SportsMul previews Tuesday's Nations League clash between Scotland and Portugal, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
On the brink of qualifying for the quarter-finals UEFA Nations League, Portugal Head to Hampton Park for a date Scotland Inside League A Group 1 On Tuesday.
Roberto MartinezThe team of Poland won 3-1 The weekend should be perfect for the 2024-25 edition, while their hosts put in a valiant effort against Croatia but ultimately fell short. 2-1 loss.
Competition preview
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Not content with just 900 career goals, Cristiano Ronaldo is in the process of passing 1,000 runs and on Saturday moved closer to that unparalleled milestone, doubling Portugal's lead against Poland Bernardo Silva The deadlock was broken.
Although Piotr Zielinski Poland halved the deficit to apparently set up a tense final, only to have his effort canceled out by one of his teammates. John Bednarek The dying volley turned the ball into his own net to restore Portugal's comfortable advantage.
Now three for three in the 2024-25 tournament, the 2016 European champions are three points clear at the top of the group, flexing their muscles against Croatia and Scotland in September, and could clinch a quarter-final spot if the other wins. Results go their way.
If Portugal win in Glasgow, they will be forced to wait to finish in the top two, and only if Poland beat Croatia – both sides on six points and Portugal on 12 – will Martinez's men lose later. Both games will leave the knockout places in November.
Such a scenario is unthinkable for the Selecao, who are the only side in four League A groups with nine points after three games, although they did not get the better of Tuesday's opponents without a major scare in September.
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In fact, Steve ClarkThe players rose after seven minutes with the international goal machine against Portugal last month Scott McTominayOnly Bruno Fernandes And the inevitable Ronaldo turned the tie on its head.
Scotland were sent to a similar fate against Croatia on Saturday evening Ryan Christie Drawing first blood in Zagreb, Clarke's crop once again failed to cling to their advantage. Igor Matanovic And Andrzej Gramarich The 2018 World Cup finalists made a comeback.
Say Adams's last-gasp leveler was disallowed for offside which rubbed salt in Scotland's wounds, who have yet to be beaten by any of their League A opponents, but the pointless hosts go straight back to the second tier barring a miracle. turning point
Draw or lose on Tuesday and Scotland can more or less kiss their wafer-thin top-two hopes goodbye, and it's now four consecutive defeats for Tuesday's hosts, with their only win in their last 15 games coming against minnows Gibraltar in a summer friendly.
An agonizing defeat against Portugal in September made it four straight defeats against the Euro 2016 winners for Scotland, who have not beaten their home visitors since 1980. Kenny Dalglish Was one of the scorers in the 4-1 European Championship thrashing.
Scotland Nations League Format:
Scotland Form (All Matches):
Portugal Nations League Format:
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Group messages
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Despite the Sporting Lisbon centre-back, Portugal came through the win over Poland unscathed physically. Goncalo Inacio He withdrew from the squad with an injury before the start of the October internationals.
Joa Balhinha – who had a difficult start to life at Bayern Munich – Francisco Conceicao And Thomas Araujo Despite Martinez's tactical decisions, they were all but dropped from the matchday squad at the weekend, with him having to leave out three of his men.
Inacio and Araujo out, Chelsea Renato Vega Started at centre-back on his full debut for Portugal's senior team Anthony Silva If jelly legs come into play, now is the alternative.
Scotland had no fresh concerns to report on their narrow defeat to Croatia Angus Gunn, Lawrence Shankland And Greg Taylor Apart from the Celtic winger, everyone left with injuries James Forrest.
Almost neck and neck in appearance, Andrew Robertson (77) and senior goalkeeper Craig Gordon (76) will have another cap added to their CVs on Tuesday, where the previous one will be overtaken Alex McLeish Fourth all-time.
Despite seeing his last-gasp equalizer in Zagreb disallowed, Adams – who has six direct goal contributions from his first nine appearances in a Torino shirt – is certainly a candidate for a switch. Lyndon Dykes At the tip of the attack.
Scotland probable starting line-up:
Garden; Ralston, Souter, Hanley, Robertson; McLean, Gilmore; Toke, McTominay, Christie; Adams
Portugal Probable Starting Lineup:
the beach; Dalot, Diaz, Vega, Mendes; Silva, R. Neves; Jodha, Fernandez, Leo; Ronaldo
We say: Scotland 1-2 Portugal
All three of Scotland's defeats so far in League A have been by a single goal, but unfortunately for Clarke's men, we can only imagine the same scenario unfolding at Hampton Park.
While fatigue may set in for both sides, Portugal's options to replace the bench are more threatening and the Selecao should march towards a win that could punch their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Please click here for data analysis of most probable results, scores and more for this match.
