1 month ago
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POLAND skipper Piotr Zieliński could have been forgiven for asking Andy Robertson for a selfie.
Robbo’s last gasp header was as good as any goal Cristiano Ronaldo ever scored.
Kenny Ramsay
EPAOn a night of mind-boggling high drama, the Scotland skipper’s late, late winner in Warsaw a full three minutes into stoppage time saw Steve Clarke’s side avoid Nations League relegation.
The second spot dream was snatched away by Croatia’s 1-1 draw with Portugal.
But on his 80th cap, the Liverpool left-back gave the travelling Tartan Army the victory to go with a spirited and gutsy display now meaning third place and a March play-off to in group A1.
John McGinn fired the team ahead before Poland levelled.
But in the dying seconds Robertson struck with a brave, bold header into the roof of the net.
It was no more than Scotland deserved.
HOW THEY RATED
Craig Gordon – recovered from a bug to win 79th cap and Scotland needed him at times. Tipped over shot from Piatkowski, saved from Swiderski then blocked Buksa. No chance with Piatkowski’s drive though. 7
Anthony Ralston – Celtic right-back found it tough against Croatia but put in a decent shift last night. Read the game better and less rushed. Tired in second half and subbed. 6
John Souttar – shaky at times for Rangers but grown into Scotland’s best defenders over the last four fixtures. Rock solid again. Incredible second half block then great cross for winner. 9
Grant Hanley – subbed at half-time in the draw with Croatia but the Norwich defender kept his place ahead of replacement McKenna. Used experience and football brain to deal with Polish frontmen. 7
Andy Robertson – only Leighton and Dalglish have more caps than the 80-cap skipper now. Clumsy early tackle and got away with slack pass which Swiderski should have scored from. Brilliant header for winner. 7
Billy Gilmour – little midfielder didn’t have his shooting boots on against Croatia but cracked great effort from distance off the bar. Ball to Doak to tee up opener. Kept on going in tireless display. 7
Kenny McLean – now two caps short of Hall of Fame, Norwich man kept his place in deep midfield role and kept play moving well in steady performance. Booked for challenge on Szymanski. 7
Ben Doak – Clarke tried to fool everyone he might not start but was always going to be there. Took three minutes to create opener. Looked threat whenever got on the ball. Surprisingly subbed. 7
Scott McTominay – great touch from the Napoli man set himself up for a shot which Skorupski saved then saw goalie tip brilliant effort onto post. Blazed tougher chance over then hobbled off. 7
John McGinn – returned to starting line-up after scoring 19th goal on Friday. Took three minutes to hit No20 to cap superb display. 8
Lyndon Dykes – back in to lead the line from the start for 42nd cap. Has only scored once for Birmingham. Crashed shot past post then saw header brilliantly saved then replaced by Shankland. 6
SUBS: Lawrence Shankland (3) struggled for goals with Hearts and no chances last night, Ryan Christie (5) could feel hard done-by after being dropped. Booked soon after coming on in good runout, Ryan Gauld (4) in preferred central role after replacing McTominay and showed neat touches, Nicky Devlin (4) won second cap, Stuart Armstrong (2) on late.
The whole Ben Doak could be dropped line from Clarke turned out to be one big ruse.
A bluff.
A wind-up.
There was no way in the world the on-form 19 year-old was going to be left out for this one.
Clarke was just stringing everyone along with all that stuff about what the teenager can’t do. Right?
Because if he was seriously thinking about kicking off with the wee man on the bench then he was guilty of over-thinking things like he’s done too often in the past.
Doak had to play. Pure and simply. He was the outstanding man of the match against Croatia at Hampden because of the fearless way he terrorised a £77million defender.
No-one in their right mind would have dropped him.
The supposed argument that a super-fit kid cannot play two games three days apart is just nonsensical.
Had Clarke seen it differently, it would have been an incomprehensible, unfathomable, dereliction of duty. A decision that would have been difficult to forgive and forget.
But let’s play along with the idea he Doak was always going to start.
The two changes Clarke did make to his starting line-up saw super McGinn and Lyndon Dykes return at the expense of Ryan Christie and young Tommy Conway.
Again, there wouldn’t have been many supporters unhappy with that.
McGinn has battled through a period of on-off form which has brought some criticism from certain quarters.
But his goal against Croatia at Hampden on Friday was a timely reminder that he’s still got plenty to offer this Scotland team.
And his strike here took his international tally to 20.
Doak was at the heart of it.
His run into the box saw him picked out by Billy Gilmour before his cut-back put the ball on a silver salver for McGinn.
It was on his weaker right side, but the Aston Villa star calmly rolled his shot into the far corner of the net.
Poland were stunned and had chances to level the game in the first-half.
https://twitter.com/ScotlandNT/status/1858599700162572576Craig Gordon shook off a virus to play and he made four really good stops to keep Scotland ahead.
Were Clarke’s side fortunate at times? You bet they were.
The home side threatened time and again and really ought to have scored at least once before the break.
But was it backs to the wall from a Scotland perspective? Was it hell.
Twice the Poland woodwork was rattled to go 2-0 ahead.
First Gilmour unleashed a shot from outside the box which looked destined to dip over goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and find the net.
But agonisingly the ball struck the bar.
That was on 33 minutes and Scott McTominay had a decent chance four minutes later with his shot blocked.
It was then that news came through from Croatia that Portugal were winning – just the update thew whole of Scotland wanted.
With another goal needed, Clarke’s side did everything to get it.
Three minutes before the interval McTominay drilled a low shot which was tipped onto the post by Skorupski.
It was agonising.
There had been other near misses too for Scotland, like Dykes smashing a shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Poland were always dangerous, though.
John Souttar was outstanding all night at centre-back and had to make an unbelievable goal-line clearance right at the start of the second-half.
Scotland were giving it everything all over the pitch.
There was never any sign that they were settling for the 1-0 in the hope that Portugal would score again.
They kept pressing for another goal.
https://twitter.com/ScotlandNT/status/1858627759976615958A break forward led by McGinn almost brought it, but for a last ditch block at the near post.
It was all or nothing and soon it was nothing.
In 58 minutes it was Poland who hit the net with a blasted shot Gordon couldn’t get near.
Kamil Piatkowski simply couldn’t have struck the ball any sweeter to find the top corner.
In terms of claiming second spot, at that stage it meant nothing.
Portugal were still winning and a strike for Scotland would see them finish runner’s up to Portugal by the NINTH tiebreaker, away wins.
Clarke took off Doak for the closing stages with changes made to inject more energy and grab a goal.
Dykes almost got it.
He had a header brought with another fingertips save from the Poland No1 just when it looked he was beaten.
Soon it emerged that Croatia had equalised in Split.
Still Scotland didn’t give up.
Substitute Christie could have scored to make it it 2-1 but his diving header was easily saved.
But in the third minute if stoppage time, Robertson scored.
A hopeful ball into he box was attacked in the air like never before as he won the game for Scotland.
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