FLAK RINGING IN HIS EARS

SCOTLAND Defeat to Albanians not end for lucky Scots

BY ALAN MARSHALL SCOTLAND could lose their next game in Albania and still win their Nations League group.

Alex McLeish’s struggling side face a tricky trip to Shkoder next month in their penultimate match.

And almost farcically, the Scots could lose two games in a three-team group and still win it – as long as they defeat Israel in the last tie at Hampden, probably by two goals or more or by a narrow high-scoring win.

If Albania were to defeat Scotland they would leapfrog them into second place on six points, with Israel top of the section, also with six points.

That means it would all come down to the final game at Hampden on November 20 when the Israelis come to Hampden.

If Scotland won that, having lost in Albania, each team would have six points.

And UEFA have opted to decide the groups by “head to head; goal difference; higher number of goals scored between the teams; higher number of goals scored away from home; goal difference.”

If it’s still level, it goes to goal difference in the group.

It would mean a win against Israel by two goals or a high-scoring game would be enough – assuming Scotland don’t get thrashed in the Balkans.

Even a point in Albania would be enough to top the group if the Scots beat Israel.