It’s now or never for Steve Clark’s men. After two losses to open their nations league campaign, this double header becomes crucial. Next is a trip to the Stadion Maksimir to face Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia side. With just a population of 3.5 million, they have overachieved in recent seasons, being the 2018 World Cup runner and the 2022 third-placed side. Perhaps Scotland can take a leaf out of their book. Here on Last Word on Football, we provide our Scotland predicted lineup for this eagerly awaited tie.
Scotland Predicted Lineup vs Croatia
How Scotland have Lined Up Recently
After a horrendous Euro 2024 campaign, Clark switched from his beloved 5-4-1 box formation to a 4-2-3-1 in their losses to Poland and Portugal. Angus Gunn kept his place between the sticks although came under increasing pressure after another blunder away to Portugal.
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Anthony Ralston and Andrew Robertson started as full backs with Grant Hanley and Scott Mckenna combining as a partnership in central defence. In front of them, Billy Gilmour and Kenny Mclean formed a double pivot.
Ryan Christie played as a wide right midfielder with John McGinn on the left, meanwhile, Scott McTominay played as a number ten in behind Lyndon Dykes.
Scotland Recent Form and Tactics
It’s been a miserable 2024 for the Tartan Army. They have been treated to just one win all year long, a 2-0 win away to Gibraltar. It’s part of a run that stretched back to around a year ago when Scotland defeated Cyprus by three goals to nil. Since then, that away trip to Gibraltar is the only match they have reigned victorious in fourteen attempts.
The Euros campaign was an embarrassment with the Times declaring Scotland the “worst team at Euro 2024”.
Consequently, questions have been asked of Clarke and his coaching staff. Although those questions have mainly come from those in the stands, the SFA remains committed to giving the sixty-one year old a chance to qualify for the World Cup.
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In fairness, the last two losses saw an upturn in performance. A change to a system including wide players and fullbacks has seen more coherence in attack, with three goals in two games, more than they managed in the whole of the Euros.
At the back, they have still leaked goals. Individual errors from Ralston, Hanley and Gunn have undone some of the good work by the Scots though, rather than a clear structural issue.
Scotland Injuries to Consider
It must be mentioned; the absentee list for Scotland is eye-watering.
Gunn, Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson, Jack Hendry, McKenna, Kieran Tierney, Greg Taylor, McTominay and Lewis Ferguson all miss out.
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Stuart Armstrong, Tommy Conway and Lawerence Shankland haven’t joined the squad.
Scotland Predicted Lineup
Therefore, it’s a bit of a makeshift eleven, but the 4-2-3-1 system will remain.
Craig Gordon
Anthony Ralston
Ryan Porteous
Grant Hanley
Andrew Robertson
Billy Gilmour
Ryan Gauld
Scott McTominay
Ryan Christie
Lyndon Dykes
