Scotland vs Portugal LIVE: Nations League team news as Scots look to end losing run against Cristiano Ronaldo
The Scots have never lost five games in a row in their history as they welcome Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo to Hampden
Scotland are desperate to end their losing run as Hampden hosts Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Nations League.
Steve Clarke’s side are enduring a “tough” nine-match winless run, but defeat against Croatia on Saturday means the Tartan Army face the prospect of losing five games in a row for the first time in their history if the result does not go their way tonight in Glasgow.
The Scots have been hit by an injury crisis, as well as a run of late misfortune. After defeats to Poland and Portugal last month, Clarke’s side then had a stoppage-time equaliser that would have rescued a 2-2 draw against Croatia ruled out for offside in Zagreb.
It leaves Scotland facing the prospect of relegation from the top tier of the Nations League but victory against Portugal and Ronaldo would go a long way to lifting the gloom.
The match is not being shown live on TV after the broadcast rights were not picked up by ITV, and is only available to watch on the Viaplay International YouTube channel. Follow live updates from Scotland vs Portugal in the Nations League below:
Thomas Tuchel set to be appointed England manager
Some big news breaking tonight involving the England football team: Thomas Tuchel is set to be appointed as the new Three Lions manager.
The German will be unveiled on Wednesday as the permanent succcessor to Gareth Southgate, who stepped down from a role he had held for eight years after final defeat at Euro 2024.
The 51-year-old Tuchel has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season. The Football Association (FA) sounded out a number of candidates as they sought a high-profile appointment, including Pep Guardiola, and have landed upon an experienced coach with stints at some of Europe’s top clubs.
Tuchel led Chelsea to Champions League triumph in 2021 and has won league titles in France and Germany. This is his first international role, though he worked closely with England captain Harry Kane at Bayern last season after luring the former Tottenham striker to Munich.
He will replace Lee Carsley, who has taken charge of the side for four fixtures on an interim basis.
Thomas Tuchel set to be appointed England manager
The German has been appointed as the third foreign coach of England’s men after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello
Portugal sticking with ‘iconic’ and ‘unique’ Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo starts tonight for Portugal but continues to divide opinion on whether his national team would be better off without him. The 39-year-old great was criticised for his performances at the European Championship after Portugal crashed out in the group stages.
Roberto Martinez has stood by the forward, though, as Ronaldo starts at Hampden tonight. “Well, obviously there are two aspects. I manage the Cristiano Ronaldo that is trying to work hard to help the team to win tomorrow,” he said this week.
“When you arrive in a stadium, in a place like this, I think you get to know the iconic figure and the career of a player that is unique. There is not another player with more than 200 caps at international level as an example, the number of goals that he’s scored, the trophies that he’s achieved.
“So I think for me it’s very easy to manage a player that can help the team to win tomorrow. All the rest is something for all of us to enjoy because it’s a unique case and I think we can all learn from being close to him.”
Roberto Martinez impressed by Portugal’s progress after Euro 2024 disappointment
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez hailed his squad’s improved depth, competitiveness, and preparation following Euro 2024 after they strolled past Poland on Saturday to maintain their perfect Nations League start.
Portugal dominated Poland as Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo put the visitors 2-0 up at the break. Poland midfielder Piotr Zielinski pulled a goal back, but Jan Bednarek’s own goal made it 3-1 to the visitors.
Portugal exited the European Championship in a penalty shootout defeat to France in the quarter-finals, but Martinez said their focus was now firmly on building towards the World Cup in 2026.
“We have more players (now), the competitiveness for what we are working on is growing, we are an even better prepared team after the European Championship,” Martinez told RTP3.
“Our focus and total objective is the World Cup. I am happy, the attitude was incredible, the players’ personality was fantastic in a difficult stadium. For us it is a very important performance.
“We don’t want to concede goals, but the performance was very good. We’re seeing new debuts, new players, who are coming into the group in a natural way.”
Portugal team news
Leading the line, meanwhile, for Portugal is Cristiano Ronaldo, with Roberto Martinez true to his word and unconcerned about starting the striker in back-to-back games even with a reasonably tight turnaround. There is some shuffling of the pieces around him - Diogo Jota, Vitinha, Joao Palhinha and Francisco Conceicao amid a raft of changes.
Scotland team news
So just the one change from Steve Clarke as he sticks with a relatively settled side. Che Adams replaces Lyndon Dykes up top.
Scotland vs Portugal confirmed line-ups
Scotland XI: Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; Doak, McTominay, Christie; Adams
Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Silva, Mendes; Palhinha, Fernandes, Vitinha; Jota, Ronaldo, Conceicao
Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Scotland with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in Scotland for the first time since 2008, in his first appearance at Hampden Park. The 39-year-old faced Celtic in Glasgow twice with Manchester United (United did not win either game).
Ronaldo scored his 133rd international goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Poland and scored a late winner against Scotland in the return fixture last month.
Scotland’s winless run in competitive games
12 October (A): 1-2 vs Croatia (Nations League)
8 September (A): 1-2 vs Portugal (Nations League)
5 September (H): 2-3 vs Poland (Nations League)
23 June: 0-1 vs Hungary (Euro 2024)
19 June: 1-1 vs Switzerland (Euro 2024)
14 June: 1-5 vs Germany (Euro 2024)
19 November (H): 3-3 vs Norway (Euro qualifying)
16 November (A): 2-2 vs Georgia (Euro qualifying)
12 October (A): 0-2 vs Spain (Euro qualifying)
Luckless Scotland suffer another late twist in Nations League
Last time out, Che Adams had a last-gasp goal ruled out as luckless Scotland suffered a 2-1 Nations League defeat to Croatia in Zagreb.
Ryan Christie shot the disciplined visitors ahead in the 33rd minute from a tight angle before striker Igor Matanovic levelled three minutes later.
Steve Clarke’s side came under increasing pressure after the break and eventually succumbed in the 70th minute of the League A Group 1 encounter at Stadion Maksimir when Andrej Kramaric headed the home side in front.
However, in a dramatic finale, Adams, who replaced Lyndon Dykes after the Scots fell behind, had the ball in the net in the fifth minute of added time, only for VAR to disallow the effort for offside, dealing another blow to the visitors.
“The disappointment is massive. You get that high at the end when you think you have a deserved draw and that is taken away by VAR,” Clarke said.
“The performance was really good. I thought we were brave with the ball. We tried to play, tried to create chances. On another night we would’ve got what we deserved.
“A full squad fit and healthy would be a help.”
Roberto Martinez backs Steve Clarke despite Scotland’s winless run
A Portugal win would mean Scotland - with just one victory in their last 15 matches - have lost five in a row for the first time in their history, but Roberto Martinez has no doubt that Steve Clarke can turn things round in the longer term.
“Absolutely, I have no doubts,” he said. “It is a difficult press conference for me to show sympathy when tomorrow I want to win the game. But Steve Clarke is building something very special.
“He already achieved a very successful team, qualified for the European Championship, and now it feels that it is almost a new cycle. And the results will come if the performances stay at this level.”
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