Scotland coach prepared for partisan crowd in Poland
SCOTLAND head coach Pedro Martinez Losa is prepared for a passionate crowd supporting Ukraine when the sides meet in World Cup qualifying tonight.
The game has been switched to the 11,547-capacity Stadion Miejski in the Polish city of Rzeszow because of the Russian invasion.
“We know it is a big stadium and we expect it to be full,” Martinez Losa said. “We have to focus on the football, the competition, and the good things that we can bring on to the pitch.”
Some 3.5m Ukrainians have been forced to flee to Poland since February, while the women’s squad is now dispersed at clubs in 15 different European countries. Four months ago, the majority were with just two teams in Kharkiv.
The players were reunited in Rzeszow last week and will stay together in the city, which is close to the Ukraine border, until they play a second Group B qualifier against Hungary on Tuesday. They have to win both to have any chance of qualifying for October’s World Cup play-offs, while Scotland will all but guarantee that outcome if they win tonight.
Ukraine head coach Lluis Cortes said: “It is very important for us to be together again and try to fight for the country on the field, playing football. Ukraine needs good news and happy moments in these difficult times. We know that Scotland is a very difficult opponent. We’ve already met them at Hampden Park but we were ahead in that match until the 93rd minute so we have a chance to win this game.”
Ukraine goalkeeper Daryna Bondarchuk, who was player of the match in November’s 1-1 draw at Hampden, is out injured. The game is being shown live on BBC Alba.
Meanwhile, Rangers and Glasgow City will learn who their Champions League opponents are when the Round 1 draw is made in Nyon today. Rangers are making their first appearance in the tournament, while City will be in it for the 15th succesive season.
Rangers are top of the unseeded teams in the Champions Path, while City are second seeds in the League Path behind Manchester City. Round 1 consists of four-team mini-tournaments, with the games to be played on August 18 and 21.