Scotland v Poland LIVE: Latest Nations League team news, line-ups and updates

Poland head coach Michal Probierz spoke about his excitement at taking charge of his team at Hampden Park tonight. He said: “I’ve seen some games on the television at Hampden and there’s always a very warm atmosphere.

“I’m sure the atmosphere will be similar to in Wales. It might be another hot game and we need to be prepared and ready for that.”

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: “We knew coming out of the other side of the tournament [Euro 2024] there would need to be a little bit of freshness in the squad.

“I didn’t envisage so many injury issues, so many call-offs but that’s given us a freshness that’s maybe more than it would’ve been had I had everybody fit and available, but it’s still a nice freshness.

“For the young boys that have come into the squad, they’ve brought that enthusiasm, that breath of fresh air that galvanises and gives the senior players that little bit more life. It’s been a good couple of days, but we want to make it better.”

Here’s a look at the schedule for this international break and which teams play each other in the Nations League:

Scotland vs Poland (19:45)

Northern Ireland vs Luxembourg (19:45)

Republic of Ireland vs England (17:00)

Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland (17:00)

Portugal vs Scotland (19:45)

Montenegro vs Wales (19:45)

England vs Finland (19:45)

The competition is split into four levels, from A down to D, with four groups in A, B and C and two groups in D.

Scotland are in Group A1, so the top level, while England (B2) and Wales (B4) are in the second tier and Northern Ireland (C3) the third.

The top two teams from each group in League A go into two-legged quarter-finals in March, with the winners going into the final-four tournament in June. The winner of that mini-tournament is Nations League victor.

The winners of each group in Leagues B, C and D are promoted to a higher division. The teams who finish bottom of each group in Leagues A and B are relegated.

Teams who finished third in their groups in League A will face League B runners-ups – and League B’s third-placed teams will face League C runners-up – in two-legged promotion/relegation play-offs in March.

There will also be play-offs between the two best fourth-placed teams in League C and the two runners-up in League D.

Rangers midfielder Connor Barron and Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken have been called up to the Scotland squad for the first time for the Nations League double-header against Poland and Portugal.

In an update from the Scottish Football Association on Tuesday, it was revealed that Barron and Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig have both been promoted from the under-21 squad following a spate of withdrawals.

The absence of long-term injured players such as Kieran Tierney, Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey was compounded when Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie, Torino striker Che Adams and Celtic pair James Forrest and Greg Taylor all left the original squad for the Group A game against the Poles and the trip to Portugal on Sunday.

Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld had been called into the squad after a 10-year absence along with fellow uncapped duo, Sturm Graz full-back Max Johnston and attacker Ben Doakes, who is on loan at Middlesbrough from Liverpool.

They were joined by Rangers midfielder Connor Barron, Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken and Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig, making it six potential debutants.

It was a late confirmation that was only announced on Wednesday, but the match will be shown live in the UK on ITV4 and ITVX.

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Scotland take on Poland in the Nations League A Group 1 game at Hampden Park on Thursday 5 September and the match will kick off at 7.45 pm BST.

Should Scotland finish in the top two of their group they would qualify for the quarter-finals of the Nations League, fourth would confirm a relegation to League B and third would ensure a play-off match.

Although the Nations League is its own event, it also has an impact on qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which Scotland would be aiming to compete in for the first time since 1998.

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Nations League action as Scotland play host to Poland at Hampden Park.

Steve Clarke’s men are back on the international stage after their shocking Euro 2024 campaign and will hope for a more positive time of things this evening.

Scotland’s Nations League group also includes international heavyweights Portugal and Croatia so a victory against an underpar Poland will leave them in a strong position.

We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and more throughout the night so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 7.45pm.