Scotland face Poland in Warsaw on Monday night in a hugely important fixture.
The result will decide Scotland’s fate in this Nations League campaign and determine both their place in the next one and the World Cup qualifying draw seeds.
Here the PA news agency looks at some of the key talking points ahead of the clash.
Win or bust
The work continues 💪
📸 Training photos incoming.#POLSCO pic.twitter.com/SMF7i0VnJC
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 17, 2024
In some ways, the task for Scotland is simple. They need to win to jump above Poland and avoid bottom spot in section A1. Otherwise they head back down to league B.
There is plenty else at stake. Scotland started the month among the third seeds for the World Cup qualifying draw and victory would likely take them into pot two, or even pot one.
They would need to finish second to do that, and would also qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals in the process.
Calculators at the ready
To finish second, Croatia would have to lose at home to Portugal, who have handed some key players an extra few days off after sealing top position with a 5-1 win over Poland.
But this is where it starts to get complicated. Scotland and Croatia’s head-to-head record is identical, and one-goal wins in each game would leave them level on goal difference.
Scotland would need a two-goal win in either game, or to overtake them on goals scored, or away goals scored.
If all those are level, Scotland would go second courtesy of their away win in Warsaw. Theoretically of course.
Poland under pressure
Na naszym kanale pojawiły się już kulisy meczu z Portugalią. 🇵🇹🇵🇱
📽️ https://t.co/PKb883DXDb pic.twitter.com/PJ7K0mFRAv
— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) November 17, 2024
Head coach Michal Probierz came under fire after defeat in Porto took their goals against column to 14 in five games.
There were other issues as well including two players being criticised for posing for photos with Cristiano Ronaldo after the heavy defeat, goalkeeper Marcin Bulka being quizzed about wearing the wrong shorts, and the administrative blunder that prevented Karol Swiderski entering the field after getting stripped for action on the subs’ bench.
The Poles will be without injured talisman Robert Lewandowski and will need to come out fighting to avoid being subsumed by the negativity.
Stick or twist?
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke must decide whether to start with the team that beat Croatia or mix things up.
He has already hinted he is considering resting Ben Doak despite the 19-year-old’s star turn on Friday.
John McGinn came off the bench to net the only goal and is pushing for a recall while Lyndon Dykes is a strong contender to start up front following Tommy Conway’s first start.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is hoping to shake off illness, otherwise Robby McCrorie is in line for a debut.
