
Mike Jones5 September 2024 18:15
The competition is split into four levels, from A down to D, with four groups in A, B and C and two groups in D.
Scotland are in Group A1, so the top level, while England (B2) and Wales (B4) are in the second tier and Northern Ireland (C3) the third.
The top two teams from each group in League A go into two-legged quarter-finals in March, with the winners going into the final-four tournament in June. The winner of that mini-tournament is Nations League victor.
The winners of each group in Leagues B, C and D are promoted to a higher division. The teams who finish bottom of each group in Leagues A and B are relegated.
Teams who finished third in their groups in League A will face League B runners-ups - and League B’s third-placed teams will face League C runners-up - in two-legged promotion/relegation play-offs in March.
There will also be play-offs between the two best fourth-placed teams in League C and the two runners-up in League D.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 18:10
Rangers midfielder Connor Barron and Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken have been called up to the Scotland squad for the first time for the Nations League double-header against Poland and Portugal.
In an update from the Scottish Football Association on Tuesday, it was revealed that Barron and Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig have both been promoted from the under-21 squad following a spate of withdrawals.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 18:05
The absence of long-term injured players such as Kieran Tierney, Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey was compounded when Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie, Torino striker Che Adams and Celtic pair James Forrest and Greg Taylor all left the original squad for the Group A game against the Poles and the trip to Portugal on Sunday.
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld had been called into the squad after a 10-year absence along with fellow uncapped duo, Sturm Graz full-back Max Johnston and attacker Ben Doakes, who is on loan at Middlesbrough from Liverpool.
They were joined by Rangers midfielder Connor Barron, Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken and Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig, making it six potential debutants.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 18:00
It was a late confirmation that was only announced on Wednesday, but the match will be shown live in the UK on ITV4 and ITVX.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 17:55
Scotland take on Poland in the Nations League A Group 1 game at Hampden Park on Thursday 5 September and the match will kick off at 7.45 pm BST.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 17:50
Should Scotland finish in the top two of their group they would qualify for the quarter-finals of the Nations League, fourth would confirm a relegation to League B and third would ensure a play-off match.
Although the Nations League is its own event, it also has an impact on qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which Scotland would be aiming to compete in for the first time since 1998.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 17:45
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Nations League action as Scotland play host to Poland at Hampden Park.
Steve Clarke’s men are back on the international stage after their shocking Euro 2024 campaign and will hope for a more positive time of things this evening.
Scotland’s Nations League group also includes international heavyweights Portugal and Croatia so a victory against an underpar Poland will leave them in a strong position.
We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and more throughout the night so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 7.45pm.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 15:59
