Having waited almost a quarter of a century to reach a major tournament, Scotland have no intention of packing their bags early at Euro 2020.
The initial euphoria of qualification wore off quickly after a 2-0 defeat to the Czech Republic on 14 June, Patrik Schick’s brace – including a wonder-goal from 50 yards – serving up a sobering reality check.
Yet there is no better incentive for Steve Clarke’s men to get back on track in their second match than a meeting with the auld enemy, England lying in wait at Wembley almost 25 years to the day that Paul Gascoigne shimmied past Colin Hendry in one of the European Championship’s most iconic moments.
With no points on the board, for Scotland there is much more at stake than vengeance and bragging rights.
If they are to entertain realistic hopes of making it out of Group D, they will probably need to procure at least a point from their trip to the English national stadium.
However, they will not know exactly what they need to do to qualify for the round of 16 because their progress could depend on what happens in the other groups.
The top two teams from every group will go through, as well as the four best third-placed teams. The nations who finish fourth in each group, and the two worst third-placed teams, will be knocked out.
How Scotland can qualify
- Win their next two games against England and Croatia (it’s a big ask, admittedly) and Scotland should go through as one of the top two (as long as Czech Republic don’t also beat both nations).
- Draw against England and they would almost certainly need to beat Croatia in their final group match.
- If they draw both their remaining games, they would need the Czech Republic to beat Croatia and hope that by some miracle, the likes of Spain, Ukraine and Germany (other teams who have less than two points on the board) don’t pick up any more draws or wins.
- Lose to England and all hope is not quite lost, though they would have to beat 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia on 22 June. Northern Ireland qualified from their group at Euro 2016 with just three points because they were still among the best third-placed teams. In fact, the same is true of Portugal, who went on to win the whole thing (but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, here…). In that tournament, Turkey and Albania also got three points from their three group games but went out because of their inferior goal difference.
In short, Scotland have it all to do.
When the draw for the group stages was made, Clarke will have identified their opening fixture against the Czech Republic as the most winnable game, hence the scale of the disappointment when they came up short on Monday.
Kieran Tierney missed that game with what was described as only a “little niggle” and the Arsenal left-back’s return will be a huge boost if he is passed fit against England.
Che Adams will be pushing for a start too, having improved Scotland when he came on at Hampden.
More from i on Euro 2020
- In praise of Emma Hayes, the best pundit at Euro 2020 so far
- Eriksen collapse has thrown a spotlight on football’s relentless thirst for more
- ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ showing he has perfect blend of silk and steel to be a star
- Where Schick’s strike against Scotland ranks among greatest Euros goals
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3vxr2lg
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