POLAND skipper Piotr Zieliński could have been forgiven for asking Andy Robertson for a selfie.
Robbo's final header was as good as any goal Cristiano Ronaldo has ever scored.
On a night of stunning drama, the Scotland captain's late winner in Warsaw saw Steve Clarke's side avoid relegation from the Nations League three minutes into stoppage time.
The second place dream was taken away by Croatia's 1-1 draw against Portugal.
But on his 80th cap, the Liverpool left-back handed the traveling Tartan Army the win, with a spirited and courageous performance that now means third place and a play-off in March for Group A1.
John McGinn fired the team into the lead before Poland leveled.
But in the dying seconds, Robertson struck a brave, audacious header into the roof of the net.
It was no more than Scotland deserved.
Clarke's entire Ben Doak line turned out to be one big ruse.
A bluff.
A turn-on.
There was no way the 19-year-old in good form was going to be left out of this.
Clarke was stringing everyone along with all this stuff about what the teenager can't do. Right?
Because when he seriously considered getting involved with the little guy on the couch, he was guilty of overthinking things, as he has done too many times in the past.
Doak had to play. Pure and simple. He was outstanding man of the match against Croatia at Hampden for the fearless way he terrorized a £77m defender.
No one in their right mind would have dropped it.
The supposed argument that a super fit child cannot play two matches three days apart is simply nonsensical.
If Clarke had seen it differently, it would have been an incomprehensible, unfathomable dereliction of duty. A decision that would have been difficult to forgive and forget.
But let's play along with the idea Doak would always start with.
The two changes Clarke made to his starting line-up saw the return of super McGinn and Lyndon Dykes at the expense of Ryan Christie and young Tommy Conway.
Again, not many supporters would have been dissatisfied with that.
McGinn has endured a period of on-off form, which has attracted some criticism from some quarters.
But his goal against Croatia at Hampden on Friday was a timely reminder that he still has plenty to offer this Scottish team.
And his strike here took his international score to 20.
Doak was central to it.
Walking into the penalty area he was picked out by Billy Gilmour before his cutback put the ball on a silver platter for McGinn.
It was on his weaker right side, but the Aston Villa star calmly curled his shot into the far corner of the net.
Poland were stunned and had chances to level the match in the first half.
Craig Gordon shook off a virus to play and he made four very good stops to keep Scotland ahead.
Was Clarke's side lucky? You bet they were.
The home team threatened again and again and should have scored at least once before half time.
But from Scotland's perspective, was it with its back against the wall? It was hell.
The Polish woodwork was shocked twice to take the lead 2-0.
First, Gilmour unleashed a shot from outside the penalty area that seemed destined to dive over goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and find the net.
But painfully the ball hit the crossbar.
That was after 33 minutes and Scott McTominay had a decent chance four minutes later with his shot blocked.
Just then news came from Croatia that Portugal were winning – exactly the update all of Scotland wanted.
With another goal needed, Clarke's side did everything they could to get it.
Three minutes before the break, McTominay scored a low shot that was tipped onto the post by Skorupski.
It was painful.
There had been other near misses for Scotland, such as Dykes hitting a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.
However, Poland was always dangerous.
John Souttar was excellent at center back all night and was forced to make an incredible goal-line clearance right at the start of the second half.
Scotland gave everything all over the pitch.
There was never any sign of settling for 1-0 in the hope that Portugal would score again.
They kept pushing for another goal.
A breakthrough led by McGinn almost made it, but for a final ditch block at the near post.
It was all or nothing and soon it was nothing.
In the 58th minute it was Poland who hit the net with a shot that Gordon could not get close to.
Kamil Piatkowski simply couldn't have hit the ball sweeter to find the top corner.
In terms of claiming second place it meant nothing at that stage.
Portugal were still winning and a goal for Scotland would see them finish second to Portugal in the NINTH tiebreak, away wins.
Clarke brought Doak off for the closing stages with changes made to inject more energy and grab a goal.
Dykes almost understood.
He got a fingertip header from all but Poland's No. 1 just when it looked like he had been beaten.
It soon became apparent that Croatia had equalized in Split.
Yet Scotland did not give up.
Substitute Christie could have scored to make it 2-1, but his diving header was easily saved.
But in the third minute of stoppage time, Robertson scored.
A hopeful ball into the penalty area was attacked in the air like never before as he won the match for Scotland.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers on the Scottish Sun football page
Comments