‘They play collectively and are disciplined and also creative.
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Scotland will be looking for a win against Poland to keep their qualifying dreams alive, as they now sit in fourth place following a shock loss away to Georgia back in September.
In the final minute Scotland keeper Jim Leighton uncharacteristically fumbled a long-range drive from Erland Johnsen and there were a few jittery moments but the game ended 1-1 with the Scots heading for their fifth consecutive appearance at a World Cup finals.
Strachan, speaking at the national stadium, said: “Ikechi is not going to make it, he has a tight calf so he has gone back to get treatment at Watford”.
His club form has been replicated on the worldwide stage, where the striker leads the way in the Euro 2016 on 10 goals from eight games. Given the way Scotland play under Strachan, the key to our success in our three victories so far has been in the form of our attack minded players playing directly behind the main striker.
Robert Lewandowski will run out at Hampden buoyed by having scored 12 goals in his last four games for Bayern Munich. They also must rely on Republic of Ireland losing to Germany in Dublin tonight. [On Lewandowski, who used to play for Lech Poznan] He is their talisman, especially in Poznan.
When those statistics were subsequently put to Nawalka at Poland’s pre-match press conference, he smiled before saying: “We are anticipating a very hard game”. We know what our aim is in Glasgow. West Brom duo James Morrison and Darren Fletcher picked up knocks during their team’s defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday, but Fletcher finished the game and Morrison, who went off with an ankle injury, is suspended for the Poland clash anyway.
Jordan Amavi is with the French Under 21s for their Under 21 Euro qualifier against Scotland, and they then face Ukraine. We have players who scored at the weekend as well.
“We have to go and win the game on Thursday, it’s as simple as that”, he added.
Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc has told the Daily Record that he has “good memories” from his time at Celtic as he gears up to return to Scotland.
“I see the media speaking a lot about this battle on the pitch but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was different and both the Scots and us focus on football”.
Anya is perhaps the quickest player we have and his blistering pace is a huge asset for Gordon Strachan.
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Strachan’s contract expires at the end of this campaign, but he refused to be drawn on his future.
