A Night for Scottish Football History
In a match that will be etched into Scottish football folklore, the national team secured a breathtaking victory over Denmark, booking their place in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. The sheer drama of the occasion, featuring three outrageous goals—two of which came in stoppage time—left Hampden Park in a state of euphoria. For manager Steve Clarke and his squad, it was a moment of pure, unadulterated glory, a historic achievement that deserves to be savoured before the hard work begins.
The Road to the World Cup Draw
With the celebrations underway, the reality of the task ahead is now coming into focus. The World Cup draw on December 5 in Washington DC is the next critical milestone. Scotland is expected to be a pot-three team for the expanded 48-team tournament, and the luck of the draw will be crucial. The preference would be to land in a group with one of the three co-hosts—the United States, Mexico, or Canada—who occupy pot one. Avoiding stronger pot-two sides like Croatia and Morocco would also be advantageous, with teams like Switzerland or Austria presenting a more favourable scenario.
The final piece of the puzzle, Scotland's pot-four opponent, may not be known until six play-off matches are concluded next year. Potential opponents range from Cape Verde to New Zealand, with Ghana posing a more significant challenge.
Steve Clarke's Selection Headache
Once the draw dust settles, manager Steve Clarke faces the monumental task of selecting his final squad. With FIFA considering increasing squad sizes to 30, Clarke still has difficult decisions to make across the pitch.
Key squad considerations include:
- Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn needs game time at Nottingham Forest, while veteran Craig Gordon, 43, may need a January loan to secure his spot.
- Defence: The central pairing will likely come from John Souttar, Grant Hanley, and Scott McKenna. Full-backs Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, and the returning Aaron Hickey are certainties.
- Midfield: Scotland's strongest area, with Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McTominay, and John McGinn all shoo-ins.
- Attack: The most significant concern. Lawrence Shankland is in form, but Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes have struggled for goals. The potential eligibility of Newcastle's Harvey Barnes adds an intriguing option.
After the draw, the SFA must select a team base camp by January 6 from FIFA's list of 65 options. Logistics, including travel across three different time zones and the potential issue of playing at altitude in Mexican cities, will be a major factor in planning.
For now, the nation can bask in the glory of a seismic footballing achievement. But when Steve Clarke returns from orbit, the hard work of ensuring Scotland makes its mark on the world stage begins in earnest.
