Key occasions
Ben Doak’s efficiency on Friday night time was lacking just one factor.
Think about if anyone did this now. My favorite bit is the matter-of-fact method the commentator Arthur Montford says, “Murray having a seat on the ball”, as if it was as commonplace as a throw-in.
Learn Ewan Murray on Ben Doak
Doak has searing tempo and a direct model that appeals to the paying punter. What you see is what you get. His working-class roots are a welcome antidote to the sense soccer has grow to be overpriced or unappealing to that group in society. Supporters can relate to Doak’s persona and strategy to the sport. However he’s additionally vastly efficient; Josko Gvardiol regarded terrified at instances in Glasgow.
Crew information
Steve Clarke makes two adjustments to the workforce that beat Croatia: John McGinn and Lyndon Dykes change Ryan Christie and Tommy Conway.
Poland, who’re with out the injured Robert Lewandowski for this worldwide break, make seven adjustments to the workforce that was hammered by Portugal on Friday. And should you assume I’m going to record all of them, you’ve bought one other factor coming. The survivors are the captain Piotr Zielinski, Jakub Kiwior, Nicola Zalewski and Kamil Piatkowski.
Poland (3-5-2) Skorupski; Piatkowski, Walukiewicz, Kiwior; Kaminski, S Szymanski, Moder, Zielinski, Zalewski; Buksa, Swiderski.
Substitutes: tbc
Scotland (4-2-3-1) Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; Doak, McTominay, McGinn; Dykes.
Substitutes: Slicker, Robby McCrorie, Shankland, Christie, Hendry, Barron, Taylor, McKenna, Armstrong, Conway, Gauld, Devlin.
Referee Christian Dingert (Germany)
The state of play in Group A1
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Portugal 13pts
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Croatia 7
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Poland 4 (GD-6)
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Scotland 4 (-2)
Scotland’s purpose distinction is superior, primarily as a result of Poland had been walloped 5-1 in Portugal, however the first tiebreaker is head-to-head file so they’re in third place. It additionally means they will’t go above Croatia – however Scotland can in the event that they win and Portugal beat Croatia in Cut up.
Dangle on, the quarter-finals of the Nations League: when did that occur? It’ll be a 32-team jamboree by 2031, mark our phrases.
Preamble
So that you’re saying there’s an opportunity? Scotland’s dramatic victory over Croatia on Friday stored alive their hopes of avoiding computerized relegation from Group A1 of the Nations League. All they must do now’s beat Poland in Warsaw. In the event that they handle that, they may but qualify for the quarter-finals as nicely.
Scotland’s marketing campaign began with an exasperating 3-2 defeat at dwelling to Poland, with Nicola Zalenski scoring the winner from the penalty spot within the 97th minute. That purpose appears to be like much more vital; with out it, Scotland would solely want a draw tonight to complete third within the group.
Regardless of. Scotland are nonetheless alive they usually have the factor their fanbase wants greater than most: hope. Proper now it comes within the peedie, speedy type of Ben Doak, the teenage winger whose scorching efficiency in opposition to Croatia was like a contemporary remodeling of Jinky Johnstone.
The child’s solely 19 so we shouldn’t get carried away. And we definitely shouldn’t level out that he has the identical initials because the trophy Messi and Ronaldo monopolised from 2008–23.
Kick off 7.45pm.
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