This Sunday evening, Scotland will continue their Nations League campaign with a testing trip away to Roberto Martinez’s Portugal. After losing the opening game at home to Poland, it only gets tougher as they face a world-class Portugal side who just won away to Croatia. This is our Scotland predicted lineup ahead of the second clash of this Nations League Campaign.
Scotland Predicted Lineup vs Portugal
How Scotland Have Lined Up Recently
Throughout the Euros, Scotland rigorously stuck to a 5-4-1 system. Steve Clarke became the subject of criticism as he failed to deviate from a formation that produced dull and uninspiring football. The midfield four effectively operated in a box shape which meant that there was little width and any chances created had to come through the middle.
To do this, you need skilful players with incisive passing in the final third. While Scott McTominay and John McGinn are top professionals playing at two top European sides, that isn’t a weapon they have in their arsenal. Their main attributes are their physicality and running into the box, and they lack the vision to be your creative forces.
This made it really tough for the wing-backs as they had no one in front of them and all attacking intent was placed on them.
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Unexpectedly though, in a home tie against Poland, Clarke deviated from this system. Scotland lined up with a narrow 4-2-3-1 structure, with McGinn playing wide right and Ryan Christie wide left. This was a step in the right direction from a creative point of view; it made it easier to create chances. However, while these are two players who can play as narrow wingers and have done in the past, it’s not their forte.
Scotland’s performance improved when they introduced natural wingers in the shape of Ben Doak and Lewis Morgan. All of a sudden they got to the by-line more as we saw with McTominay’s goal. That has to be the Scotland blue-print, as it suits their players.
Scotland’s Recent Form and Tactics
Despite an improved performance, it was still another defeat to add to Scotland’s unwanted recent record of just one win in 13 games. Moreover, with Poland being arguably the weakest of their three opponents, you feel that losing to them at home has stripped them of any chance of topping the group. Realistically though, that was barely on the cards in the first place.
There were positive elements to Scotland’s game. It was the most coherent attacking performance, and they were incredibly unlucky to lose. The visitors managed just one shot on target outside their two penalty goals, but came away with three goals.
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It was a story of individual mistakes. Anthony Ralston and Grant Hanley made rash tackles for the second and third goals. Meanwhile, McGinn was caught in possession on the lead up to the final penalty. It’s easy to say, but these were the type of mistakes that around a year ago Scotland weren’t making; confidence can have a massive impact.
The move to a system with wide players was a positive, as was the game-time for Morgan, Doak and Ryan Gauld. With the lack of international friendlies nowadays, it’s more rare to see opportunities handed out to the less experienced. Scotland’s squad is ageing though, and they must accept that a transition period is on the way.
Scotland Injuries to Consider
The Injury list remains rather ugly, although on the bright side there were no new absentees after Thursday night. Nathan Patterson, Aaron Hickey, Jack Hendry, Lewis Ferguson and Kieran Tierney all remain on the treatment table. According to Clarke, Che Adams is also out through injury, although there is speculation that the Torino striker is fit and training in Italy.
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Scotland Predicted Lineup
The system will stay the same from Thursday night. The only changes will be Hanley and Kenny McLean making way for Ryan Porteous and Doak. Hanley struggled all night, giving away a penalty in injury time after a needless tackle. While McLean didn’t have a poor performance personally, he will be a necessary casualty to allow the Liverpool youngster in to provide some much-needed width.
Angus Gunn, Anthony Ralston, Ryan Porteous, Scott McKenna, Andrew Robertson, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Ben Doak, Scott McTominay, Ryan Christie, Lyndon Dykes.
