Nations League: Greece v Scotland – what should Steve Clarke do?

Last Updated: March 18, 2025Categories: SportsBy Views: 18

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Nations League play-off, first leg: Greece v Scotland

Venue: Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus Date: Thursday, 20 March Time: 19:45 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC One Scotland & iPlayer; listen on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds; live text coverage & in-play clips on the BBC Sport website & app

Scotland must win a two-match shoot-out with Greece to stay in the top tier of European football.

Steve Clarke’s side scraped into the Nations League play-off after finishing third in their League A group – and therefore avoiding relegation – thanks to Andy Robertson’s stoppage-time winner in Poland in November.

Greece are looking to replace the Scots in League A after finishing runners-up in their League B group but having only been edged out on goal difference by England.

Their only defeat of the campaign came against Scotland’s Auld Enemy in Athens and they will be determined to avoid a repeat when they host the first leg on Thursday before heading to Hampden Park for Sunday’s return.

With stakes so high and if you were head coach instead of Clarke, what would your approach be?

You can select your XI, map out your tactics and deliver the pre-match team talk below…

With Angus Gunn missing out again, would you stick with Craig Gordon at the grand old age of 42 ahead of younger men Liam Kelly and Cieran Slicker, neither of whom are starting for Rangers or Ipswich Town, respectively?

Nicky Devlin is the latest right-back injury casualty since November, so it is a straight race on that side of the park between Anthony Ralston, who has performed well for Scotland despite not starting for Celtic, and Max Johnston, who is starting for Sturm Graz.

Over on the other side, with Greg Taylor dropping out, Kieran Tierney makes a welcome return after not only recovering from injury but also forcing himself into first-team action with Arsenal.

However, it raises again the question of whether or not you force both Tierney and captain Andy Robertson into the same team – and how?

With five specialist centre-backs in the squad, does that suggest Clarke plans to start three across the backline and, if so, would you use Tierney there ahead of three of them?

In midfield, Motherwell 18-year-old Lennon Miller has earned his first call-up while Ryan Gauld, Connor Barron and Stuart Armstrong have dropped out.

Would you risk a teenage debutant in such a game, does fit-again Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson come into your reckoning, or is it a straight battle between stalwarts Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Ryan Christie and Kenny McLean?

Indeed, with Ben Doak out injured after the 19-year-old winger on loan to Middlesbrough from Liverpool made such an big impression last time out, how do you shape the team without his pace on the wings when there is no Lewis Morgan or James Forrest either?

There’s an even great dilemma up front with Lyndon Dykes injured and Lawrence Shankland dropped.

Che Adams has been Clarke’s go-to man, but would you choose the less experienced Tommy Conway, the recalled Kevin Nisbet, or one of the other squad debutants – Heart of Midlothian 18-year-old James Wilson and Ipswich Town’s George Hirst?

You’ve chosen your line-up. Now it’s all down to the players.

Before they go out on to the pitch, you’ve got a few moments left to deliver one last message.

Is there a particular instruction you’d like to give? Or is it time to deliver a final rallying call?

Send us your pre-match team talk here, external

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