Scotland have begun their European Championship qualifying campaign with a solid start after Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw in Warsaw with Poland, leaving them with four points after three games.
Despite the inclination to be disappointed with the other results in the group, both Poland and Republic Of Ireland have picked up results against Germany, Gordon Strachan’s men can be pleased with the performances and progress shown.
Tuesday night was another demonstration of the team’s football ability and maturity, playing patiently and coming from behind to take the lead, even if they did let it slip and were hanging on by the end.
Apparent defensive mindset
Eyebrows weren’t so much raised as sent flying from the forehead as Andy Robertson was dropped for Steven Whittaker, while the injured Grant Hanley was replaced by Gordon Greer. There was also a positional change with Steven Naismith moved wide and Shaun Maloney taking up a central role.
It was difficult to fathom the reasoning behind the dropping of Robertson. His natural instinct is to attack but it would need much convincing to say Whittaker is better defensively, although that will surely have been Strachan’s thinking. As the game transpired Strachan would be justified in his decision for Whittaker to play a more conservative role.
Simply switching Naismith and Maloney isn’t necessarily a defensive move. But the positioning of the duo showed Strachan’s mindset was on prevention and then keeping the ball.
As the game started it was a case of the team’s surveying each other with both dropping off when out of possession. Neither were keen on pressing deep in the opponent’s half so not to leave themselves exposed. The Polish centre backs would link with Grzegorz Krychowiak but there would be little pressure on the ball, only when Scott Brown broke out of midfield to close.
The opening goal came through a combination of errors rather than anything specifically tactical. A long ball was poorly dealt with by Greer and Whittaker which eventually led to a throw-in. A simple lack of communication saw them get in each other’s way. Poland worked it forward only for Alan Hutton to make a mess of a clearance under little pressure, allowing Krzysztof Maczynski to fire past David Marshall who was out of position having moved right of centre thinking there was little sign of danger.
Predictable rebuttal
As Craig Anderson pointed out on Monday’s show a specific tactic of Scotland under Strachan is the switch to Ikechi Anya. This was how they opened up Poland, quickly working the ball to the right through Hutton to Steven Fletcher who dropped off his marker. Whether the defender was reluctant to get too tight high(er) up the pitch or he was simply lazy, Fletcher was able to turn and clip a ball out to Anya who had maintained the team’s width while Lukasz Piszczek followed his defenders across the pitch. Anya sped away and teed up Maloney.
Then came the different side to Scotland. They weren’t quite so direct and eager to get the ball forward. Instead they were patient and ball retentive. Not too dissimilar to parts of the game against Georgia but in less dangerous areas. It was highlighted a couple of times when James Morrison was put under pressure by opponents; rather than knock a percentage ball forward he turned back and started again with Russell Martin and Greer finding little Polish pressure when in possession.
While Naismith played close to Fletcher on Saturday, Maloney was deeper and closer to the midfield. Maloney’s positioning and Naismith’s narrow role on the right in possession helped Scotland dominate possession for large spells. Maloney would influence the goal which put Scotland in front by picking up the ball around the centre of the pitch before driving forward and winning a free-kick which Morrison curled onto the boot of Naismith.
Weak point and equaliser
Tactically Scotland were at their most vulnerable between midfield and defence. Neither Scott Brown or Morrison are disciplined midfield ‘holders’ with booth keen to move forward. This left the midfield flat, opening space in front of defence. With little pressure on the ball when Krychowiak had control of it, the Sevilla midfielder was able to thread passes beyond the midfield with Greer tempted out of possession to close down. Thankfully for Scotland the home side were neither intelligent or good enough to take advantage.
With Scotland leading Strachan opted to change the shape of the team to prevent this from happening by reversing the midfield triangle and brining Darren Fletcher on to play behind Morrison and Brown. Chris Martin, a mobile target in attack, also came on as Steven Fletcher and Naismith made way. Scotland were no more defensive and it was a case of holding on to what they had rather than pressing for the clinching goal. Fletcher’s arrival should have made it more difficult for Poland to play through Scotland. However, they could easily have won the game, creating three good chances, taking only one of them.
You do have to give Poland credit for their equaliser, it was neat play and a clinical finish. However, Strachan will be disappointed. Maloney failed to get tight to his opponent allowing him to time to slip a ball past the lethargic Hutton for Arkadiusz Milik to control and finish. Martin failed to read the danger in time, moving away from the ball as it was played through, leavng himself wrong footed as they tried to get over and cover.
Scotland were left hanging on with Hutton against easily beaten as Robert Lewandowski came alive for the first time in the game, cutting in and firing a shot which was pushed round the post well by Marshall, while superb play by Sebastian Mila set Kamil Grosicki way beautifully only for Whittaker to cover and make the attempt difficult as it came rebounding back off the post. It was the second time in the game Whittaker had produced a moment of defensive brilliance having denied Lewandowski a certain goal in the first half.
Just as it would have if Georgia scored late on at the weekend, a Poland goal would have been unjust after another fine Scotland performance. They may look at Poland and Republic of Ireland above them in the table but on the pitch it is Scotland who are moving up. Confident, calm and composed in possession, it has been a long time since the Scots dominated possession away to a decent team. They are moving the ball well and creating chances and next month’s qualifier against the Irish will likely prove just how far Scotland have progressed.
WRITTEN BY JOEL SKED
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