The bad news keeps on coming for Steve Clarke and Scotland. Just when it looked as if damage incurred during a horrible Euro 2024 – and in the first half here – looked like being repaired, Poland snatched a 97th-minute victory. Grant Hanley’s lunge triggered a penalty which only added to despondency around the Scotland team.
Until that point, even the extending of a run to one win in 13 felt unimportant. Clarke’s team had recovered from two goals behind at half-time to level the scores. The key problem attached to what happened next is this always looked the easiest of Scotland’s Nations League fixtures.
Clarke had used pre-match media duties to assert evolution of his team was far more feasible than revolution. Supporters, angry at Scotland’s showing in Germany, sought the latter; in terms of attitude if not personnel. The subdued atmosphere around kick-off here suggested those in the stands were unsure about Clarke’s approach to a fresh start. Fans want new heroes, young heroes and want them now. The most striking aspect was the switch to a back four, given Clarke has typically favoured three.
The Scotland manager remains hamstrung to a large extent by available resource. This was a starting XI containing three Norwich players. The focal point in attack, Lyndon Dykes, has just moved to League One’s Birmingham. Promotion to the top tier of the Nations League always carried danger, put simply because the Scots will face far superior teams.
What Clarke absolutely did not need was this damaging start. Billy Gilmour had his pocket picked by Kacper Urbanski – the pass to Gilmour from Kenny McLean was not particularly smart – with Robert Lewandowski next to receive the ball.
Poland’s iconic striker fed Sebastian Szymanski, whose low drive from 25 yards flew in via Angus Gunn’s left hand post. Gunn may feel he should have done better but the Fenerbahce midfielder was given far too much space to line up his shot. Hampden collectively sighed, apart from a vociferous Polish contingent.
It took 20 minutes for the hosts to produce an attacking move of substance, Scott McTominay blazing over the bar after being played in by Ryan Christie. Scotland’s key issue was out of possession, where Poland were being allowed to shift the ball too quickly between the thirds.
McTominay believed he had equalised midway through the half, only for the scrappy effort to be ruled out for handball. The Napoli man had beaten the Poland defence to an inswinging Andy Robertson free-kick. Robertson is now just the seventh Scottish player to earn 75 international caps.
Scotland had actually shown promise before the visitors doubled their lead. McTominay had attackers in position but could not find them with a cut back. Dykes, having been found superbly by Robertson at the back post, slashed at his goal attempt. Wastefulness was soon to prove costly.
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Anthony Ralston, hitherto Scotland’s best player, kicked the back of Nicola Zalewski’s foot as the full-back marauded. Lewandowski unsurprisingly did the rest from 12 yards for his 84th international goal. That Scotland did not particularly deserve to be two goals adrift somehow felt irrelevant. The tale of woe was continuing. Boos met the half-time whistle.
It took just 23 seconds of the second period for Scotland to be afforded desperately needed hope. Poland were unconvincing in clearing a Dykes cross, which allowed Christie to lay the ball back into the path of Gilmour. The midfielder drilled just his second career goal past Marcin Bulka. After a lengthy check from the VAR – it was totally unclear what for – the counter stood. Scotland had a pulse.
Przemysław Szyminski almost restored Poland’s two-goal lead with a glorious curling shot from long range that narrowly missed Gunn’s upright. Clarke twisted by throwing in Ben Doak, Ryan Gauld and Lawrence Shankland.
The switch paid instant dividends. Doak played in the rampaging Ralston, who pulled back for McTominay. From just six yards, the ex-Manchester United man confidently restored parity. Crucially, the spirit of this Scotland team had been proven as intact. It was broken as Hanley fouled Zalewski. The same player squeezed his penalty through Gunn. For the Scots, it was the latest in a long line of painful episodes.