Heroic, battling, pride, skill. Four words that have seldom all been said at the same time when describing the Scottish national team quite probably for the last 20 years. But they have been laid to rest with the 0-0 draw in Krakow earning the Tartan Army a spot in Nations League A.
No shorter than EIGHT past and present Hoops stars led their nation into battle against a hostile Ukraine side that fell slain to a 3-0 loss at Hampden Park last week, meaning that Steve Clarke’s men will now rub shoulders with the likes of Germany, Italy, France and all of Europe’s biggest sides in two years’ time.
That has serious ratifications for Scotland’s Euro 2024 push. The side from Hampden will now find the process of gaining a spot in Germany much easier after falling into Pot 2 of the qualification stage, meaning that whilst their group will still hold the likes of the aforementioned teams, they will face easier sides in a bid to find a way through either an automatic or play-off route.
Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor alongside an Anthony Ralston sub appearance were joined by former Celts Craig Gordon, Aaron Hickey, Jack Hendry, Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong as the Scots went marching on to glory on a tense night in Poland.
Nothing happened as such, albeit credit goes to Hibs’ Ryan Porteous and Lennoxtown trained Hickey on their night of stardom after thwarting the hosts to little at all.
Scotland as such have now avoided the likes of France, Czech Republic, Austria, England, Wales and Serbia in their pot for the next Euro tournament – instead potentially facing the likes of Albania, Iceland, Montenegro or Armenia.
