Scotland Men's Football Team

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Scotland Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill believes Friday's victors Spain are "as good as it gets at this level".

Spain triumphed 2-1 at Tynecastle with Dean Huijsen and Matteo Joseph netting either side of Dire Mebude's equaliser.

"They're very impressive," said Gemmill.

"It was going to take a huge effort tonight but the players can leave with their heads held really high because they know they've been in a game home and away and we've gone toe-to-toe with the potential champions of the tournament.

"That's as good as it gets at this level. They dominated and dictated but we knew that was the way the game was going to go. The details we'd prepared for, the players were trying to do that and as a coach that's all you can ask for.

"We saw a Scotland team blocking shots, working hard, heading, doing everything they could and that's the demand we placed on them so I was really pleased with that. They weren't cutting us apart."

Scotland sit second in European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group B but are only above Belgium on goal difference with three games to play. Hungary are three points behind the Scots and the Belgians.

The three best runners-up qualify automatically for next year's finals in Slovakia, with the others going into play-offs.

"It's really exciting," added Gemmill.

"They know that it's great to put that demand on them when we go to Malta [on Tuesday]. That game matters so much and we have to do what we need to do to take it into October."

Scotland face Belgium at home and Kazakhstan away next month.

We asked for your views after Scotland began the Nations League with a 3-2 home defeat by Poland.

Here's what some of you said:

Andy: Steve Clarke hasn't learned a thing from Germany. Starting the same old defensive-minded characters. Old and slow centre-backs, a right-back who doesn't play for his club. Bright and new exciting picks left on the bench. Making changes on 70 minutes - what a transformation! Why can't he start with those eager to impress? Loyalty doesn't win games - it is time for him to walk away.

Russell: In some cases that might not have been a penalty but when it's Scotland it always is. A good comeback, Clarke and his team must know now that Ben Doak is ready for the full stage. Portugal on Sunday, I think that Lyndon Dykes should be a substitute and if Clarke has got any guts he will start with Tommy Conway and Doak.

William: Quite simply it is time for Clarke to go, he is tactically out of his depth.

Alex: The manager's faith in Dykes is not earned. Stats show Scotland with most possession, however, it was in their own half and inside our box. The players on the bench should have been on from the beginning. Clarke himself stated it was a learning process for the next tournament - yet he had no plan B or new ideas on show. He needs to go!

Jon: Keep the faith and bounce back for the Portugal game. A great performance from the team to recover from 2-0 down.

Iain: Bits of the same old Scotland were very evident in the first half, but a very different second-half performance - quick, direct and penetrating. Why on earth can we not play like that right from the start?

Roy: The sad reality is none of Scotland's players would get into the first 11 of the top 10 and possibly top 20 of the other European countries' sides. What Clarke has managed to do with such a paucity of talent is remarkable and until the big club sides in Scotland actually invest in bringing through young Scottish players it will never change.

Steven: The best time to sack Clarke was straight after the Euros. The second best time is now! He's all out of ideas, playing the same old players that let him down at the Euros. Anthony Ralston, Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean should be nowhere near a Scotland squad. It's time to try something different, starting with the manager.

Gavin: Poor decision making by individuals, but an encouraging fightback and a more positive playing style, so I hope that we will get back to winning ways soon. This Nations League might be a step too far right now but if we use it to get organised and with a more attacking mindset then it should bode well for the World Cup qualifiers.

In the wake of Scotland's late heartbreak at Hampden, Steve Clarke called for fans to "objectively look at the positive performance" put in against Poland.

Former Scotland captain Gemma Fay certainly did that on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, backing the head coach and saying he "proved us all wrong again".

There were hopes among the Tartan Army that the start of the Nations League campaign would signal a new dawn. When the line-up was announced with familiar names and no debutants, there was a flat reaction. But Fay says Clarke was vindicated by the performance.

"There was a bit of deflation [over the starting XI]," the former goalkeeper said. "He had an opportunity to do something different and he's gone for the same players, but Steve Clarke proves us wrong quite often and I think he proved us wrong again last night.

"He knew what he could get from that team and those players so performance wise, I'm happy, there were lots of positives.

"That performance was one we haven't seen from Scotland in a long time. It's a performance we all hoped we were going to see at the European Championships and we didn't.

"Those are the positives and also going 2-0 down in the fashion we did, to come back to 2-2 and push for that winning goal was also really pleasing."

Fay wasn't the only one to pick out the positives, with former Scotland defender Ian Murray highlighting the impact of substitutes Lewis Morgan, who he worked with at St Mirren, and debutant Ben Doak.

"The introduction of Ben Doak was exciting," the former Raith Rovers manager told BBC's Good Morning Scotland. "I was certainly delighted when he was on the park.

"It’s fantastic, another young player that we’re all hoping prospers into a fantastic international footballer, and he's just gone on loan to Middlesbrough.

