Portugal v Scotland: Nations League – live

Here’s how A1 stands after the first round of matches. Scotland will visit Croatia and host Portugal during the October break; in November they’ll welcome Croatia to Hampden before travelling to Poland.

1. Poland P1 W1 D0 L0 F3 A2 Pts 3

2. Portugal P1 W1 D0 L0 F2 A1 Pts 3

3. Scotland P1 W0 D0 L1 F2 A3 Pts 0

4. Croatia P1 W0 D0 L1 F1 A2 Pts 0

Scotland have lost four of their last five games against Portugal to the aggregate tune of 12-2. The other meeting ended goalless. Their last victory over the Portuguese came in March 1980, Andy Gray, Kenny Dalglish, Steve Archibald and Archie Gemmill scoring the goals in a 4-1 Hampden rout. Here’s what happened the last time everyone met …

Scotland pick the same XI that started the Poland game. The public cry out for more Ben Doak and Ryan Gauld but Steve Clarke, ever the showman, keeps ‘em wanting more.

Portugal meanwhile make four changes to their team in the wake of their 2-1 victory over Croatia. Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Dalot get some rest on the bench, while Vitinha and Gonçalo Bernardo Inácio miss out altogether; Nélson Semedo, António Silva, João Palhinha and Diogo Jota step up.

Portugal: Costa, Semedo, Dias, Silva, Palhinha, Fernandes, Silva, Leão, Mendes, Neto, Jota.

Scotland: Gunn, Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson, Gilmour, McLean, Christie, McTominay, McGinn, Dykes.

Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy).

Well, Thursday night didn’t pan out in the ideal manner … though if nothing else events faithfully adhered to traditional character-driven narrative structure: a brave performance, flashes of hope, a twist of the knife at the very end. And so now, having lost what was on paper their easiest fixture in League A1, Scotland are pretty much behind the eight-ball from the get-go. Tonight the task level shifts from easiest to hardest: away to Portugal, the eighth-best side in the world, and one whose line is led by a man who has scored 131 international goals. God speed, Steve. Good luck, gentlemen. Kick-off is at 7.45pm BST. It’s on!