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Zalewski holds nerve to ruin Scotland fightback

The Guardian

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September 06, 2024

The bad news keeps on coming for Steve Clarke and Scotland. Just when it looked as if damage incurred during a horrible Euro 2024 - and in the first half here - looked like being repaired, Poland snatched a 97thminute victory.

- Ewan Murray

Zalewski holds nerve to ruin Scotland fightback

Scotland 2

Gilmour 46, McTominay 75

Poland 3

Grant Hanley's lunge triggered a penalty which only added to despondency around the team.

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 attached to what happened next is this always looked the easiest of Scotland's Nations League fixtures.

Clarke had used pre-match media duties to assert evolution of his team was far more feasible than revolution.

Supporters, angry at Scotland's showing in Germany, sought the latter; in terms of attitude if not personnel. The most striking aspect was the switch to a back four, given Clarke has typically favoured three.

The Scotland manager remains hamstrung to a large extent by available resource. This was a starting XI containing three Norwich players.

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