Scotland had contributed far too much to the Nations League to finish bottom of Group A1. That was the harsh reality until Andy Robertson leapt like a Loch Tay salmon to meet John Souttar’s superb stoppage-time cross, securing a famous win over Poland with a bullet header which rendered Lukasz Skorupski helpless. Steve Clarke’s team live on, courtesy of a playoff berth. The scale of jubilation which greeted Robertson’s winner told any onlooker how much that means.
“We want to go to another tournament,” Clarke said afterwards. “The playoff in March to stay at the highest level of the Nations League will set us up for a tough World Cup qualifying campaign. We are ready for it.” 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 late intervention, which instead sends Poland into the second tier. Their coach, Michal Probierz, may pay for that with his job.
Written by Ewan Murray
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/18/poland-v-scotland-nations-league-group-a1-match-report under the title “Andy Robertson’s late header in Poland gifts Scotland Nations League lifeline”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
