Depleted Scotland hold out against Ukraine for Nations League promotion

The nature of this cruelty for Scotland supporters demonstrated how far their team has progressed under Steve Clarke. With a point needed from this meeting to seal promotion from Nations League B, to pass great rivals England on the way up and to leap into pot two for the upcoming Euro 2024 draw, Clarke’s makeshift team scrapped in a manner which deserves the highest of praise.

“We are going up” chanted a delirious Scottish support at full time. Not so long ago, they were continually watching international football’s equivalent of a lost cause. Clarke’s work to completely alter that scenario has been quite the sight. Yes, Scotland rode their luck and yes, Ukraine will claim with plenty of justification that they deserved a win but fortune favoured the brave. These are heady times for Scottish fans, which they will appreciate when nerves have settled.

The third meeting of Ukraine and Scotland since June had a different backdrop to what had come before. Gone was the vociferous home backing that Scotland had enjoyed in successive games at Hampden Park. An estimated 150,000 Ukrainian refugees are based in Krakow; they turned out in great voice and colour to support a team who have done their country proud since Russia’s invasion.

The Ukraine coach, Oleksandr Petrakov, has consistently praised the kindness of the Scottish people. Fans of both nations mingled and socialised in the city on Tuesday afternoon, thereby demonstrating everything that can be good about football in times of trouble.

Scotland’s buildup had been affected by injury, suspension and a virus that swept through Clarke’s squad. With precious few alternatives, the manager handed Hibernian’s Ryan Porteous a debut at centre back. Ryan Jack and Kenny McLean,