Debate may have raged even within the Scotland camp itself over the strength of their display in beating Georgia at Ibrox on Saturday evening but there can be no argument about the magnitude of what comes next.
Poland’s shock 2-0 victory over Germany means the Scots travel to Warsaw for Tuesday’s fixture desperate to avoid defeat – and with good reason. Only two matches may have been played in Group D but were Poland to go six points clear of Scotland with another win, Gordon Strachan and his players would already be under pressure.
Strachan has said Scotland’s 1-0 victory over Poland in a friendly in Warsaw on 5 March will have no relevance to the latest meeting between the two. “This will be different,” he said. And with good reason because [the Bayern striker] Robert Lewandowski did not play seven months ago.
The manager reverted to his previous style with lavish praise for Scotland’s performance against Georgia, the winner coming via a freak own goal by Akaki Khubutia who deflected Shaun Maloney’s low shot into the net after 28 minutes. Strachan labelled it the best win of his tenure, but they will need to improve to gain reward in Poland.
“We don’t want to get too excited, I am just saying that over the last year we have become more comfortable on the ball,” Strachan explained. “Sometimes when you have to win you don’t play like that – that is what surprised me. I have to say, the quality of the play was above what I thought the occasion might need.
“I could not see them playing that well. There was even a time when Steven Naismith was right through with just the goalie to beat and I think he thought, ‘that’s such a good move, I shouldn’t be here.’
“I have seen these games before when you have played that well and yet it gets to 1-1. So I am delighted. I think everyone on that pitch can handle the ball. And whatever you say about football, it’s still the most important thing – to be able to handle the ball.
“I picked the team with people who can do things at home. Let’s go and take the game to people. And Georgia are not mugs, let’s get that right. They got beaten [by the Republic of Ireland] by a wonder goal by Aiden McGeady. We did not have a wonder goal. We had a goal that we worked away at, that was a bit scrappy. But we had other moves where you thought it deserved a goal.”
Scotland had spent their entire preparation for the Georgia game in anticipation of playing against a three-man defence, but Temuri Ketsbaia duly deployed a back four. It therefore took until midway through the opening half for the Scots to carve out meaningful chances. With those, the match should have been settled by half-time but they were wasteful. Georgia had opportunities to punish such failings before the full-time whistle.
Strachan disputed any suggestion that he could make widespread changes for Poland but a more pragmatic approach is likely against a team with soaring confidence. Darren Fletcher sat among the Scotland substitutes for 90 minutes at Ibrox, but it would be no surprise if the Manchester United player returned against Poland. “I knew how we wanted to play, it was just picking the right people for this game,” said Strachan when asked about Fletcher’s absence. “The game against Poland is different but you still have to pass the ball, move it and play with energy. Tactically, it might be a wee bit different but I can’t see it being too much of a difference.”
