Poland v Scotland LIVE: Nations League team news and line-ups as Scots seek to avoid relegation
Scotland travel to Warsaw looking to avoid relegation from Nations League Group A1
Scotland face Poland in the final match of their Nations League group stage campaign, with Steve Clarke’s side looking to avoid relegation from Group A1.
The Scots secured a home win over Croatia at Hampden Park last week to end their long winless run, thanks to a goal from John McGinn, and that result left them level on points with tonight’s opponents but still at the bottom of the group.
Clarke’s men know that nothing other than a win will do this evening, and they face a Poland side that was beaten 5-1 by Portugal in Porto last week.
However, the Scots know they will need to be better – and more clinical – than they were when these two sides met in September, when a last-minute penalty gave Poland a 3-2 win at Hampden Park.
We’ll have all the latest build-up, news and reaction below:
Team news
Poland have made SEVEN changes to the side that was demolished against Portugal, though some were forced on them due to injury.
In goal, Łukasz Skorupski replaces Marcin Bulka, while in defence, Jan Bednarek comes out for Sebastian Walukiewicz.
In the midfield five, Bartosz Bereszyński has made way for Jakub Kamiński, while in the central areas, Kacper Urbanski and Taras Romanczuk have been replaced by Sebastian Szymański and Jakub Moder.
Both attackers have been switched out too, with Mateusz Bogusz making way for Adam Buksa and Krzysztof Piątek coming out for Karol Świderski.
Team news
Steve Clarke has made just two changes to the side that beat Croatia last time out. In attack, Tommy Conway makes way for Lyndon Dykes, while goalscorer John McGinn comes in for Ryan Christie on the left wing.
Line-ups
Poland XI: Skorupski; Piatowski, Walukiewicz, Kiwior; Kaminski, Szymanski, Moder, Zieliński, Zalewski; Buksa, Świderski.
Subs: Bulka, Dragowski, Wieteska, Gurgul, Slisz, Urbański, Bogusz, Puchacz, Kozubal, Kapustka, Marczuk, Piątek.
Scotland XI: Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; Doak, McTominay, McGinn; Dykes.
Subs: Slicker, Henry, Armstrong, McCrorie, Barron, Conway, Shankland, Taylor, Gauld, Christie, McKenna, Devlin.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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