Scotland vs Poland Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League | League A Group 1
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Under the management of Steve Clarke, Scotland embark upon a cycle in which they will hope to end it by qualifying for a first FIFA World Cup since 1998. The Scots begin their UEFA Nations League campaign against a Poland side not quite undergoing a new era.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – ITV / US – FOX Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – ITVX or STV Player / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms
SCOTLAND PREVIEW: SORRY SUMMER FOR SCOTS
For a second successive UEFA European Championship campaign, Scotland ensured they would keep up their 100% record of never making it past the first phase of a major tournament this summer.
Scotland began by being hammered by five goals to one in Munich by Germany before then sharing a much-improved 1-1 draw with Switzerland in Cologne. They then suffered a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Hungary to ensure they would be on their way back to the United Kingdom early.
POLAND PREVIEW: THE MICHAL PROBIERZ ERA
Michal Probierz took charge of the Poland national team ahead of their UEFA EURO 2024 playoffs in March, in which they qualified for the tournament with a penalty shootout victory over Wales in Cardiff.
That victory was followed up by an underwhelming performance at the tournament. After taking the lead against the Netherlands, they ended up losing 2-1 and they were then comfortably beaten by Austria before a morale boosting 1-1 draw against a lacklustre France side.
SCOTLAND TEAM NEWS: ADAMS OUT
Former Southampton striker Che Adams has had a strong start to the season with Torino in Serie A but he has to withdraw from this squad due to injury. The likes of Nathan Patterson, Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson all remain unavailable, too.
PREDICTED XI (3-1-4-1-1): Gunn; Porteous, Hanley, McKenna; Gilmour; Christie, Gilmour, McTominay, McLean, Robertson; McGinn; Dykes
UNAVAILABLE: Adams (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
POLAND TEAM NEWS: NEW AND IMPROVED LEWA
After another disappointing major tournament, Robert Lewandowski has started Barcelona’s La Liga season very well and he will remain their captain with experienced goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny announcing his retirement from all football this summer.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Bulka; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior; Frankowski, Moder, Zielinski, Zalewski; Szymanski; Buksa, Lewandowski
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SCOTLAND VS POLAND PREDICTION
There are quite a few sides in Europe that play with a back three. Some, like Serbia, are gung-ho to a point of ineffectiveness and some are pragmatic. Scotland and Poland, frustratingly for the neutral, fall into the first category. Poland do have their captain back in genuinely good form and shape for the first time in a while but this, if Scotland have their way at Hampden Park, is unlikely to be remotely enjoyable from a neutral perspective.
SCOTLAND VS POLAND TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
