Scotland v Poland preview: Last-chance saloon for Scots
Thursday 8 October 2015 19:47, UK
Scotland face Poland at Hampden Park knowing defeat will end their hopes of qualification for Euro 2016.
A 17-year wait to participate in a major tournament looks set to continue for Scotland after consecutive defeats to Georgia and world champions Germany left Gordon Strachan's side reliant on other results.
The defeats mean automatic qualification is now out of reach, with progression through the play-offs their only viable route to France next summer, but losing to Poland at Hampden would definitely end Scotland's chances of qualification.
If they avoid defeat, however, they will support one of the Republic of Ireland or Poland depending on whether they win or draw.
Live Euro 2016 Qualifiers
Victory would leave them needing a win over Gibraltar on Sunday and the Irish to beat Poland to see them finish third behind Martin O'Neill's men. A draw, meanwhile, would leave them hoping Poland take the win on Sunday so they can pip the Republic of Ireland to third spot in the group.
The Scots will have to keep the prolific Robert Lewandowski under wraps if they are to have any chance of qualifying.
The Bayern Munich striker is the top scorer in qualification with 10 goals and has scored a staggering 16 goals this season, including 12 in his last four matches for the Bundesliga club.
Team news
Graham Dorrans participated in training ahead of Thursday's game following his recall into the national squad following a two-year absence.
West Brom midfielder Darren Fletcher is expected to start after shaking off a knock in Albion's defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend.
However, Watford's Ikechi Anya (calf) and Celtic's Charlie Mulgrew (thigh) have both been ruled out of the game through injury, while James Morrison, who is suspended for the Poland contest, is also a serious doubt for the final match of the qualifying campaign on Sunday.
Opta stats
Poland have never lost an international in Scotland (W2 D1).
The Tartan Army are unbeaten in their last four internationals against Poland, but three of these have been draws (W1).
Robert Lewandowski is the leading goalscorer in qualifying going into this round of fixtures (10).
Gordon Strachan has lost his last two internationals - he is yet to lose three in a row as Scotland boss.
Scotland have failed to score just once in their last 10 competitive games under Strachan.
Russell Martin is the only outfield player to play every minute of the campaign for Scotland.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
This is a must-not-lose situation and even that might not be enough if Ireland produce a positive result against Germany. I'm a realist and I want Scotland to get a result and I want them to qualify but I don't feel it's the right time and that we have the right players.
When we got a 2-2 draw in Poland we upset them physically but the last two games showed that when the pressure gets on then the players they don't know how to get the result.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: Poland to win and Lewandowski to score (Sky Bet odds - 9/4)
Betting
Sky Bet make Poland marginal 13/8 favourites ahead of their qualifier with Scotland (17/10) at Hampden Park with the draw available at 9/4. Defeat to the Poles would end Scotland's qualification chances and they can be backed at 4/9 to win or draw in the Double Chance market. A repeat of the 2-2 scoreline seen in Poland last October is available at 16/1. Robert Lewandowski is 9/2 to open the scoring for the visitors with Leigh Griffiths a 2/1 shot to net anytime for the Scots.
Watch Scotland v Poland live on Thursday, 7:30pm, Sky Sports 2 HD.
