Never mind a team ranked 70th in the world, Scotland will have to take on a euphoric footballing nation in Poland on Tuesday.
A 2-0 win over Germany last Saturday has afforded hero status to Adam Nawalka and his players. It also put Poland top of Group D before the visit of a Scotland team who have lost only once in their last eight outings. That defeat came against the Germans.
“Our team is calm and modest,” Nawalka said. “We did our job well against Germany but the last whistle in that game was the beginning of our planning to face Scotland. We are all focused on this game.”
Gordon Strachan has given the impression of being the only person associated with Scottish football not to be disappointed by Poland’s weekend triumph over the World Cup winners.
“I think this is the hardest group, I have always thought that, and Saturday’s results show that,” the Scotland manager said. “There are going to be ups and downs.
“I was too happy with the way we played [in beating Georgia 1-0] to be upset. It didn’t make any difference to me because you never know when your most important game is coming. We have got to credit Adam, his players and staff for a truly magnificent result for Polish football. As for the group, it means three points; the same as we got on Saturday.”
Strachan added: “If you are the German footballers who made 50 chances in two games and have only three points, that is a sparse return. That is how difficult this group is.”
Nawalka’s plan to field the same team for a second game in succession has been ruined by an injury to his central midfielder Tomasz Jodlowiec.
Strachan has a selection problem of his own after Grant Hanley was denied his place on Monday’s flight to Poland because of a knee problem. The likelihood is that Gordon Greer, who played at the heart of the Scotland defence in a 1-0 friendly win here in March, will step in. Ikechi Anya did not train on Monday but Strachan remains hopeful the Watford player will be available.
The manager was mischievous when asked if a point would represent a valuable return from the Poland clash. “If we are 1-0 down with a minute to go, I would be delighted with a draw,” Strachan said, with a smile.
One fascinating backdrop to this fixture has a basis in club rather than international football this season. Legia Warsaw’s expulsion from the Champions League after fielding an ineligible player in their comfortable qualifying victory over Celtic prompted fury in Poland.
To their credit, the Polish camp have worked hard to play down any notion of revenge being taken out on Scotland’s national team. When the issue was raised at Poland’s pre-match conference, their media officer stepped in to object to the question. Artur Boruc, a former Legia and Celtic player, added: “This is not a club game tomorrow. It is Poland against Scotland.”
Poland probable Szczesny; Piszczek, Glik, Szukala, Wawrzyniak; Rybus, Krychowiak, Mila, Grosicki; Milik, Lewandowski.
Scotland probable Marshall; Hutton, Greer, Martin, Robertson; Naismith, Brown, D Fletcher, Morrison, Anya; S Fletcher.
Referee A Mallenco (Sp)
