Key events
If you haven’t seen the celebrations after Troy Parrott’s third goal for Ireland on Sunday, I implore you to watch this irresistible slice of life-affirmation.
Denmark team news: Hojlund returns
Four changes from the Denmark from the XI that started their potential costly draw at home to Belarus. Joachim Andersen, Morten Hjulmand, Victor Froholdt and Rasmus Hojlund replace Jannik Vestergaard, Christian Norgaard, Christian Eriksen and Jonas Wind.
Denmark (4-2-3-1ish) Schmeichel; Kristensen, Andersen, Christensen, Dorgu; Wheelman, Hojbjerg; Isaksen, Frohold, Damsgaard; Hojlund.
Scotland team news: Dykes and McKenna start
Steve Clarke has made two changes from the madcap defeat in Greece on Saturday. Scott McKenna replaces Grant Hanley and Lyndon Dykes is preferred up front to Che Adams. Interesting. Very interesting.
Scotland (4-2-3-1ish) Gordon; Hickey, Souttar, McKenna, Robertson; Christie, Ferguson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, McGinn; Dykes.
Ewan Murray
Wounding events in modern history mean Scotland can not be a football country that expects. It is, however, one on tenterhooks as the prospect of long‑awaited World Cup qualification looms so large.
On paper, the task is simple: beat Denmark at Hampden Park and the Scots will take a place in next summer’s tournament. It is the significance of progress that matters far more than the fact the Danes are ranked 18 places higher in the world.
Scotland have not played in the World Cup since 1998. You must go back to 1989 for the last time they qualified for anything in front of a Hampden audience. This ranks as a game for the ages. Potentially.
The testimony of Andy Robertson is fascinating in this context. The Liverpool full-back and Scotland captain knows a thing or two about marquee achievement. He has 89 caps. What would leading his country to a World Cup mean? “I don’t like thinking about it and that’s the honest answer,” he said. “I’m excited and looking forward to a one-game shootout for the World Cup. If it happens, I’ll tell you how I feel about it.”
The last time Scotland qualified for a World Cup was 11 October 1997, when Sunchyme by Dario G – it’s okay, you can admit you like it now – was second in the charts, William Hague was all over the front pages and some of us had more hair then him.
Scotland beat Latvia 2-0 that night and qualified automatically as the best runner-up across nine groups. Tonight’s task is tougher, but then the reward is greater. If Scotland beat Denmark at Hampden, they will be among the chosen 48 for next summer’s World Cup; if they draw or lose, they will go into the playoffs. It’s mercifully simple, terrifyingly so if you’re a Scotland fan.
Scotland v Denmark is our main focus but we’ll have goalflashes from Cardiff, where Wales need to beat North Macedonia to improve their seeding for the upcoming playoffs, and half-time/full-time updates from the other matches. Here’s the full list.
Group B
Kosovo v Switzerland
Sweden v Slovenia
Switzerland will qualify automatically unless they lose by six goals to Kosovo, who along with Sweden are guaranteed a playoff place.
Group C
Belarus v Greece
Scotland v Denmark
See above
Group E
Spain v Turkey
Bulgaria v Georgia
Spain will qualify unless they lose by seven goals at home to Turkey, who are guaranteed a playoff place. Spain could join England in winning every game without conceding a goal.
Group H
Romania in San Marino
Austria v Bosnia and Herzegovina
This group is a bit tighter. Bosnia and Herzegovina will steal the automatic qualification spot from Austria if they win in Vienna. Romania are guaranteed a playoff spot along with Austria or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Group I
Belgium v Liechtenstein
Wales v North Macedonia
Belgium need to win at home to Liechtenstein to guarantee automatic qualification, though a draw should be enough and we feel a bit silly acknowleding this as a live prospect. Assuming Belgium win, Wales and North Macedonia – both guaranteed a playoff place – are fighting for a better seeding in that draw. They are level on points but Wales have an inferior goal difference so they need to win.
Preamble
Preamble? There are no preambles. Who needs preambles when Scotland are one win away from reaching their first World Cup since 1998.
Kick off 7.45 p.m.
