Scotland’s national football team secured a crucial 2-1 win over Poland in the Nations League, keeping their hopes alive in the competition.
This victory allowed Scotland to avoid automatic relegation and finish third in Group A1. They will now face a relegation play-off to maintain their position in the top tier.
Scotland made an impressive start in Warsaw, with John McGinn scoring his 20th goal for the national team just three minutes into the match. Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay both came close to extending the lead, hitting the woodwork before halftime. Craig Gordon also made key saves to preserve their advantage.
Kamil Piatowski equalised for Poland with a stunning strike just before the hour mark. However, Andy Robertson, on his 80th appearance for Scotland, scored a decisive header in the 93rd minute, securing victory. Robertson’s goal marked the first time since October 2021 that a Scottish player scored a last-minute winner.
This win was significant as it marked Scotland’s first back-to-back international victories since March-September 2023. Steve Clarke expressed his satisfaction with ending the Nations League group stage positively. “A good way to end this Nations League campaign,” Clarke stated.
Clarke emphasised that belief was never lost among players despite initial setbacks. “We always felt one more chance would come,” he said, praising John Souttar’s cross and Robertson’s header. Clarke highlighted that starting with three narrow defeats didn’t shake their confidence.
The team’s perseverance paid off as they collected seven points from their last three matches, earning them a spot in the play-offs. Clarke noted that playing at this level enhances performance and acknowledged many positive moments during his tenure.
The draw for the Nations League play-offs is scheduled for Friday, with matches set for March. This victory represents another step forward for Scotland under Clarke’s leadership