"I worked with Lewis at St Mirren, it seems a long time ago now, but I know what he is capable of.

"There’s a lot of positives in there, Scotland are missing some big players at the moment, like Che Adams and Kieran Tierney.

"Scotland have made a rod for their own back, being so successful, but that’s what happens in football, expectation and hope increases. It's tough at the moment, but they'll be determined to put things right."

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Lewis Morgan has backed Scotland defender Grant Hanley to respond strongly from the error that gifted Poland victory in the Nations League opener at Hampden.

Hanley needlessly lunged in on Nicola Zalewski near the byeline to concede a spot-kick deep into injury time, which the Pole dispatched to render Scotland's comeback from two goals down futile.

"Grant has played at the top level all his career, I have no worries about him being able to bounce back and go again at the weekend," forward Morgan said.

"He's one of the leaders of our group and someone everyone looks up to, so there's no doubts that he'll bounce back.

"We are all devastated after the game, and no one more so than Grant, but football turns round quick and I've no doubts that Grant will be the first one to put it all right."

Poland's second goal was also a spot-kick, with Antony Ralston tripping Zalewski to allow Robert Lewandowski to net.

And Morgan, a second-half substitute, admitted the self-inflicted mistakes proved a reminder of the small margin for error at this level.

"I think we’ve shown enough to know that we can compete," the New York Red Bulls player added.

"It’s down to ourselves that we lost that game, the Poles didn’t do anything to win, we maybe feel that we lost it.

"We had a right go, we created loads of chances and on another night it's a different result, but it's easy to say that.

"We are in top group of the competition and teams are going to capitalise on our mistakes, so we just need to put the good things into practice on Sunday [against Portugal] and try to eradicate some of those errors."

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Lyndon Dykes has full confidence in Scotland halting their wretched run, saying he would "run through a brick wall" for his team-mates.

The striker squandered a glorious opportunity in the first half when Scotland were 1-0 down on what he described as a " frustrating and tough night".

Scotland fought back from 2-0 down with goals from Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay before a last-gasp penalty condemned the hosts to a 3-2 defeat, meaning it's now just one win in 13.

"We thought we were the better team, we worked really hard to get back into the game," Birmingham City forward Dykes said.

"We started the second half very well, but it was a frustrating night the way it went. You can’t be conceding that many goals."

On his miss, Dykes said: "It was a good chance, back-stick and it was quite awkward between my volley and head.

"I just couldn’t get my hip high enough because I wanted it to come back across the keeper."

Head coach Steve Clarke had spoken pre-match about the "evolution" of his team, and he eschewed his favoured back three four a four-man defensive set-up against the Poles.

Dykes said: "We've been working on a lot of things, I think you could see we were trying to press high and be the dominant team on the ball and make chances.

"We did all that, it just wasn't our night and we have to turn it around.

"We need to go back to basics. We are a good team, we know what we are capable of and we need to stick together because we are a family. I'm sure the results will come again.

"I'm fully confident in my team-mates, I'd run through a brick wall for them, and I'm sure they'd do the same for me. So going forward, we are going to be alright."

American reports indicate New York's Scotland forward Lewis Morgan, 27, is attracting interest from Panathinaikos, with the Greek transfer window still open. (Sun), external

Lyndon Dykes believes Scotland can take positives from their 3-2 defeat by Poland, despite the result. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Scotland's miserable 2024 continued in agonising fashion as Poland were gifted a stoppage-time penalty to quell a valiant Nations League comeback at Hampden.

Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay had scored second-half goals for the revived Scots to counter Sebastian Szymanski's long-range effort and Robert Lewandowski's perfectly executed spot-kick for the visitors.

However, as Steve Clarke's side pushed for a winner, Nicola Zalewski was the victim of a rash challenge by Grant Hanley and the Pole - who also won the earlier penalty - picked himself up to score the 97th-minute winner.

Scotland, who meekly exited this summer's Euros with one point from three group games, now must travel to face Portugal on Sunday with a record of just one win in 13 and five defeats in 2024.

Did you attend Hampden or watch the game from home? Click here, external to have your say on the match.

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "Disappointed to lose a game like that, a game we shouldn't lose but if you make errors at this level you get punished.

"Lots of good things but it's still a defeat. Everyone is disappointed. It's not about picking out individuals, I never do that and I'm not going to start now. We win as a team, we lose as a team. We'll analyse the game and speak in camp.

"It's a small comfort for a head coach in that we didn't have a lot of time to work on the training pitch, we knew Poland would cause us one or two different issues but I thought we handled it well.

"A fantastic atmosphere, I'm just sorry they're going home sad again."

Andy Campbell, BBC Scotland

Scotland coach Steve Clarke, now bereft of internationally retired Celtic captain Callum McGregor, elected not to give starts to six uncapped players in his squad but Ryan Gauld joined Ben Doak as a second-half debutant.

