Steve Clarke’s men head over the Mediterranean for the crucial first leg in front of a partisan crowd in Piraeus
Here we are again – another international break, another crunch fixture for Scotland.
Four months is a long time in football. Steve Clarke and his players would know. In mid-October pundits were wondering if the best days of this Scotland squad were behind them.
The Dark Blues had endured a tough Nations League campaign. But a bold 1-0 win over Croatia, heroic 0-0 against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and a dramatic 2-1 win over Poland, with positive results elsewhere, saved the Scots from a straight relegation.
And now the play-offs beckon and Greece stand in the way. A first ever win at Wembley against England showed what they are capable off with star striker Vangelis Pavlidis grabbing himself a brace in the 2-1 victory.
The last meeting between these nations took place at Hampden Park all the way back in August 1995. Ally McCoist grabbed the only goal off the bench in a Euro 96 qualifier. And almost 30 years later, Greece will welcome their Caledonian counterparts to Piraeus.
Record Sport has all the information you need about how to watch the game and how the teams are shaping up.
When and where is Greece vs Scotland Nations League play-off first leg?
Scotland will take on Greece at the Georgios Karaiskakis Football Stadium in Piraeus on Thursday March 20.
Kick-off is at 7:45pm UK time.
What TV channel is Greece vs Scotland?
Tartan Army fans can tune in to watch the game for free on BBC One Scotland. Coverage starts at 7pm.
Is there a live stream of Greece vs Scotland?
Yes. BBC will stream the match live on their BBC iPlayer platform for free. Fans can also listen to the match on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Who is in the Scotland national team squad?
- Goalkeepers: Gordon, Kelly, Slicker.
- Defenders: Robertson, Tierney, Hanley, McKenna, Souttar, Ralston, Hendry, Johnston, Porteous.
- Midfielders: Christie, Ferguson, Gilmour, Miller, McGinn, McLean, McTominay.
- Forwards: Adams, Conway, Nisbet, Wilson, Hirst.
Who is in the Greece national team squad?
- Goalkeepers: Vlachodimos, Tzolakis, Mandas
- Defenders: Tsimikas, Chatzidiakos, Mavropanos, Giannoulis, Rota, Retsos, Koulierakis, Vagiannidis.
- Midfielders: Mantalos, Kourbelis, Pelkas, Siopis, Konstantelias, Alexandropoulos, Zafeiris, Mouzakitis, Karetsas.
- Forwards: Masouras, Pavlidis, Tzolis, Douvikas, Chatzigiovanis, Ioannidis.
Team news
Liverpool winger Ben Doak misses out on both legs due to a serious thigh injury, while Lyndon Dykes is also absent. Up front, Clarke has finally lost faith in Lawrence Shankland, with 18-year-old Hearts striker James Wilson being selected instead. Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller and Ipswich Town forward George Hirst have also been handed their first call-ups.
Meanwhile, Greece captain Tasos Bakasetas has been outstanding for his country. Since the 2020-21 Nations League only Erling Haaland (22) has been directly involved in more goals. But he has been sidelined by a thigh problem. Elsewhere, Slavia Prague midfielder Christos Zafeiris is available after serving a suspension in Finland.
Where else can I follow the action?
You can follow the action right here at dailyrecord.co.uk. We’re running a LIVE blog and will bring you all the pre-match build-up and team news, plus every kick of the ball once the Nations League play-off gets up and running. After the game, we’ll have all the reaction from managers and players, as well as a whole lot more.