Key players have rediscovered form and the manager has shown great aptitude of the role after dramatic Poland win Parliamentarians must look enviously at Steve Clarke’s ability to captivate or switch public opinion. Clarke was a national hero when guiding Scotland to Euro 2024. Failure there – or, specifically, the manner of that failure – fuelled a sense Scotland may require a new manager by the start of World Cup qualifying. Three defeats to open the Nations League only emphasised that change was needed. It was always worth remembering that Clarke had raised expectations in the first place, courtesy of tournament qualifications his predecessors could not achieve despite media love-bombing. Continue reading...

Scotland end the Nations League group phase on a positive note, with a shift away from the drab caution on display at a disappointing Euros, writes Tom English.

Match winner Andy Robertson is keen to shine a light of praise on another of Scotland's defenders, John Souttar, following victory in Poland.

We discuss Scotland’s 2-1 win in Poland and their Nations League campaign as a whole.

Not for the first time, Steve Clarke and his Scotland side have responded to adversity with crucial results.

Head coach Steve Clarke says his side must continue to develop after they ended their Nations League campaign with a win in Poland.

Scotland captain Andy Robertson says his side deserved their late win in Poland, which ensured they avoid automatic Nations League relegation.

Scotland had contributed far too much to the Nations League to finish bottom of Group A1. That was the harsh reality until Andy Robertson’s glorious stoppage-time header, which secured a famous win over Poland. Steve Clarke’s team live on, courtesy of a playoff berth. When John McGinn sent Scotland ahead, thoughts were of another outcome. Had the result gone their way between Croatia and Portugal, it was conceivable Clarke’s men could finish second. Ultimately that other tie was immaterial but this one was not. Scotland and their support celebrated in epic style courtesy of Robertson’s intervention, which instead sends Poland into League B. This felt poetic, at the venue for the Liverpool full-back’s Scotland debut and, on this occasion, the earning of his 80th cap. It was the latest triumph for Clarke’s management. Continue reading...

Andy Roberson’s injury-time header settled a pulsating game and earned Scotland a relegation playoff in the Nations League 1 min Peep peep! The match is under way. Mood music Continue reading...

Head coach Steve Clarke maintains a cautious stance on Scotland winger Ben Doak before the Nations League match against Poland.

Scotland's Nations League campaign so far and preview of the final match against Poland

The forward is impressing and Clarke is ready to unleash him for Monday’s Nations League decider with Poland Even Steve Clarke cannot help himself any more. Scotland’s manager spent months warning a football nation to temper excitement around Ben Doak. Friday evening’s starring role for the 19-year-old as Scotland defeated Croatia, where in one outrageous first-half moment he bamboozled the £77m Josko Gvardiol, led Clarke to drop his guard. “Ben is a young player that we need to protect and look after,” he said. “But I realise he is good for now and hopefully for a long time in the future.” In other words: I will continue to pick him. Clarke had been correct to douse the noise around Doak, a player who had turned heads long before he departed Celtic for Liverpool in 2022. Scottish inability to produce anything like an acceptable number of elite, game-ready young footballers means the public latch on to any potential star. Far more fall by the wayside than justify the hype. For every Billy Gilmour, there are umpteen Oliver Burkes. Holding out for heroes has meant outlandish exaggeration. Continue reading...

Poland are feeling the heat after a 5-1 Nations League defeat by Portugal. Can they bounce back against Scotland?

Craig Gordon believes Scotland's luck turned in their Nations League win over Croatia and wants to back it up against Poland.