Croatia v Scotland: Nations League – dwell

Steve Clarke speaks to BBC Radio Scotland. “It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a win, so it’d be good to get one right here … clearly a troublesome match however one we stay up for … if we didn’t assume we might compete we’d have stayed at house … we compete for a win or at the very least a degree on the board … the accidents are there for everybody to see … there isn’t any level harping on about it … I don’t assume we’ve gone backwards.”

Croatia aren’t on one of the best of runs. That aforementioned win over Poland was their first in 5 matches, earlier than which pulls at house with Italy and Albania had been sandwiched by defeats to Spain and Portugal.

Nonetheless that’s all wine and roses in comparison with the depressing run Scotland are on. Steve Clarke’s aspect have received simply considered one of their final 14 matches, and that an especially unconvincing 2-0 win in Gibraltar. 9 of the opposite 13 video games have been misplaced, a number of comprehensively so: 1-3 v England, 1-4 v France, 0-4 v Netherlands, 1-5 v Germany. The 0-1 loss to Northern Eire wasn’t significantly better, although to be truthful a 0-2 defeat in Spain might need turned out quite otherwise had Scott McTominay not had a gap purpose chalked off for bugger all.

Additionally, the Scots stay the final staff to beat the brand new European champions in a aggressive fixture, so sure sir, on an excellent day they’ll certainly boogie. Bizarre that earlier than the staff launched into this sorry run, they’d received eight of their earlier ten. That’s the Scottish nationwide staff distilled into the purest tincture.

Croatia make three modifications to the aspect that received 1-0 in opposition to Poland final time spherical. Mario Pašalić, Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić – the latter two World Cup finalists – exchange Marko Pjaca and Bruno Petković, who drop to the bench, and Mateo Kovačić, absent with child on the best way. Luka Modrić, the third member of that well-known 2018 aspect beginning right now, will win his 181st cap.

Right here’s the story of Scotland’s Nations League marketing campaign to this point. It’s been A1 in identify, if nothing else. Harm-time distress …

… was quickly compounded by extra late woe …

… and so the Group A1 desk presently seems to be like this. Poland will host Portugal later this night.

1. Portugal P2 W2 D0 L0 F4 A2 Pts 6

2. Croatia P2 W1 D0 L1 F2 A2 Pts 3

3. Poland P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3 Pts 3

4. Scotland P2 W0 D0 L2 F3 A5 Pts 0

Scotland make three modifications to the staff that began the 2-1 defeat in Portugal. Craig Gordon replaces Angus Gunn in purpose, John Souttar steps in for Scott McKenna on the again, and the inventive void left by the absence of John McGinn is crammed by Ben Doak, making his first full begin for his nation. Ché Adams, who has scored three objectives in Serie A for Torino this season, has to make do with a spot on the bench; Steve Clarke sticks with Lyndon Dykes, who has but to attain his first purpose for Birmingham Metropolis in League One.

The groups

Preamble