Nations League | League A

Nov 15, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Hampden Park

Scotlandvs.Croatia

Match preview

Scotland finally got on the board last month, but they'd already had three straight losses at the start of their Nations League campaign after a disappointing Euro 2024 exit.

Steve Clarke's team are at the bottom of Group 1 and are in danger of going straight back down to League B, even if they managed to hold Portugal to a 0-0 draw last time out.

While the result may have relieved some of the pressure on Clarke, Scotland are still enduring their longest ever run of home games without a win (six) and also their longest streak without a competitive victory (10).

If they don't get the full points on Friday night, they'll equal their worst run of not winning any games. That's nine games without a win, which they had back in 1998.

It could have been a very different story. We conceded late goals against Portugal and Poland, which cost us precious points. Ryan Christie's first-half strike in October's reverse fixture was overturned by a Croatian comeback in Zagreb. Che Adams had a potential equaliser, but it was chalked off by the VAR.

If Scotland are to avoid being relegated, they'll need to win at least four points from their final two games. Even finishing third would mean a relegation play-off.

Croatia have never won in Scotland, but they're preparing for their first trip to Hampden since October 2013. They lost 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier, but they're hoping for a different result this time. Igor Matanović and veteran striker Andrej Kramarić secured victory over the Scots last month.

Just three days later, Zlatko Dalic saw his side come up short in their bid to secure second spot in Group 1 and a place in the quarter-finals. They let a two-goal lead slip against Poland and had to settle for an eventful 3-3 draw.

After losing to Portugal and beating Poland at home, the 2023 Nations League runners-up have picked up seven points so far and are on the verge of qualifying for the knockout rounds again.

If they win in Glasgow – or even if they draw and Poland lose to Portugal – Croatia can wrap up progress with one game to spare, as they continue to enjoy their time in UEFA's newest international tournament.

Greece have won more games across the last two editions of the Nations League, which is quite a turnaround. Dalic and his team had lost seven of their first 10 matches in the competition.

Croatia have also scored in each of their last 14 away games, averaging just over two goals per game. They can head for Glasgow confident of breaching their hosts' leaky back line.

Recent Performance

Scotland Nations League form:LLLD

Scotland form (all competitions):DLLLLD

Croatia Nations League form:LWWD

Croatia form (all competitions):DDLWWD

Team News

After losing a few key players to injury recently, Scotland will welcome back Jack Hendry, John McGinn and Stuart Armstrong this month. However, they'll have to do without Torino striker Che Adams.

He missed last week's Derby della Mole against Juventus with a thigh injury and hasn't recovered yet, so Tommy Conway, Lyndon Dykes and Lawrence Shankland will all be competing to start up front.

None of the three are at their best though. Conway has scored five goals for Middlesbrough, Dykes has yet to find the net in League One, and Shankland has only one goal to show for his efforts this term, following an excellent 33-goal haul for club and country last season.

Whichever player is picked will have the backing of McGinn and Scott McTominay. Their Napoli teammate Billy Gilmour is set to go head to head with Croatia's playmaking maestro Luka Modric in midfield.

The visitors will be missing Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic due to injury, but Modric is the captain of an experienced squad that also features Ivan Perisic. The PSV Eindhoven winger has been directly involved in three goals in two games against Scotland, but he has never scored across 18 Nations League appearances.

As first-choice goalkeeper Dominik Livaković is suspended after being sent off versus Poland, Augsburg's Nediljko Labrovic will be the deputy goalkeeper on Friday. Scotland's 41-year-old stopper Craig Gordon will continue to stand in for the injured Angus Gunn.

Possible starting lineup

Scotland possible starting lineup:

Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hendry, Robertson; McLean, Gilmour; McGinn, McTominay, Doak; Dykes

Croatia possible starting lineup:

Labrovic; Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol; Perisic, Modric, Kovacic, Sosa; Baturina, Kramaric; Matanovic