Scotland Set for Make-or-Break World Cup Qualifiers in September

After ending a 23-year wait to reach a major tournament by taking part Euro 2020, Scotland and the Tartan Army have got a taste for it. However, reaching the World Cup is decidedly more difficult with fewer spots available for the finals.

After three games of UEFA Qualifying Group F, Steve Clarke’s side sit second in the standings unbeaten after a win and two draws. Scotland came from behind twice for a point against Austria, who subsequently made the last 16 at the Euros, at Hampden Park and then held Israel in Tel Aviv before putting four past one of the pool’s whipping boys in the Faroe Islands.

Only winning the group guarantees a place at the World Cup finals, and they already trail European Championship semi-finalists Denmark by four points. Scotland go to Copenhagen next on 1 September against the surprise package of the last international tournament.

From the adversity of the Christian Eriksen incident, the Danes have emerged an even stronger unit with superb team spirit. There is every reason to expect them to carry that into World Cup qualifying, especially with the healthy advantage they currently enjoy in the pool.

Many of the Denmark players who stepped up at the Euros, notably Atalanta full-back Joakim Maehle, Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Sampdoria winger Mikkel Damsgaard and Nice striker Kasper Dolberg, have already scored in the qualifiers. Routs of Moldova (8-0) and Austria (4-0) in Vienna show what a daunting prospect this away day is for Scotland.

Warren Ashurst pinpointed Che Adams, off the mark in World Cup qualifying, as a key player in his coverage of the Euro 2020 adventure for the MansionBet Scotland team blog, and the Southampton forward showed flashes of what he could do at the tournament. Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn and Newcastle United winger Ryan Fraser have goals in multiple matches in this pool too.

All of these names must raise their game as Scotland go again. A home World Cup qualifier with Moldova three days after their Danish trip is must-win for Clarke, because his team then goes to Vienna for another tough test against Austria. Tall Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic was a handful for the Scottish defence in the reverse fixture and scored twice.

The 6ft 7in forward also became the first player to breach the Italian defence at Euro 2020. Again, Kalajdzic’s height was an issue for veteran Azzurri defender Leonardo Bonucci when he came on and netted a stooping near post header in extra time of Austria’s knockout phase tie.  

How Scotland defenders like Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney mark such a set-piece threat will shape the result in Vienna. Other Austrian threats for Clarke to worry about include former West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic and RB Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.

Getting results and picking up points from these fixtures will shape what ambitions if any Scotland can have. Winning the group seems unlikely, but finishing second and making the play-offs is a route Clarke has already enjoyed success in.