Gordon Strachan: ‘Proud’ coach gutted by Scotland drama

After Robert Lewandowski had given Poland a third-minute lead with his 13th goal in five games, Matt Richie equalised with this 25-yard thunderbolt into the top corner on the stroke of half time.

Poland’s captain bookended his country’s performance in Scotland as Poland earned a 2-2 draw to stay alive in qualification for the UEFA European Championship.

“He is a brilliant player, he’s been exceptional, particularly in the tournament, but I don’t think they’re short of ready-made replacements”, the Derry native admitted.

“If you have to deal with something like that, pride and a sense of achievement, whether it be a draw or good goals, you are always going to get that”.

Kamil Grosicki played the ball into the box and it took a deflection off Grant Hanley’s hand, bounced off the inside of the post before rolling along the line where Lewandowski forced it into the net.

“Similar to the first goal against Germany last month where someone shoots, it hits his heel and goes in”.

However, the former Scotland midfielder was already set to ring the changes and give fringe players, new faces and time servers a game. He plays like he trains – with great enthusiasm.

“After working hard for a year, and then something like that happens in the last seconds of a game”. That’s over a year’s work.

“I can’t remember getting anything lucky ourselves”.

“I really don’t want to speak about that just now”, Strachan said. I think Seamus is going to be fine.

Strachan’s contract ends after Sunday’s game with Gibraltar and he was asked if he had another campaign in him.

“When there are bids and enquiries there is nothing you can do about it. You do not hear anything about it and I just try to keep myself away”.

“They are the priority at the moment, those guys in there”. To talk about me is all wrong.

Robertson said: “I think it was just more people talking”.

However, there is not a clutch of players either waiting on the wings or in the Under-21s who look as if they would materially improve the situation.

Poland head coach Adam Nawalka felt his side were the better team and deserved their last-gasp luck.

Wawryzniak said: “We are of course calm, we are of course sure that we will give our best during tomorrow’s game, but our team has proven that we have an identity, we can count on every single player in our team, which is why we will continue to do that”.

But Nawalka was stunned by Ireland’s astonishing 1-0 win over world champions Germany, adding: “It was a really big surprise for us. The atmosphere is something that we should look forward to playing in”.