How Scots can book a ticket to the big show

TUESDAY’S game at Hampden is one of three play-off finals taking place across Europe, with Portugal hosting Iceland and Wales travelling to Switzerland. The three winners will be ranked on their perfromance in qualifying and play-offs, with the top two sealing their place in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The third team would be left to face an intercontinental play-off in New Zealand in February, where the likes of Cameroon, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Haiti, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Senegal and Thailand await.

In short, Scotland need to beat Ireland and hope that either Portugal or Wales can see off Iceland or Switzerland, respectively, to secure their passage to the finals.