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Poland v Scotland LIVE: Nations League result as Andy Robertson dramatically rescues Scots from relegation

Poland 1-2 Scotland: The captain’s last-minute header saved the Scots from automatic relegation, with a play-off to come to stay in League A

Chris Wilson
Monday 18 November 2024 17:50 EST
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Steve Clarke may change a winning side for Scotland’s big date against Poland

Andy Robertson’s last-minute goal saved Scotland from automatic Nations League relegation as the captain’s dramatic header earned Steve Clarke’s side a famous 2-1 win against Poland in Warsaw.

Scotland had to win to avoid finishing bottom of League A1, but turned their run of late misfortunate on its head when Robertson arrived at the back post to thump a powerful header into the net.

Having lost their first three matches of the campaign and drawing 0-0 with Portugal, Scotland ended their winless run with a late win over Croatia on Friday before earning back-to-back wins with victory against Poland.

Scotland made the perfect start when John McGinn converted a chance inside just three minutes but Poland’s Kamil Piątkowski arrowed a stunning strike into the top to equalise on 60 minutes.

At one stage, with Portugal beating Croatia in Zagreb, another goal would have lifted Scotland to second place - enough to progress to the quarter-finals and claim a seeded place in World Cup qualifying.

But it finished as a draw in Zagreb, which means Scotland will play a relegation play-off against one of the runners-up from League B in March in a bid to retain their top-tier status.

Team news

The line-ups should be announced at around 6.30pm GMT, but for now here’s a reminder of the early team news.

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 should 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 18:25

Clarke on Doak

Clarke also reserved some praise for Ben Doak, who got the assist for John McGinn’s winning goal and provided a solid performance on the right of midfield against Croatia.

“He’s come into the team, he’s shown a really positive attitude, he gives us something different to what we’ve had before,” Clarke said.

“He gets the assist for the goal, could maybe have had a couple more, maybe have scored one himself,” he added.

“He’s a young player we need to protect and look after but realise that he’s good for now and hopefully for a long time in the future.”

It remains to be seen whether Clarke will start Doak in tonight’s must-win game.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 18:20

Clarke: “The first job is to go there and win"

Speaking after his side’s win over Croatia, Steve Clarke said that he is “still a little bit uptight”.

“The first job is to go there and win. We’ll count up the goals and whatever else afterwards.

“Let’s take it one step at a time, it’s been a hell of a long time since we got a win so it’d be nice to get another.

“For me the pressure is not released. I still feel a little bit uptight.

“Just with the nature of the game when it’s so tight going into the end you’re always waiting on that low blow that’s affected us a few times recently.”

“The sending off changed the game,” he conceded, before adding that “this is a group of players that want to be successful”.

“That’s another clean sheet, two in a row. If you don’t concede goals you always have a chance to win the game.”

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 18:10

Head-to-head

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

Match stats

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

Scotland versus Poland talking points

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

Scotland versus Poland talking points

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

Scotland versus Poland talking points

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 feels Scotland were ‘due’ after lucky break in win over Croatia

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.

Steve Clarke feels Scotland were ‘due’ after lucky break in win over Croatia

Petar Sucic’s dismissal proved costly for the visitors as John McGinn scored a late winner.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:10

John McGinn keeps Scotland’s Nations League hopes alive with winner against 10-man Croatia

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.

McGinn keeps Scotland’s Nations League hopes alive with winner against 10-man Croatia

Scotland 1-0 Croatia: The Aston Villa captain scored the only goal in the 86th minute.

Chris Wilson18 November 2024 17:00

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