Ukraine vs Scotland

Lots of Ukraine flags festooned around three sides of the Stadium and St Andrew's crosses behind one goal.

Scott McTominay, a round peg in a round hole back in central midfield after the reinstatement of a back four, is suspended, while Kieran Tierney and Scott McKenna are injured. Should Scotland go up, not only will it potentially afford them the opportunity of playing for a trophy and valuable experience of finals play if they make it through to the biennial finals tournaments, it allows them to move on up from the familiar opponents in the shallow international pool to which they've been consigned for years, to heavyweights such as Portugal or Holland or France or Italy or Spain or Germany or Croatia, the kind of company among whom the people have always felt the national team belonged. Scotland's players and supporters would be the first to tell you that promotion from Uefa Nations League B to League A, which they will secure should they avoid defeat against Ukraine in Krakow tonight, is no solace for their failure to qualify for the Qatar World Cup. Scotland cannily surround the keeper and stop Lunin getting a decent, running punch on the cross from the free-kick. It wasn't good enough in the summer and it was up to us to put it right at Hampden and we surely did that. Scotland are awarded a penalty for Stepanenko's 'hand ball' but it looked like a ludicrous decision as (a) the cross was from point-blank range and (b) it hit him in the face. Ukraine break the press down the right with Yarmolenko, Tymchyk and Malinovskyi working a neat triangle. Scotland can't make the ball stick upfield and that keeps inviting Ukraine on to them. But Ukraine have grown into the match and look the more threatening now, kept at bay by a combination of a well-drilled back four, an offside trap and poor finishing. Richard Dunne, back in the studio, thinks Scotland should maintain a 4-5-1 shape and just see the game out for a draw that will be good enough. Ukraine break and Dovbyk, offside but allowed to play on for now, breaks down the right but can't get past Gordon. Some 'After you, Claud' defending allows them in down their left but the man picked out with the cross is a centre-back, Stepanenko, who drags his left-foot strike wide as the Scots defence was stranded on its heels.

Goals and updates as the Nations League group stage concludes. Join Rob Smyth.

31 min: Ukraine 0-0 Scotland Ryan Jack misses a good chance for Scotland. They only need a draw to avoid relegation and send the Czech Republic down. Plenty happening across Europe, though our two featured games – Portugal v Spain and Ukraine v Scotland – are goalless. He’s had a fine game. They will be playing in League B with the Nations League returns in 2024-25. 53 min: Ukraine 0-0 Scotland It’s one-way traffic in Krakow, with Scotland hanging on a little desperately. 63 min: Ukraine 0-0 Scotland Another chance for Ukraine, with Zabarnyi lifting a deep free-kick over the bar. They are 16 minutes away from a famous result. If Armenia score again, Ireland will be relegated to League C, and Stephen Kenny will be under all kinds of pressure. 90 min: Ukraine 0-0 Scotland Four minutes of added time in Poland. Full time: Ukraine 0-0 Scotland They’ve done it! The Spain players are bouncing around in celebration; Cristiano Ronaldo is shaking his head in disgust.

One last push and Scotland will leapfrog England and Wales into League A of the Nations League.

Anything but a defeat against Ukraine and it's another Nations League promotion for [Steve Clarke](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/steve-clarke) and his team. But it's a determined group; one last push and we've got a serious chance of another major tournament in two years time. Not only would we secure the same back-door playoff place that helped us into Euro 2020, we'd seal a second seed spot for the qualifiers themselves - meaning a far more favourable draw. Scotland only need a point to top the group, gain promotion to Group A and set up a EURO 2024 playoff. That 3-0 win over the Ukrainians at Scotland had to ride a wave of pressure at the end of the first half and may have to thank Andriy Yarmolenko and Taras Stepanenko for missing two huge chances. Scotland are having a neat spell of posession and are making the hosts chase. (18+, new customers only, T&C’s) Ukraine are complaining for a penalty but Ryan Porteous puts in a tremendous tackle in the box. It's been a cagey start to the second half for Steve Clarke's men! A win for the visitors could see Scotland earn a playoff spot as Nations League best runners up, but hopefully we don't need to rely on that... Here are the talking points after Scotland gain Group B promotion in a tense night in Poland.

