The Nations League is one of the world’s mysteries – like the Bermuda Triangle, chicken and the egg or how do you prise apart the plastic packaging encasing your kids’ toys at Christmas?
Few really understand UEFA’s newbie competition but one thing’s for sure – it’s been kind to the Scotland football team.
Results in the Nations League helped us to Euro 2020 of course and it could even propel us to the next World Cup. Shame you need a degree in quantum physics to work it all out. But enough of the science, let’s get back to the soccer.
The country’s on a bit of a low right now after a painful Euros at which Steve Clarke’s side forgot how to play football. But tonight at Hampden is the lads’ first chance to get us all feeling better about ourselves as Poland roll into town.
The Poles represent the first test in our A1 league campaign, followed by Portugal on Sunday.
You can follow all the build-up and action right here in our LIVE blog ahead of the 7:45pm kick-off.
Key Events
-
Prediction time? 17:42
-
Good evening13:13
Don’t miss the action with us
There’s been confusion over where to watch but you won’t miss any of the action with us.
Where else can I follow the action?
You can keep up with all the action right here on dailyrecord.co.uk! We’ll be running a live blog with all the pre-match build-up and team news, and every kick of the ball once the clash gets underway. After the game, we’ll have all the reaction from managers and players, as well as player ratings, talking points and a whole lot more
Prediction time?
Keith Jackson
This is the beginning of the next chapter for Steve Clarke and possible the final one. He could do with a positive result from the most winnable game of the section but with a weakened squad, it’s highly likely to have to settle for a point at home against the Poles.
Scotland 1 Poland 1
Fraser Wilson
Scotland need a result – and probably a win – to restore the belief of the Tartan Army. But this is the start of a real tough run of games and I can only see a nervy draw at best in front of an expectant Hampden. Both sides are needing pick-me-ups after poor Euros. Scotland have the players to cause the Poles problems but I fear about our limitations at the back being exposed.
Scotland 1 Poland 1
Michael Gannon
In theory this should be the easiest clash in the section, but in reality it will be far from a breeze.
The Poles are not top drawer but they are capable of getting decent results. Scotland have struggled in attack in the last year or so but first and foremost we need to get back to being hard to beat. A clean sheet would be the first target and we might need to settle for a draw.
Scotland 0 Poland 0
Gavin Berry
Both nations are looking to shrug off the disappointment of taking just one point from their respective Euro 2024 groups. The visitors were rocked by the news of keeper Wojciech Szczesny’s shock retirement which leaves boss Michal Probierz without a No.1. Scotland need to get their mojo back quickly under Steve Clarke but they might be made to wait.
Scotland 1 Poland 1
Potential XI?
The disappointment of Euro 2024 still runs deep for the Tartan Army as they dust themselves down for the next chapter.
Scotland are back in action this evening as Steve Clarke and his troops get their Nations League campaign up and running. It is a tournament that has delivered memorable results and night since its inception with the memorable penalty shootout play-off final win over Serbia coming as a cause of our performance in the competition. Such has been the success in recent years we now find ourselves among the elite in League A – a division above rivals England who will compete in the B section this time around.
Poland – arguably the only team to turn up even less than the Scots in Germany – are the visitors to the national stadium tonight and the message running through the Scotland support is clear. They want CHANGE. Clarke has so often stuck to the tried and tested and remained loyal to the guys who have picked up results and qualified for the last two Euros.
But performances at both finals have not been there and the Tartan Army are looking to get back on the thrill ride of belief and excitement. There are a number of new faces in the group for the double-header this week – with Portugal to come on Sunday – and with that in mind Record Sport has picked out a bold new-look Scotland XI for tonight’s encounter in Mount Florida.
Good evening
It’s a big night at Hampden and the start of a new campaign. Clean slate, fresh hope. Will Steve Clarke’s men bounce back from the disappointment of Euro 2024 with a win?