Scotland go head-to-head against Poland on Thursday. Read our Predictions and Betting Tips with Match Preview, Head-to-head stats (h2h) and Team Form Analysis.
UEFA Nations League, KO: 19:45 Sep 5, 2024, Hampden Park
TWO of Euro 2024’s biggest underperformers clash in the opening Nations League game at Hampden when Scotland host Poland.
Our prediction for this Nations League match:
There will be fireworks when Scotland and Poland face each other at Hampden Park in what is expected to be a close Nations League encounter. Scotland aim to recover from a heart-breaking loss to Hungary and, as always, they will surely leave their hearts on the field. QPR striker Lyndon Dykes is back to contention after missing EURO 2024 with injury, with Rangers defender John Souttar making his return to the national team as well. The likes of Liam Kelly, Jack Hendry, Ross McCrorie, Kieran Tierney, Liam Cooper, Stuart Armstrong, and Ryan Jack miss out with different reasons.
The Poles, meanwhile, aim to make amends for the unsuccessful EURO 2024 campaign. As Michal Probierz’s troops will go for a win as well, we are tempted to place our bets on both teams to score. You should know that both teams managed to find the net in each of their last three meetings in all competitions. A man to watch in the away team will be Barcelona ace Robert Lewandowski, who found the net in a 7-0 crushing of Valladolid at the weekend.
How the bookies view it: Scotland favourites to bounce back
Scotland have a good record at Hampden and perhaps that’s persuaded bookies to make them favourites at 7/5 with Paddy Power.
Poland can be backed at 2/1 with William Hill and the draw is 12/5 with Ladbrokes.
Recent head to heads: Nothing between the teams
The countries met in the Euro 2016 qualifiers and produced a couple of 2-2 draws in Glasgow and Warsaw. They also drew in a friendly at Hampden two years ago.
Poland’s last win in Scotland came 59 years ago.
Players to watch: New Napoli man Scott a shout
Scott McTominay was Scotland’s only scorer at the Euros and was also their top scorer in their qualifying campaign. The new Napoli man is 10/3 to score anytime with JILIMACAO.
Robert Lewandowski netted a double on his last visit to Hampden nine years ago and his last gasp leveller knocked Scotland out of the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
He’s started the season with four goals in four games for Barca and the 37-year-old is 10/3 to score anytime with JILIMACAO.
Predicted line-ups:
Scotland are still without Aaron Hickey, Kieran Tierney, Nathan Paterson and Lewis Ferguson. Che Adams is also out and James Forrest and Greg Taylor were late call-offs.
Poland will start life without 84-capped keeper Wojciech Szczesny who retired at the age of 34.
Scotland: Gunn, Porteous, McKenna, Hanley, Doak, Gilmour, McGinn, McTominay, Robertson, Christie, Dykes.
Poland: Skorupski, Bereszynski, Kiwior; Dawidowicz, Puchacz, Kiwior; Frankowski, Szymański, Zalewski, Zielinski, Lewandowski.
Scotland vs Poland Prediction
The hosts had a poor Euro campaign, earning only one point in the group stage and conceding seven goals, A win in this match will put them on track for a flawless Nations league start and halt their four-match winless streak.
On the flip side, Poland is coming off a three-game winless run after claiming only one point in their Euro campaign. However, they have a respectable away record of three match unbeaten streak, as they seek to maintain a fearsome away form in this tie.
Scotland has dominated prior games between the two sides, winning one and drawing four of the last five.
Robert Lewandowski is expected to deliver the much-needed goals for Poland following a great start to the season for Barcelona, scoring four goals in his last four outings.
