Steve Clarke has named his Scotland squad for the final two World Cup qualifiers away to Greece and at home to Denmark, with the Scotland manager knowing exactly what is required from his players if they are to succeed in winning their place at next summer’s World Cup finals for the first time since France 1998.
Scotland travel to Piraeus to face Greece on Saturday, 15 November before returning to Glasgow to take on Denmark at a sold-out Hampden Park three days later. Steve Clarke’s side currently sit second in Group C after three wins and a draw in our first four matches and we have already secured at least a place in the Play-Offs in March.
However, Steve Clarke and his side can also still finish in top spot, should they secure a draw or victory in Greece and a win over the Danes at Hampden Park. The Scotland manager has named his 25-man squad for these two vital matches and there are perhaps two notable additions to recent squads, one who has strong Celtic connections.
There’s a return for Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, who last featured for Scotland in the UEFA Nations League victory over Poland 12 months ago. Shankland has an eye for goal and Scotland might just need that with punters North of the Border looking at the best odds from Puntit in the UK on Shankland scoring, particularly in the game at Hampden against a cautious Danish side who will be looking to avoid defeat to top the group.
And Clarke is going into these two vital matches without Angus Gunn, the goalkeeper who has started all four of Scotland’s qualifiers so far, missing through injury. His place will be taken by the former Celtic third choice keeper Scott Bain who moved to Falkirk last summer in order to get first team football. That and Gunn’s injury has opened the door for his Scotland return and the possibility of his first cap since 2019.
For many of the players in this Scotland squad, including the likes of the Scotland captain Andy Robertson, talisman John McGinn, goalkeeper Craig Gordon and quit a few others this will be their last chance to play at a World Cup finals.
Scotland do have that play-off spot already secured but the Tartan Army will want to get it done and dusted before St Andrews Night so they have plenty of time to make their plans to invade Canada, United States and maybe Mexico next summer.
Here’s the full Scotland squad for the Group C World Cup qualifying matches against Greece and Denmark and there’s more details at the official Scottish FA website.
