KRAKOW: Scotland have secured Nations League promotion after holding out for a goalless draw with Ukraine in Krakow, Poland. The happy irony for Scottish fans will be that they have overtaken England in status after the Three Lions were relegated even before Monday’s 3-3 draw with Germany.

The point also earned an injury-weakened Scotland top spot in Group B1 and a guarantee of at least a playoff place in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was outstanding.

Promotion capped an impressive turnaround for the national side after the disappointment of losing to Ukraine in June’s World Cup play-off, and puts them into Pot 2 for the qualifying draw for the European Championships on 9 October.

That enhances Scotland’s chances of another major tournament, which is a great reward for an impressive international window in which Clarke’s squad has shown different qualities while being stretched to the limit.

Injuries to defenders Scott McKenna and Kieran Tierney added more problems before the trip to Krakow, and resulted in Hibernian centre-back Ryan Porteous making his debut in game of huge importance.

But he, partner Jack Hendry, and Aaron Hickey were outstanding in keeping Ukraine out for the most part, though Oleksandr Petrakov’s side will also rue some big misses.

The worst came from Andriy Yarmolenko after just seven minutes, as the former West Ham midfielder blazed over unmarked after a fantastic cross from Mykhaylo Mudryk.

But there were others too, with Gordon denying Artem Dovbyk when clean through, and then Mudryk’s curling effort from distance was pushed wide by the Hearts goalkeeper.

Taras Stepanenko also headed wide from six yards despite working himself into good space.

Scotland had some good moments early on, with Che Adams forcing Andriy Lunin into a fine save after two minutes and Ryan Jack firing over inside the box. A penalty awarded for handball was overturned, too, after the referee checked again at the monitor at the direction of the video assistant referee.

But the second half was mainly about tiring bodies staying focussed, which they did until the death as Porteous produced a last-ditch tackle in the final minute to stop Oleksandr Zubvok firing a shot on goal from just inside the box.

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