IT has looked for some time like it would come down to this game. Now, the day of reckoning has arrived for Gordon Strachan, his players and for Scotland. It could be a memorable night at the National Stadium, or an evening to forget. Here, our writers give their verdict on the big match against Poland.
STEWART FISHER
EVERY fibre of my being counsels against it, but I feel this Scotland side might just have one big performance in them. Okay, things could get messy indeed if Robert Lewandowski gets a sight of goal and Ikechi Anya's absence with a calf problem doesn't exactly help, but over 90 minutes at Hampden with everything on the line the Scots will leave nothing out there. Keeping Lewandowski and co. out for 90 minutes seem unlikely but I can see Gordon Strachan's side scoring at the other end.
Prediction: Scotland 2 Poland 1
MATTHEW LINDSAY
SCOTLAND successfully shackled Robert Lewandowski when they played Poland in Warsaw last October. But can they do so again? I seriously doubt it.
But that doesn’t mean Gordon Strachan’s side is incapable of prevailing in their Group D match at Hampden tonight and keeping their hopes of reaching Euro 2016 alive.
To do so, Strachan needs all of his key players to perform. How the likes of Scott Brown, Steven Fletcher or Leigh Griffiths, Shaun Maloney and Steven Naismith fare will be crucial.
But Strachan is owed a performance from a few players after the debacle against Georgia in Tbilisi. If he gets it, then I can see the national team just edging it by the odd goal.
Prediction: Scotland 2, Poland 1.
CHRIS JACK
IF it had all gone to plan, this should have been the night that Scotland celebrated and the flights to France were booked.
Instead, it may well be the one when the dream ends. Again.
It could have been the party against Poland. It will probably be heartache at Hampden.
Scotland need other results to go their way, but doing their job could prove the tricky bit against a Poland side that are more than capable of winning in Glasgow, and probably will.
It one we head into more in hope than expectation. We need big performances from our big game players but it could all be a huge disappointment.
Fingers crossed it isn’t and we could yet be France bound.
Prediction: Scotland 1 Poland 2
NEIL CAMERON
HAVING attended my first Scotland game in 1979 aged 6, a 0-0 draw with Portugal, there have been many more lows than highs since then in terms of following our national team.
And I have a bad feeling about this game. I do hope I’m wrong.
Scotland have gone backwards over the past 12 months and I simply cannot see how Poland are going to be defeated. A draw might still be enough, but I fear even that is beyond Gordon Strachan’s men.
Failure would make this our worst campaign of all time – and that’s saying something – and I expect heads to roll after the Gibraltar game.
Prediction: Scotland 1 Poland 2
GRAEME MACPHERSON
SCOTLAND probably have to beat Poland if they are to have any chance of making it to France. Those with a glass half-full mentality will say a noisy Hampden crowd will roar them on to victory.
Those to take a half-empty view will point towards the imperious form of Robert Lewandowski and wonder whether two goalkeepers would be able to shut him out. And those with completely empty glasses will wonder whose round it is next.
But this is a night for Steven Fletcher to finally make his mark as a Scotland striker.
Prediction: Scotland 1 Poland 0
ALISON MCCONNELL
BECAUSE they have to, I think that Scotland will win tonight. It will be nervy and anxious but I think Gordon Strachan's side have enough about them to force this group all the way to the final game.
It will be a tried and trusted starting XI who take to the field this evening with Leigh Griffiths cooling his heels on the bench while Steven Fletcher leads the line.
With the pressure on to perform, Scotland will get the win they need although it will not be plain sailing by any means.
Prediction: Scotland 2 Poland 1
GRAEME MCGARRY
Scotland can earn the draw they require against Poland to keep their play-off dreams alive, presuming that Germany defeat the Republic of Ireland.
Ikechi Anya’s injury may blow a hole in any plans to set up to play on the counter-attack, but I still expect a cautious set-up from Gordon Strachan.
Scotland don’t necessarily need to win the game, so it will be cagey early on with the first priority being to ensure we don’t present any gifts to Lewandowski, B?aszczykowski, Milik and co.
A low-scoring draw is enough to keep us alive, and I think we will get it.
Prediction: Scotland 1 Poland 1
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