Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has recalled 4 gamers to his squad for the decisive World Cup qualifiers towards Greece and Denmark.
Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain – who made the final of his three appearances for the nationwide aspect in March 2019 towards San Marino – is included instead of No 1 Angus Gunn.
Nottingham Forest’s Gunn – who had began all of Scotland’s 4 earlier qualifiers – has suffered a knee ligament damage, with Craig Gordon, 42, and Rangers’ Liam Kelly the opposite goalkeeping choices for Clarke.
On the different finish of the pitch, Gordon’s Hearts team-mate Lawrence Shankland returns instead of Hibernian ahead Kieron Bowie.
Shankland has scored three targets in his final three video games, taking his tally to seven for the season, serving to hearth Hearts to the highest of the Scottish Premiership.
In-form Shankland (proper) has not performed for Scotland since final November however replaces Bowie (left), who has not scored in his final seven league video games
Elsewhere, Clarke has added to his defensive choices by recalling Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig following his omission from the October squad.
In the meantime, Bristol Metropolis’s Ross McCrorie will hope to make his first Scotland look in over a yr after additionally being added to a bigger 25-player group.
Josh Doig is one in all six gamers within the Scotland squad who’re at the moment taking part in membership soccer in Italy
Elsewhere, Clarke is hopeful Aaron Hickey will function for Brentford within the coming week after recovering from an damage that has saved him sidelined since early October.
In the meantime, in an unchanged midfield, Billy Gilmour is anticipated to be match regardless of coming off injured throughout Napoli’s draw with Como on the weekend.
With a World Cup play-off spot already secured, Clarke’s aspect head to Greece on November 15 earlier than welcoming Group C leaders Denmark to Hampden Park three days later in a possible winner-takes-all conflict.
Denmark have a greater aim distinction and face Belarus subsequent, so Scotland will doubtless want to select up at the very least a attract Greece earlier than beating Denmark on the nationwide stadium in the event that they’re to safe computerized qualification to the finals for the primary time since 1998.
Scotland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Ross McCrorie (Bristol Metropolis), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).
From ‘head-scratcher’ to the brink of historical past
Che Adams scored within the win over Belarus as Scotland secured a play-off spot final month
Scotland picked up 4 factors from their opening two qualifiers, drawing away to top-seeds Denmark, earlier than beating Belarus 2-0 to finish September joint-top of the desk.
Subsequent up was a Hampden Park double header during which all six factors had been claimed.
Clarke’s aspect did it the onerous means, as they got here from behind to beat Greece 3-1, earlier than a 2-1 win over Belarus helped safe a play-off spot.
That victory over Belarus noticed Clarke take cost of a record-breaking 72nd sport as nationwide group boss, however afterwards he described the efficiency as a “head-scratcher”, earlier than including it was “possibly as disappointed as I’ve been over the whole 72 games”.
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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke on the win over Belarus, as a play-off spot was sealed, plus anticipating a “different animal” as his aspect tackle Greece and Denmark of their closing World Cup qualifiers
Nonetheless, Clarke did promise “a different animal” for these closing two video games towards the already eradicated Greece and group leaders Denmark.
A play-off spot is secured, however two extra wins will seal a return to the World Cup for the primary time since 1998. Scotland and Clarke are getting ready to making historical past.
Scotland’s closing World Cup qualifiers
- Greece (A) – November 15
- Denmark (H) – November 18
World Cup 2026 European qualifiers schedule
- Closing group-stage match dates: November 13-18, 2025
- Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
- Closing event dates: June 11 to July 19 2026
What number of European groups will qualify?
In complete, 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 12 group winners qualify immediately for the World Cup; the 4 remaining berths are decided by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.
How do play-offs work?
The 12 group runners-up will take part within the play-offs, together with the 4 best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that didn’t end their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
The 16 groups that enter the play-offs might be drawn into 4 play-off paths, with 4 groups in every. Play-off matches might be performed in single-leg semi-finals, adopted by single-leg finals inside the similar worldwide window in from March 26 to 31 subsequent yr.
When and the place is the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA males’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The event will happen throughout 16 cities in three North American nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It’s the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three nations.
The final time North America hosted the event was in 1994, when Brazil triumphed after beating Italy on penalties.
An expanded World Cup will function 48 groups – 16 greater than in Qatar 2022 – and happen throughout three host nations for the primary time.
World Cup 2026 schedule
Group stage: June 11-27
Spherical of 32: June 28 to July 3
Spherical of 16: July 4-7
Quarter-finals: July Sept. 11
Semi-finals: July 14-15
Third-place play-off (‘Bronze closing’): July 18
Closing: July 19
