Scotland had contributed far too much to the Nations League to finish bottom of Group A1. That was the harsh reality until Andy Robertson’s glorious stoppage-time header, which secured a famous win over Poland. Steve Clarke’s team live on, courtesy of a playoff berth.
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 intervention, which instead sends Poland into League B. This felt poetic, at the venue for the Liverpool full-back’s Scotland debut and, on this occasion, the earning of his 80th cap. It was the latest triumph for Clarke’s management.
Clarke had indulged in pre-match kidology by suggesting Ben Doak might not start in Warsaw. Leaving the 19-year-old among Scotland’s substitutes would have ranked among the most bizarre managerial decisions of all, such was Doak’s impact during last Friday’s win over Croatia. Doak was always going to play, primarily because of the panic his pace triggers among opposition defenders. Doak has gained standing among the Tartan Army. Clarke cares little for public perception but he is perfectly well aware of Doak’s present value.
It was quickness of thought that allowed Doak to create Scotland’s dream start. Billy Gilmour found the teenager with a fine pass. Doak looked up, spotted McGinn and cut the ball inside. The Aston Villa midfielder stroked home his 20th international goal from 18 yards. For context, that haul is one ahead of Ally McCoist. It is within 10 of Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish. With just three minutes played, Scottish fans were glancing towards the score in Split.
Scotland played with swagger during those early exchanges. If Poland were rocked, it was totally understandable given their 5-1 Friday loss to Portugal. The hosts briefly found their feet, Karol Swiderski slamming wide after a Robertson error. Swiderski was then unable to beat an advancing Craig Gordon.
Doak shot tamely at Lukasz Skorupski as Scotland pursued leeway. Gilmour almost supplied it, with an outrageous long-range effort that rebounded from the crossbar. Scotland rightly sensed Polish defensive weakness. Doak fed Scott McTominay, who flicked the ball over Sebastian Walukiewicz but met his match in Skorupski. During a wildly entertaining pre-interval spell, McTominay cracked a post and Robertson had a shot bound for the top corner deflected wide.
Poland were not without threat, Gordon once again belying his 41 years by frustrating Adam Buksa. That only one goal had been scored by the time the half-time whistle blew felt like an incredible anomaly.
John Souttar, a standout in this Nations League campaign, prevented a Poland equaliser within two minutes of the restart. Souttar blocked on the line as Jakub Kaminski seemed certain to score. With just 51 minutes played, the teams had shared 20 attempts at goal. Number 21 saw Doak play in McTominay, whose first-time shot flew high and wide. The flow of the game meant Scotland’s single-goal advantage was unlikely to prove sufficient.
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Kamil Piatkowski proved that very point in emphatic fashion. After Scotland only half-cleared a cross, Piotr Zielinski spotted the marauding defender. Piatkowski did not break stride, lashing the ball beyond the helpless Gordon from the edge of the penalty area. Poland were worthy of parity but Clarke’s men were now in position to rue earlier wasted opportunities.
It took a wonderful Skorupski save to prevent Lyndon Dykes from nodding the visitors back in front from a Gilmour cross. This was Dykes’s last act, Clarke introducing Lawrence Shankland and Ryan Christie in a bid to re-energise Scotland. Doak also made way. Dykes’s continued prominence supplies tacit admission of the job Clarke is doing with Scotland, given this is a striker who has not scored a single League One goal for Birmingham this season.
McTominay limped off 14 minutes from time. A Croatia equaliser effectively closed the door on Scotland finishing second in the section. Third was alive though: Robertson met Souttar’s terrific cross to seal that. The scale of jubilation told every onlooker precisely what the outcome meant.
