Scots to face Greece in Nations League relegation play-off… as Steve Clarke challenges his men to keep the momentum going after wins over Croatia and Poland
Steve Clarke has challenged his Scotland side to build on their recent momentum as they met Greece for the right to remain at the top of the Nations League.
Andy Robertson’s stoppage-time header secured a win over Poland, leaving the team third and avoiding automatic relegation to League B.
Scotland have now been drawn against the Greeks in a two-legged play-off in March after finishing second in Group B2 behind England.
Clarke expects a tough task against a team that has only lost to England, France, Germany and the Netherlands in the past two years, but is quietly confident after the Scots claimed seven points from a possible nine in their last three competitive games.
“Greece showed in the Nations League campaign that they are a quality team,” he said.
‘These will be really competitive matches in March, but matches we are looking forward to in the run-up to our World Cup qualification.
Steve Clarke celebrates with skipper Andy Robertson after Scotland clinched a play-off spot
Robertson’s late winner against Poland left the Scots third in their group
Robertson and Co now face a play-off double-header against Greece in March
“We finished our Nations League campaign strongly, with positive results against teams established at the highest level.
“The challenge now will be to continue the momentum we built in this play-off match in the autumn and into our World Cup qualifying campaign next year.”
As a seeded team, Scotland will play away first on March 20, before a return in Glasgow three days later.
Led by Ivan Jovanovic, the Greeks are currently 42nd in the FIFA rankings, nine places above Scotland.
They took 15 points from the six games in their Nations League group, including a 2-1 win at Wembley.
The Scots have only faced them twice before, and that was during Euro 96 qualifying, with Ally McCoist scoring the only goal at Hampden to secure a place in the final.
Meanwhile, Nations League holders Spain meet the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, while France take on Croatia, Italy against Germany and Portugal against Denmark.