The Scotland national team are just two games away from qualifying for their first FIFA World Cup since 1998. Steve Clarke’s men were drawn to play against Ukraine in the play-off semi-finals, with the game taking place during the international break in March 2022. If they come through this game, they will either play Wales or Austria, who the Scots beat 1-0 in a qualifier earlier in September.

Steve Clarke has proven to be one of the best Scotland managers in recent years, having led his side to their first major tournament since 1998, when the team qualified for the 2020 European Championship, after beating Serbia on penalties in Belgrade, in very dramatic fashion, just as only Scotland could do.

Although the team never made it out of their group and never recorded a single win in three games, the side put on some brave and impressive performances. These came against eventual finalists and ‘auld enemy’ England, as well as Croatia, the former World Cup finalists, who Scotland scored their only goal of the tournament against, through captain Callum McGregor’s equalising strike. Performances such as these, as well as wins in qualifying against the likes of Austria, Denmark, and Israel, just showed what Steve Clarke and his team are capable of.

Che Adams scoring the winner against Denmark. Source - Getty Images

When the draw was made last week, there were some big names who Scotland luckily avoided including the likes of UEFA Euro reigning champions Italy, Portugal, Sweden, and Poland. This has given the team the best chance of making it to the World Cup, as the nation’s dreams could’ve easily have been crushed if the draw went another way.

Semi-final opponent’s Ukraine, hold a slightly better record than Scotland at major tournaments. This includes being quarter-finalists at their first World Cup appearance in 2006, and also making it to the UEFA Euro quarter-finals earlier this summer, only for their run to stop as Scotland’s group opponents and eventual tournament finalists England, bet them 4-0. As a result of this, manager, and national footballing legend, Andriy Shevchenko stepped down from his national coach role, moving to Italian club Genoa. Since his departure, Ukraine have only won two out of 7 games in qualifying, only just reaching the play-offs.

This Scotland team will be full of confidence, comparing their recent results to Ukraine’s and will be eager to sweep them aside, to advance to the play-off final, where they will face either former qualifying opponents Austria, or fellow Britons, Wales.

Scotland recently beat Austria away from home in a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to a Lyndon Dykes penalty, so the side would be fairly confident on beating also, if they were to take care of Ukraine. However, they have not faced Wales since the World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign, where they lost 2-1 home and away. Gareth Bale and Co, had a rather good performance at this summer’s Euro 2020, where they reached the last 16, losing at the hands of Denmark. The same Denmark who Scotland most recently bet 2-0 at Hampden Park last month.

This is the national team’s best chances of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998 and the ‘Tartan Army’ will be looking to make it to next year’s FIFA World Cup in spectacular fashion, continuing on their impressive six-game unbeaten run. Can Steve Clarke deliver yet again?

Scotland fans in London for their Euro 2020 clash with England last summer. Source - Getty Images

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