One win in 13 and with our most winnable Nations League game yielding no points.
It's hard to be positive about Scotland's "evolution" following disaster at the Euros. Steve Clarke picked three uncapped players, but there was little fresh about the starting lineup against Poland at Hampden. Going in 2-0 down at the break was evidence that the same old wasn't cutting it, although a second half fight back to draw level was encouraging.
Ben Doak's introduction provided a spark that would have been useful from the start and Ryan Gauld finally got a run out in a dark blue shirt. But the familiar gut punch was on the way as a 97th minute penalty undid all that good second half work and it feels like a case of back to the drawing board. World Cup qualification is the priority, but Nations League results will help determine which pot we end up in and that's a concern.
It was a far happier night for the visitors and Record Sport looks at how the world' media saw the game.
Fakt (Poland)
In Poland, the fighting spirit and never say die attitude from both teams was the theme, and Poland's resilience and character were what saw them win out in the end. Fakt saw their team go from 'hell to heaven' according to ine headline.
"The Scots believed that after the unsuccessful Euro 2024 they would be able to rebuild on their own pitch. They fought until the end, but that evening in Glasgow they met an opponent who did not intend to give up. The White and Reds fought until the end and finally they did it! We defeated a difficult opponent 3:2 away! - The important thing is that we showed character - Michał Probierz rejoiced after this victory!"
Super Express (Poland)
A first Polish win on Scottish soil was the focus in Super Express. That and this win being significant between the two "rivals" who will be fighting t stay in the top tier of the Nations League,.
"Michał Probierz's team will start their Nations League campaign with two away games, and in the first of them they faced Scotland in Glasgow. The team from the British Isles is theoretically the main rival of the Poles in the fight to stay in the elite. Therefore, gaining three points in the first match would be incredibly important. The problem, however, is that the white and reds have not won against the Scots since... 1980. At that time, they defeated their rivals on their own ground 1:0 after a goal by Zbigniew Boniek. And only the oldest fans remember the victory of the Poles over the Scots away. Because Poland last won in Scotland in 1965.
"However, from the very first minutes, the Polish national team did everything to make the youngest fans feel the taste of victory against the Scots on their home turf."
The Guardian (UK)
The view closer to home is that even a point wouldn't lifted spirits all that much given the run Scotland are on. And now we face the group big guns with confidence still low.
"The knockout blows keep landing on Steve Clarke and Scotland. Just when it seemed as if damage incurred at a horrible Euro 2024 – and in the first half here – looked like being repaired, Poland snatched a 97th-minute win. Grant Hanley’s lunge triggered a penalty which only added to despondency around the Scotland camp.
"Until that point, even the extending of a run to one win in 13 felt unimportant. Clarke’s team had recovered from two goals behind at half-time to level the scores. The key problem with what happened next is this always looked the softest of Scotland’s Nations League fixtures. Clarke faces a stiff task in trying to raise spirits before Sunday’s meeting with Portugal in Lisbon.
A Bola (Portugal)
It's Portugal next up for Scotland and they had half an eye on this one. Ryan Gauld's invovlement due to his Sporting past also got a brief mention.
"It was with a dramatic ending that Poland defeated Scotland 3-2 in the other game of the first round of Portugal 's group in the Nations League. In the 90+7th minute, with the score at 2-2, Nicola Zalewski took the penalty that gave the victory to the Poles, on Scottish territory.
"One goal to close the match and another to start the afternoon. Despite the hard-fought victory, the Polish team needed just eight minutes to take the lead. It all started with a loss of possession in a forbidden area by the Scots, which quickly fell to Sebastian Szymanski who, with a long-range shot, beat Angus Gunn.
"Poland held the lead until half-time, but before that they made it 2-0. Robert Lewandowski was called upon to convert the penalty and made no mistake. With the score at 2-0 at the start of the second half, Scotland did not give up and reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 46th minute.
"Billy Gilmour did not hesitate when faced with the Polish defence struggling to clear the ball from the penalty area, and with a first-time shot he gave Scotland new life . Former Sporting player Ryan Gauld came on in the 71st minute and shortly afterwards, Scott McTominay scored the equaliser that the fans at the training camp had been waiting for.
"In a well-worked move down the right flank, Ben Doak launched a long ball to Anthony Ralston who crossed low into the box, where the Napoli midfielder appeared to finish. But all the work would go down the drain when Nicola Zalewski 's penalty gave Poland the three points."
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