Scotland head into a difficult Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Poland on Thursday knowing that they need at least a point to keep their hopes of making it to France alive. Things had been going swimmingly for Gordon Strachan's side, though they've picked up only one point from their last three games to leave things hanging in the balance. They're currently down in fourth place, and can't qualify automatically: the best they can hope for is leapfrogging either Poland or the Republic of
Scotland vs. Poland live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch Euro 2016 qualifying
Defeat to Poland in Glasgow on Thursday would end Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016.
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If they want to catch Ireland, they need to pick up four points from their last two matches (with a comparatively easy fixture against Gibraltar following this one), while hoping Martin O’Neill’s side lose both of their remaining games. If Ireland draw both, Scotland need to beat both Poland and Gibraltar. If that doesn’t happen, Scotland will need to overtake Poland: the only way that’d be possible is by winning both of their remaining games, and hoping Ireland beat Poland on the final matchday. Simple, right?
Key player: Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski will be a cut above every other player on the pitch on Thursday, and heads into this match in the form of his life. He’s scored 16 goals in his last eight games for club and country, and has the skill to win this game with an individual moment of brilliance. Strachan will have to think long and hard about how he plans on cutting off Lewa’s supply.
When they last met: Poland 2-2 Scotland, 14 October 2014
Having said that, Scotland managed to keep Lewandowski at bay when these sides met in the reverse fixture last October. The hosts managed to open the scoring through Krzysztof Mączyński within a quarter of an hour, though it took Shaun Maloney just six minutes to level things up. Early in the second half Scotland took the lead through Steven Naismith, though with less than 15 minutes left on the clock, Arkdiusz Milik equalised. That was how a close game ended.
Match Date/Time: Thursday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local
Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S.), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sports 2/HD (U.K.)
Online: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Online (Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
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