SO WHAT DID THE NATIONS LEAGUE EVER DO FOR US?
FOUR BIG BENEFITS FOR SCOTS
IT was a huge night for Scotland on Tuesday as Steve Clarke’s side secured top spot in Nations League Group B1.
Here are four things Scotland have earned...
Promotion to Nations League Group A
Scotland will now mix with the very best in Europe next term.
Clarke and Co could face sides from these pots when the Nations League returns in March 2024...
Pot 1: Holland, Croatia, Spain, Italy.
Pot 2: Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary.
Pot 3: Switzerland, Germany, Poland, France.
That means a rematch with Croatia’s Luka Modric, right, is on the cards.
Straight into the Euro 2024 play-off
Top spot in Group B1 also means Scotland have a crack at the Euros via the play-offs.
A total of 53 nations will compete in the normal qualifying draw, which will allocate each team to a spot in one of 10 groups. Seven groups will be made up of five teams, with the remaining three consisting of six.
The 10 group winners as well as then 10 runners-up will qualify, with the remaining three spots being decided through the play-offs.
The 53 participating teams are seeded according to the overall 2022/23 UEFA Nations League rankings and divided into seven pots.
The draw takes place in Frankfurt on Sunday, October 9 at 11am.
Up to second seeds for the Euros
What’s more, top spot in the Nations League means that Scotland have a better seeding for the
Euros draw. Scotland will be in Pot 2 next month.
And that could be hugely beneficial for our chances of securing a spot at the finals as it means we will avoid a number of tough opponents including France and their dangerous goal-grabber Kylian Mbappe, below.
It also means that Scotland will not be in a qualification group with Auld Enemy England.
Pot 2: Scotland, Wales, England, Bosnia, Israel, France, Austria, Finland, Serbia, Czech Republic.
A pathway to the World Cup?
This one is a little less certain. There is still much to be finalised and many details to be filled in. The Nations League is linked with European qualification for the World Cup, although to a lesser degree than the Euros. The pathway for Scotland in terms of World Cup 2026 remains somewhat unclear. But securing a better position in the Nations
League will definitely make the road a little easier than it was last time around. The 2022 World Cup qualification consisted of 10 groups with the winner of each group qualifying for the competition.
The second round, which followed a play-off format, was contested by the 10 runners-up plus the best two Nations League group winners (based on Nations League overall ranking) that finished outside of the top two of their qualifying group.
All that means, with a better Nations League ranking now secured, Scotland will be better off when qualification chances come around again, even if there are some changes made.