WHAT A BOOT IN THE BAWS
FROM BACK PAGE absence from a major finals if they can win two play-off games, the first of which is guaranteed to be at Hampden.
Although that in itself is daunting, even if Scotland do finally make it back to the big time they could face a group of death.
Because at next summer’s tournament it is already guaranteed Scotland will be in Group D with Gareth Southgate’s England.
Euro 2020 is being held across various host cities, with any nation hosting matches guaranteed at least two home games.
That means those countries have already been drawn into their prospective groups, so if Clarke’s men qualify they will be guaranteed to face England.
The Auld Enemy’s status as top seeds means the match would be at Wembley but that’s not the only peril that potentially lies in wait.
As Nations League entrants Scotland have been place in Pot 4 by UEFA, meaning they will face three teams from higher pots.
England will be the opponents from Pot 1, while World Cup finalists France and Croatia are potential opponents from Pot 2.
Pot 3 contains reigning European champions Portugal as well as Sweden, who lost just one qualification match as they came second to Spain, and Czech Republic, who beat England in Prague last month.
On the plus side, Scotland are guaranteed to face the Pot 2 and Pot 3 teams at Hampden should they make it to the finals tournament.
Scotland’s potential Euro 2020 opponents: Pot 1 – England. Pot 2 – France, Poland, Switzerland, Croatia.
Pot 3 – Portugal, Turkey, Sweden, Czech Republic, Austria.