Scotland hopes of Euro 2016 qualifcation cruelly ended with draw to Poland

Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016 ended in heartbreak, as Gordon Strachan’s side failed to beat Poland while Republic of Ireland claimed a 1-0 win over world champions Germany.

The Tartan Army looked on course to revive their chances of making it to next summer’s European Championships in France, with goals from Matt Ritchie and Steven Fletcher turning around a 1-0 deficit - following Robert Lewandowski’s third minute opener - to give Scotland a lead with just seconds left to play.

However, Lewandowski grabbed his second of the net with the last kick of the match - following in a rebound off the post to finish on the line. The result means Scotland will now have to wait at least another two years to make an appearance at a major tournament for the first time in 20 years.

But Scotland’s fate was sealed by Republic of Ireland’s sensational 1-0 win over Joachim Low’s Germany, leaving Gordon Strachan’s side six points adrift of third place - and a play-off place - in Group D.

3’ GOAL! Scotland 0 Poland 1: Poland have the lead within a few minutes, Milik plays the pass through to Lewandowski - who finds a near post finish past Marshall.

18’ POLAND OPPORTUNITY: That was a chance for Lewandowski to make Scotland pay once again! Poland caught out Scotland on the counter attack, but the striker's pass to Grosicki is actually poor and the move breaks down.

30’ SHOT BLOCKED! Forrest gets down the left wing and finds Naismith with a pulled back pass into the box, he gets his shot away at goal, but Poland manage to block the effort on target.

33’ INCHES WIDE! Really slick play from Poland creates a great shooting opportunity for Blaszczykowski down the right channel, but his low shot flashes across the goal and wide of the far post.

38’ OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOSTS! Naismith's spin releases Ritchie down the right, who tries to find Steven Fletcher with a low pass into the box - but it's too close to the keeper and Fabianski gathers.

45’ GOAL! Scotland 1 Poland 1: WHAT A GOAL! Ritchie has found the net for the hosts! He smashes it home from about 25 yards out. Fabianski had no chance with that one.

47’ MARSHALL IS CALLED UPON TO MAKE THE SAVE! Milik, almost straight from centre, creates a shooting chance on the edge of the box - but Marshall gets down well to make the save.

48’ HOW DID HE NOT SCORE?! Naismith is in at the back post to meet a cross into the box, but from close range he somewhat manages to clear the danger! I think it was Whittaker with the ball in.

63’ GOAL! Scotland 2 Poland 1: Great finish from Steven Fletcher! Scotland have the lead and their Euro 2016 hopes are alive and kicking! Fletcher finds the far corner with a curling finish into the far corner.

68’ FLETCHER SHOULD HAVE SCORED AGAIN! Ritchie's cross from the right side finds the Sunderland striker unmarked about six yards out, but he can only direct his header straight at Fabianski.

70’ MARSHALL MAKES THE STOP! Krywochiak lines up the shot from 20 yards out after losing his marker, but the Scotland goalkeeper is fully behind the effort to make the save.

89’ GREAT CHANCE FOR A POLISH EQUALISER! Piszczek clips an excellent cross into the box to find the run of Grosicki, but the Poland attacker can only head over the bar unmarked.

91’ MARSHALL MAKES ANOTHER SAVE! Wawrzyniak strikes the ball from about 20 yards out, fizzing the ball along the turf, but the Scotland goalkeeper gets down well to make the stop.

94’ GOAL! Scotland 2 Poland 2: They've scored with the last kick of the game! A freekick flashes through the box, bounces off the far post and Lewandowski tucks away the rebound on the line.

Scotland will have gone 20 years without making an appearance at a major international tournament by the time the 2018 World Cup comes around.

Seven of Matt Ritchie's last nine goals for club or country have come from outside the box.

Scotland have been here so many times before over the past two decades or so, but this was a particularly traumatising experience for the Tartan Army. Under Strachan they have progressed, but have they progressed as much as they should have? Scotland will probably be the only home nation not at next summer’s European Championships, so what next for Strachan? His contract is up after this qualification campaign - does he deserve a new deal?

The English-born winger has been in excellent form for Bournemouth so far this season, and he was handed a starting place by Strachan for this match. The final product wasn’t always there, but in the first half he was the only Scotland showing for the ball and was rewarded for his willingness with a stunning equaliser on the stroke of half-time. This might have been a crushing result for Scotland, but Ritchie didn’t do his international prospects any harm.

Scotland - Marshall 7, Hutton 5, Martin 6, Hanley 6, Whittaker 5, Brown 5, D.Fletcher 5, Naismith 7, Ritchie 8, Forrest 5, S.Fletcher 6. Subs - Maloney 5, McArthur 5, Dorrans 4.

Poland - Fabianski 6, Glik 5, Piszczek 6, Pazdan 5, Rybus 6, Krywochiak 6, Maczynski 5, Grosicki 7, Blaszczykowski 7, Milik 7, Lewandowski 8. Subs - Wawrzyniak 6, Jodlowiec 5, Olkowski 4.