Seamus Coleman and Marc Wilson were missing through injury so Derby duo Cyrus Christie and Richard Keogh had to step up for the biggest game of their careers.
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TALKING POINT – What now for Gordon Strachan and Scotland?
Poland had trouble scoring after that though, and Scotland worked their way back into the match.
“I spoke to them and said I’m really proud of what they’ve done”.
The slick visitors took control of the game and in the 10th minute only an uncharacteristic Lewandowski mis-kick from 14 yards, after being set up by Grosicki, saved Marshall having to deal with another effort. I seriously doubt it.
Many Scotland fans have, slightly harshly we might add, blamed a young fan’s desperate attempt to bag a selfie with Robert Lewandowski for their nation’s failure to qualify for Euro 2016. If he gets it, then I can see the national team just edging it by the odd goal.
Scotland, Georgia and Gibraltar are third, fourth and fifth with 12, 9 and 0 points respectively.
However, should results go the way of Scotland on Thursday, it would make them favourites as they travel to whipping boys Gibraltar on Sunday where a win is surely inevitable, while the Irish have to go to Warsaw needing to take three points.
Scotland have been here so many times before over the past two decades or so, but this was a particularly traumatising experience for the Tartan Army.
“If we can play well defensively, we will win”.
Fingers crossed it isn’t and we could yet be France bound.
Fakt: Did this Scottish intruder’s selfie save our game?
And I have a bad feeling about this game.
“And for me to talk about myself is wrong”.
The Bayern Munich striker is now on such a hot streak – with fourteen goals in five games – that Nawalka also had no hesitation in dubbing him the best number 9 in the world, at a pre-match press conference in Warsaw today ahead of the European Championship match against Ireland tomorrow night (7.45pm). Those with a glass half-full mentality will say a noisy Hampden crowd will roar them on to victory.
When those statistics were subsequently put to Nawalka he smiled before saying: “We are anticipating a very hard game”. And those with completely empty glasses will wonder whose round it is next.
McGhee pointed to the fact that Scotland strikers Leigh Griffiths, Steven Fletcher, Chris Martin and Jordan Rhodes all scored for their respective clubs last weekend as reasons to be positive. Sometimes I’ve been a wee bit luckier than them.
Strachan admits the absence of Anya will restrict his options although who will occupy the striking role or roles – Steven Fletcher, Leigh Griffiths, Chris Martin, Steven Naismith or Jordan Rhodes – has been at the forefront of his thoughts.
The Scots host Poland in Euro2016 qualifying at Hampden Park and Lewandowski believes any unsportsmanlike behaviour from the home defenders will get them in hot water with the referee, essentially benefiting his team.
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Scotland can earn the draw they require against Poland to keep their play-off dreams alive, presuming that Germany defeat the Republic of Ireland.
