STEPHEN O’Donnell has attributed the resurgence Scotland have enjoyed since returning to action after the Euro 2024 finals to a change in formation and expressed hope manager Steve Clarke sticks with a four man defence in World Cup qualifying even if Kieran Tierney is available. The national side defeated Poland 2-1 in their final Nations League match at the National Stadium in Warsaw on Monday night to leapfrog their opponents into third place in the Group A1 table and secure a relegation play-off spot. Progress to the quarter-finals may have eluded Andy Robertson, who netted the winner in the third minute of injury-time on the occasion of his 80th cap, and his team mates as Croatia drew 1-1 with Portugal in Split and finished a point ahead of them in the section.
However, the dramatic triumph was further evidence that Scotland have put their early exit from the Euros in Germany this summer firmly behind them. They drew 0-0 with Portugal at Hampden last month and beat Croatia 1-0 at home on Friday night to end a 10 match winless run in competitive fixtures. Motherwell right-back O’Donnell, who won 26 international caps between 2018 and 2022 and started in all three group games at Euro 2020, celebrated along with the Tartan Army as Clarke’s men avoided dropping out of the top tier of the Nations League in dramatic fashion.
Read more: Scotland discover Pot fate for World Cup qualifying When is Nations League play-off draw & who can Scotland get? Scott McTominay injury up.
