Nations League Preview: Poland vs Scotland
- FIy999 2024/11/17 07:38
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Still with a slight chance of qualifying for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, Scotland will conclude their League A Group 1 campaign on Monday, when they meet Poland in Warsaw.
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After putting a first point on the board last month, by holding Group 1 leaders Portugal to a 0-0 draw, Scotland went one better on Friday night, when their long wait for a win finally ended at Hampden Park.
Steve Clarke's side lay bottom of the table and were in danger of heading straight back down to League B with one game remaining, but returning hero John McGinn stepped off the bench to score a late winner against 10-man Croatia.
Not only did his emphatic finish ensure that Scotland's survival fight would go on until the final matchday, but it also kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the Nations League's knockout phase alive.
Clarke later admitted that his side had not been at their best, with veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon making several saves as Croatia defied their numerical disadvantage in Glasgow, but he was clearly relieved to end his nation's longest winless run on home turf.
Having also halted Scotland's longest streak without a competitive victory - a total of 10 games - Clarke and co can now approach Monday's finale with their demotion destiny in their own hands.
A draw in Poland will prevent them losing League A status and secure a relegation playoff in March; furthermore, a Croatia defeat to Portugal would mean that another Scottish success might even earn an unexpected top-two finish, depending on goal difference.
While Scotland's dreams of a quarter-final spot are still alive, Portugal are already through as group winners, and Croatia just need a point to guarantee progress, the only team totally out of contention is Poland.
The Poles were ultimately overpowered by their Portuguese counterparts on Friday, despite keeping the scoreline goalless at half time, as Rafael Leao made the breakthrough with a 59th-minute header and Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 5-1 away defeat for the Bialo-Czerwoni.
Substitute Dominik Marczuk netted a consolation goal late on, but they have now sunk to the foot of the standings and a spectacular comeback win in Scotland remains their only Group 1 victory to date.
They also scrapped out a spirited 3-3 draw with Croatia, but Michal Probierz has not seen his side keep a single clean sheet in any of their last 10 matches, conceding at a rate nearing three goals per game in this season's Nations League.
Now, their task is quite clear: Poland will enter the playoffs if they win or draw their final fixture - the latter result would save them by virtue of a superior head-to-head record with Scotland - but another loss will see them relegated.
Poland possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Piatkowski, Bednarek, Kiwior; Bereszynski, Urbanski, Zielinski, S. Szymanski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Piatek
Scotland possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; McLean, Gilmour; Doak, McTominay, Christie; Dykes
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