Let’s be honest Scotland hasn’t played the kind of football that would have purists purring in their World Cup qualifying campaign. However the Tartan Army will care not one jot about that as they look forward to the two remaining fixtures in November in Group C.
That’s a four team group with Steve Clarke’s Scotland team being up against Greece, Denmark and Belarus with the winners earning an automatic spot in next summer’s World Cup Finals which will be played across Canada, United States and Mexico.
And while we’re been frank and honest about our team, it’s fair to say that Scotland started as third favourites, Greece were heavily fancied to get the better of Denmark with the games against the Scots being the best chance for Belarus to get any points from a tough group.
Well with two round of matches remaining Belarus failed in their quest against Scotland, in their home match played in Hungary behind closed doors due to their nation’s support for Russia in the conflict with Ukraine, and in the most recent match at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Belarus have zero points after four games and are out as are that highly fancied Greece side who lost twice to Denmark and also fell to a rather freakish 3-1 defeat to Scotland that only Kickform Football Predictions could have seen coming, after outplaying Steve Clarke’s side for much of the match.
Scotland had to ‘park the bus’ until Greece took the lead then, when there was a little ambition to replace caution, Scotland somehow found their shooting boots to devastating effect scoring three times in the closing stages. For the Greeks it really was a tragedy and one that the Tartan could scarcely believe they’d widnessed.
Scotland opened the campaign in Copenhagen against Denmark and came away with a 0-0 draw. Indeed Birmingham City striker Lyndon Dykes could even have won that one for Scotland, who now have to face Greece at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Pirea on Saturday 15 November.
Crucially though Scotland has already secured a play-off spot at the expense of Greece and there’s an even bigger prize to play for in November as the Scots eye a place in World Cup finals for the first time since France 1998.
Denmark currently top the table on goal difference from Scotland and the Danes play Belarus at home in their penultimate match in the campaign so they’re extremely likely to get the three points to take their total to 13. Essentially Scotland need to get a result in Pirea (a draw would do) then go head-to-head with Denmark at Hampden Park the final of the group campaign. The winner qualifies if it’s Scotland while the Danes would just need a point.
Scott McTominay summed up the incredible spirit within this Scotland squad that could be the reason that they make it to the World Cup Finals.
“This camp’s been good in terms of points picked up – but we know we’ve got to be better, man. We need to show much more than we are at the minute, me included. It’s difficult to put into words how much quality I see in training. Sometimes in games it comes out here and there, but we’ve got to give more.
“The manager had every right not to be happy at half-time. It’s down to us to show it on the pitch. He’s a fantastic manager and we want to repay him by getting to another tournament.
“We’ve got some spirit, I’ll tell you. We never know when to give up and that’s a key aspect of a team like ours. If we can add a bit more quality and control on the ball, we’ll be in a good spot.”
That fantastic finale will take place at on Tuesday evening, 18 November where the Tartan Army will be in full voice, especially if Scotland get that draw – or even another win – in Greece.
It’s been a long wait for Scotland but perhaps this is our year and we’ll be heading to the World Cup Finals once again.