Even without injured regular left centre-back Kieran Tierney, the team was along familiar lines, though in a 4-3-3 rather than a 3-5-2.

The formation certainly gave Scotland more of an attacking look compared with the defeat by Hungary that ended their Euro 2024 campaign. Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay getting into advanced positions for their respective second and 10th international goals was emblematic of this.

But defensively Scotland's problems persist. They have conceded 17 times in eight outings this year - more than two goals a game.

Poland also had a disappointing Euro 2024 but their undoubted quality was obvious to see on Glasgow's south side, including to a vocal throng of visiting fans.

On what proved to be an ultimately disappointing night for Scotland, Scott McTominay was a persistent threat to Poland and netted the hosts' equaliser before the visitors' late winner.

McTominay also had a first-half goal disallowed for handball by VAR.

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The Scotland line-up selected by Steve Clarke for their first match of their Nations League A Group 1 campaign is along familiar lines with no debutants in the starting XI.

However, in the absence of injured regular left centre-back Kieran Tierney, it looks like a change from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2.

Angus Gunn continues in goal behind Anthony Ralston, Grant Hanley, Scott McKenna and captain Andy Robertson with Napoli pair Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay in midfield alongside Kenny McLean. John McGinn and Ryan Christie support Lyndon Dykes in attack.

Uncapped Jon McCracken, Conor Barron, Ben Doak, Josh Doig, Ryan Gauld and Max Johnston are on the bench.

Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski leads Poland while Southampton's Jan Bednarek is in defence.

Scotland: Gunn, Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson, Gilmour, McTominay, McLean, McGinn, Dykes, Christie.

Substitutes: Shankland, McCracken, Doig, Barron, Porteous, Souttar, Doak, Morgan, Conway, Gauld, Clark, Johnston.

Poland: Bulka, Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior, Frankowski, S Szymanski, Zielinski, Urbanski, Zalewski, Piatek, Lewandowski.

Substitutes: Skorupski, Piatkowski, Walukiewicz, Piotrowski, Moder, Swiderski, Kaminski, Puchacz, Buksa, Slisz, Bereszynski, Dragowski.

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Everyone knows how good Robert Lewandowksi is, but what about the rest of the Poland team?

Polish football expert Christopher Lash has been giving the lowdown on Michal Probierz's side before tonight's Nations League game with Scotland at Hampden.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Lash said: "The main problem currently is the fact a lot of the key players are not playing in their clubs.

"[Inter Milan midfielder] Piotr Zielinski, [midfielder] Jakub Moder is not playing at Brighton, they talk about him maybe leaving.

"[Defender] Jakub Kiwior at Arsenal, who had a really good season last year, now because of new signings and because of players coming back, has also not been playing, so that's been the real big problem.

"There's a lot of question marks over the squad but I think the talent's there. The weakness is the defence. You've got Southampton's Jan Bednarek who will probably play just because we don't really have anyone else.

"He's not bad but his positional play has not got better over six or seven years in England, which people thought he might improve.

"In general, the defence is not that great. Scotland are at home, so they're going to be attacking and if they can pressurise the central defenders especially, some joy can be had.

"But if Poland get the chance to play, they are pretty good going forward. The strikers are all playing and scoring goals for their teams and and obviously Robert Lewandowski is great."

Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin ponders the possibility of squad newcomers Ryan Guald or Bed Doak starting against Poland and whether head coach Steve Clarke could deploy a back four.

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish football podcast on BBC Sounds

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Poland head coach Michal Probierz is braced for a "hot game" as his side look to bounce back from Euros disappointment by continuing their unbeaten run in Glasgow.

The Poles have never lost to Scotland away from home in five matches, with two wins and three draws, that record stretching back to May 1960 when they won 3-2 in a friendly at Hampden.

Prior to tonight’s Nations League Group A opener, Probierz said: "Let's keep it that way. I've seen some games on the television at Hampden and there's always a very warm atmosphere.

"I'm sure the atmosphere will be similar to in Wales (who Poland beat in a play-off in March to reach Euro 2024).

"It might be another hot game and we need to be prepared and ready for that. We're looking forward to that."

Like Steve Clarke’s side, Poland were knocked out of Euro 2024 at the group stage.

Scotland go into the game with one win in 12, a friendly victory over Gibraltar, but Probierz expects a tough opening test in a top-tier group that also includes Portugal and Croatia.

He said: "Of course it's a disappointment if you're eliminated as one of the first teams from the Euros. Poland and Scotland were eliminated early.

"However, Steve Clarke is a really good coach. He's able to build up the team and I can see that in that team every player is fighting for each other."

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson, who was not expected to return to action until the turn of the year after the 25-year-old had knee surgery, has been included in Bologna's Champions League squad for the revamped group phase. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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