Football
Why Scotland vs Portugal is not on TV as fans scramble to follow action
Scotland must beat Portugal in their next Nations League game to save their campaign, but fans won’t be able to watch it on TV.
The Tartan Army have lost all three of their Nations League Group A1 matches and are staring relegation in the face.
Scotland performed brilliantly in the last Nations League to win promotion to the top division, but it’s been a horrible campaign so far.
Their chances of making the semi-finals are all but gone, but they can still avoid demotion.
However, they need some wins, starting with this one against Cristiano Ronaldo and co.
But spectators not at the game won’t be able to see the action on TV.
Why is Scotland vs Portugal not on TV?
This Nations League Group A1 game will take place on Tuesday, October 15 and kick-off at Hampden Park is scheduled for 7:45pm.
Strangely, this game hasn’t been selected for TV coverage.
Viaplay have the broadcast rights to Scotland matches, but have scaled back their UK coverage.
In September, ITV picked up the rights to Scotland’s games, but that isn’t the case this month.
The Tartan Army’s 2-1 defeat to Croatia also wasn’t broadcast.
However, if you are a Scotland fan, all hope is not lost, and you can still watch the match using alternative methods.
The match will be shown live for free on Viaplay’s YouTube channel.
It will also be on the Scotland National Team’s YouTube channel as well.
talkSPORT will have updates throughout, and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Scotland vs Portugal: Team news
The hosts are sweating on James Forrest’s fitness after he missed training ahead of facing Croatia.
He then wasn’t part of the matchday squad, but he is still with the Tartan Army, meaning they must think he has a chance of featuring.
Meanwhile, Portugal handed a full debut to Chelsea’s Renato Veiga in the win over Poland, and he could start once more.
Scotland squad
- Goalkeepers: Jon McCracken, Craig Gordon, Ross McCrorie
- Defenders: Grant Hanley, Andrew Robertson, Ryan Porteous, Anthony Ralston, John Souttar, Mikey Devlin, Liam Lindsay, Jack MacKenzie
- Midfielders: Billy Gilmour, Ryan Gauld, Scott McTominay, Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie, James Forrest, Andy Irving, Ben Doak
- Forwards: Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams, Kevin Nisbet, Lewis Morgan
Portugal squad
- Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho
- Defenders: Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Joao Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Mendes, Nelson Semedo
- Midfielders: Joao Palhinha, Joao Neves, Samu Costa, Ruben Neves, Otavio, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva
- Forwards: Francisco Conceicao, Francisco Trincao, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Diogo Jota, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo
Scotland vs Portugal: What has been said?
Despite enduring a terrible Nations League campaign, Steve Clarke still thinks Scotland are on the right path.
Speaking after the Croatia defeat, he said: “A full squad fit and healthy would be a help.
“There’s so much disappointment in the dressing room that it’s probably better to wait until we get back to Glasgow to analyse the game, but I feel like we’re on the right path.
“We haven’t regressed. We just have to keep believing, keep pushing away.
“We felt as though we managed to rescue a point and then that’s taken away, so you can understand why they’re really down just now. We’ll go away lick our wounds and prepare to go again on Tuesday night [against Portugal].”