ONLY Ukraine stand between Scotland and a test with Europe's elite football countries in the Nations League.Promotion to the top section of UEFA inter.

And it has been close a few times tonight. Yarmolenko - who spurned that great opening in the first half - heads wide and surely that's Ukraine's last chance gone? They pushed Scotland under pressure towards the end of the first half and Steve Clarke's defence have been busy since the restart, but have Craig Gordon to thank for keeping them in it. Scotland fans finally have something to shout about as Ryan Jack and Ryan Fraser take Scotland forward, for the first time in the second half really, and Hickey races up the right to cross and force a corner kick in front of the travelling Tartan Army. The Tartan Army haven't seen much in terms of attacks since the break, Scotland could do with a goal to settle their nerves because one for Ukraine turns the group on it's head. Scotland are inside the final five minutes with a Euro 2024 play-off in their grasp and preparing for promotion to the top section of the Nations League. Scotland have suddenly found areas of space to work in and Ryan Fraser again threatens up the right but the Newcastle winger is unlucky as his blocked cross strikes him on the way out of play for a goal kick. But when they pounce they meet Ryan Porteous' tackle and Ryan Christie's block to clear the danger and Scotland enter injury time with a clear and present danger to their UEFA Nations league hopes to defend. It's on a knife-edge though - a goal for Ukraine can swing the entire group in their favour. Ukraine keep the pressure on Scotland and Craig Giordon but Scotland refuse to wilt. Scotland step up to League A with that group section win - but there will be no chance of a home nations meeting as England and Wales dropped out of the top section at the weekend. SCOTLAND are counting down the minutes in their date with destiny against the Ukraine in Poland.

Clarke has lost up to six of his key men after a sickness bug ran through the squad.

[Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/scotland-national-team) to qualify for the top Nations League grouping. Then came the small issue of a sickness bug ravaging the squad with Lyndon Dykes and Greg Taylor among others seemingly taking ill. Ryan Porteous has also been chosen to start. [here](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/) to take yourself to our Newsletter Preference Centre. [Steve Clarke's ](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/steve-clarke)men are on fine form with five goals scored and just the one conceded from their last two outings. [ Scott McTominay](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/scott-mctominay) and Scott McKenna pulling out of the squad with injury.

Get a report of the Ukraine vs. Scotland 2022-23 UEFA Nations League, Group Stage football match.

[Andriy Yarmolenko](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/124878/Andriy-Yarmolenko) firing over the bar from close-range in the eighth minute and [Mykhailo Mudryk](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/299911/Mykhailo-Mudryk)'s effort saved by keeper [Craig Gordon](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/17617/Craig-Gordon) just after the break. [Scotland](/football/team?id=580) drew 0-0 away to [Ukraine](/football/team?id=457) in the Nations League on Tuesday, securing a crucial point that sealed their promotion to the competition's top tier as the war-torn country hosted their final group game in Poland. Scotland, who started the inaugural edition of the competition in League C, finished top of League B-Group 1 on 13 points -- two ahead of Ukraine.

Craig Gordon made important saves and Ryan Porteous had an outstanding debut as Scotland drew 0-0 with Ukraine to reach Nations League A.

The longest of evenings for Scotland duly closed with scenes of euphoria. A Scottish success during the first period involved keeping Mudryk, one of the finest emerging talents in world football, relatively quiet. Mudryk’s battle with Aaron Hickey was a key and fascinating element of this game. From the second of two subsequent corners Stepanenko again fluffed his lines. Tasos Sidiropoulos, the Greek referee, pointed to the spot thinking Taras Stepanenko had handled when blocking a cross. Ukraine had been the better side but lacked ruthlessness. In truth, the ball hit Stepanenko on the head. The goalkeeper stood firm and even held the striker’s shot following a defence-splitting pass by Yarmolenko. Scotland briefly believed they would be afforded the ideal opportunity to take a precious lead. With precious few alternatives the manager handed Hibernian’s Ryan Porteous a debut at centre-back. Gone was the vociferous home backing that Scotland had enjoyed in successive games at Hampden Park. The Scots opened positively.