Ukraine 0-0 Scotland: Steve Clarke's side seal promotion to Pool A of the Nations League

Ukraine 0-0 Scotland: Steve Clarke’s side struggle to seal PROMOTION to the top flight of the Nations League with a hard-fought draw in Poland

  • Scotland needed a point to seal promotion to Nations League Group A
  • They were put under significant pressure, but endured a goalless draw.
  • They will now move into Group A for the next Nations League after this result.
  • Meanwhile, Ukraine did not get the victory they needed and remain in Group B.

Exhausted but, crucially, not defeated, there is no medicine as effective as the antidote to this heroic performance for Steve Clarke and virus-ridden Scotland.

They will now be the only home nation in the top tier of the next incarnation of the Nations League after emerging from Krakow with the draw they needed.

And how they deserve to be there after overcoming illness and injury to pick up seven points from nine in the space of a week. The fact that they replace England makes it even sweeter.

MATCH FACTS

Ukraine (4-3-3): Lunin; Tymchyk, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko; Ignatenko, Stepanenko, Malinovskyi (Pikhalyonok 87); Yarmolenko (Zubkov 87), Dovbyk (Yaremchuk 75), Mudryk (Tsygankov 75)

Yellow card: Mudryk, Yarmolenko, Ignatenko, Malinovskyi

Manager: Oleksandr Petrakov

Scotland (4-5-1): Gordon; Hickey (Ralston 90), Hendry, Porteous, Taylor (Kingsley 71); Fraser (Christie 72), Jack (Armstrong 72), McGinn, McGregor, McLean; Adams (Dike 79)

Reserved: Hickey, Dykes, McCrorie

Manager: Steve Clarke

Not that Tartan Army would dare brag about it until his promotion was confirmed. No wonder they were unusually quiet until late. It’s hard to make noise with your heart in your mouth.

That’s because this matters. For a country that has only been to one major tournament since 1998, the reward of a second-place finish in Euro 2024 qualifying, as well as the guarantee of a play-off place, is an incentive. They didn’t lack motivation, that’s for sure.

The glorious sunshine had given way to black clouds and soggy cobblestones in this quaint old town in the hours before kick-off, and Clarke felt a sense of foreboding as the extent of her illness became more apparent.

When the team news dropped 90 minutes before kick-off, he had to verify that it wasn’t posted from a fake account. Six changes since the weekend’s win over the Republic of Ireland, including a surprise debut for Hibernian centre-back Ryan Porteous. The impromptu baseline (none of them would start with all of them fit) was seen in discussion during the warm-up. They were probably introducing themselves.

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Clarke never would have imagined fielding this team for such a momentous game when he named his squad a fortnight ago. Eight of that number did not reach Poland and their press conferences have been replaced by medical bulletins in recent days.

Scotland put on a battle performance to get the point they needed in Krakow

Scotland put on a battle performance to get the point they needed in Krakow

Craig Gordon stood his ground as Ukraine looked for a second-half winner

Craig Gordon stood his ground as Ukraine looked for a second-half winner

However, unlikely heroes can arise from adversity and, before leaving Edinburgh on Monday, Clarke’s glass was still half full, although it contained rehydration salts. He had every reason to refill his glass at halftime. Scotland was playing well.

They could have led in 90 seconds had Andriy Lunin not reacted to flip Che Adams’s deflected shot around the post. There was another chance for Kenny McLean, who should have done better than go over the crossbar from eight yards out. He even won a penalty, although it was correctly disallowed for a non-existent handball.

This was not the cauldron of intimidation that was often entered on those nights in Eastern Europe. The neutral setting took care of that. But the volume was amplified when Ukraine managed to break through Scotland’s defense twice in the first half.

Winger Mykhalio Mudryk was eyed by a number of Premier League clubs at Hampden Park last week. You can see why. He started for two white jerseys and crossed from the left in the eighth minute. Andriy Yarmolenko might as well have been alone in the city’s medieval square, the largest in Europe, such was the space afforded him. But the former West Ham player lunged at the dropped ball and Scotland emerged unscathed. The poor people behind the goal where his volley was ruled out might not have been so lucky.

Steve Clarke and his coaching staff were delighted to get a hard-earned draw

Steve Clarke and his coaching staff were delighted to get a hard-earned draw

Scotland later needed Craig Gordon to snatch Artem Dovbyk from them after Yarmolenko showed much more composure in releasing his teammate. But, after 45 minutes, it went so far, so good for the visitors.

The second half was not so nice. Scotland retreated so deep that the centre-backs might as well have worn goalkeeping gloves. Gordon’s men were certainly warm at the moment, twice fending off scoring explosions as Ukraine suddenly transformed into the energetic and inventive unit that had shattered Scotland during June’s World Cup play-off.

Gordon was beaten in the 80th minute, but so was the post. Only, mind, Ruslan Malinovskyi chiselling the paint with a super volley from 12 yards. The rookie Porteous then blocked inside the goal during the more nervous finish.

For those on the bench nursing dickie tummies, it must have been a real shake up. Not that they cared about getting to the end. ‘We’re going upstairs’ they sang in concert with their supporters. It certainly made a welcome change from throwing up.

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