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:
Scotland 0-1 Poland
21 mins: John McGinn switches the play with a fine cross field pass over to Ryan Christie. Christie nods the ball over to Andy Robertson but the captain is put under pressure.
As he challenges for the aerial ball he gives away another free kick. Poland take this one short but Scotland turn the ball over. Billy Gilmour finds McGinn who slots a pass into the box for Scott McTominay.
McTominay finds a slight bit of space and manages to get a shot off but only lifts it high and wide.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 20:09
Scotland 0-1 Poland
18 mins: The noise levels inside Hampden Park are rising with every foul that Scotland give away. The referee has been decent so far but the home fans are trying to encourage their team on.
An equaliser would take the roof off.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 20:07
Scotland 0-1 Poland
15 mins: Andy Robertson already looks more determined to drive Scotland forward. He gives it to Scott McTominay who works his way down the inside right channel.
He passes a one-two with Ryan Christie before losing possession on the edge of the box. The ball rolls back to Robertson who swings in a cross.
Lyndon Dykes is the target and the forward almost gets a head to the ball but gives away a free kick in the process.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 20:05
Scotland 0-1 Poland
12 mins: Not at all the start that Scotland would have wanted but it’s early in the game and they can recover from this. The hosts had been playing okay and didn’t look overwhelmed by the occasion.
They need to switch back on and reset.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 20:01
GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Poland (Sebastian Szymanski, 8’)
8 mins: Poland take the lead early on!
Kacper Urbanski nicks the ball high up the pitch and slots it across to Robert Lewandowski. The big forward continues the move and passes it to Sebastian Szymanski.
Scotland drop back so he decides to shoot from range and lets fly from 20 yards. The effort is good and beats Angus Gunn to his left before clipping the inside of the post and finishing in the back of the net!
Mike Jones5 September 2024 20:00
Scotland 0-0 Poland
6 mins: Anthony Ralston hurries Nicola Zalewski in the middle of the pitch and gives away a foul to Poland. They take it quickly but can’t play through the Scots and are forced to send it back to goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.
Decent start for Scotland.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 19:53
Scotland 0-0 Poland
3 mins: Scotland are going through something of a reset following their Euro 2024 campaign though Steve Clarke has backed the most of the same players for tonight’s match.
If they can start the Nations League campaign well they’ll only grow in confidence.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 19:52
Kick off! Scotland 0-0 Poland
Kenny McLean gets the ball rolling at Hampden Park and Scotland win a throw in over on the right wing. Poland defend well early on and clean their lines but the host recover the ball and look to sweep forward immediately.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 19:50
Scotland v Poland
Andy Robertson looks determined as he leads out the home side. They’re playing in the Nations League top flight for the first time. Can they get their campaign off to a winning start?
Mike Jones5 September 2024 19:43
Scotland v Poland
Scotland have won 10 of their 16 Nations League games (drawn two, lost four), with their 62.5% win ratio the best of any nation in the competition.
Mike Jones5 September 2024 19:40