The Tartan Army must relish the news from the UEFA headquarters. They now know the venue of their game with Ukraine, and their fans can take advantage of the Betway sign-up offer and bet on the upcoming match.
Finally, the Tartan Army and Oleksandr Petrakov’s lads know they would travel to Poland in September to face off in the Nations League.
Scotland is currently second in Group 1 in League B after thrashing Armenia twice this past summer. But despite their somewhat fine form, a setback at the hands of the Republic of Ireland means they have to do everything in their power to win all the remaining three matches.
Steve Clarke’s side knows that the work before them is much more tedious than it sounds. They have to beat a Ukrainian side that trounced them 3–1 in a World Cup qualifying play-off and overpower a Republic of Ireland outfit that put three goals past them in June.
Effects of the Invasion on the League
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the Ukrainians have not managed to stage any games at home. The crisis even led to the delay of their World Cup qualifying play-off against Scotland by several months.
Hampden Park hosts the first Nations League fixture between the two sides on September 21, with the uncertainty of the return match now cleared by UEFA. Marshal Józef Pi?sudski Stadium or Stadion Cracovii in the Southern Poland city of Krakow will host the two sides a week later on September 27.
The pitch, home to MKS Cracovia, a Polish side taking part in the country’s premier league, has a capacity of about 15,000.
Injury Jitters and Team Form
Ukraine leads the group with seven points from three games. Scotland has six points after three games, while the Republic of Ireland has four points after four games. Armenia has also played four games, amassing just a solitary win and three points for their troubles.
Both teams come into the fixture with little worry about form, suspension, or significant injuries. However, Kieran Tierney is doubtful even after recovering from a knee injury that made him miss the last 10 Arsenal games of the 2021/22 season.
Even though the Scottish full-back is available for selection, his Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta, has only used him sparingly since the season began and may want to restrict his international involvement. Meanwhile, Nathan Patterson, who also struggled with an injury for the better part of last season, is fit and ready for international duty.
The Ukrainian side is upbeat and hopeful that the team remains intact. Currently, only Oleksandr Zinchenko and Illya Zabarnyi are serving suspensions after earning yellow cards in the last international fixture. However, they should all be available for selection for the return leg.
Fixture Important for Ukrainian Sports
The match, which will be played only a few weeks after the resumption of the Ukrainian league, marks a critical time in the country’s sports calendar. It speaks of a shared national zeal that despite the almost six months of Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians still want to see sports, social aspects, and life in general go on.
