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Pre-Match Postbag: Optimism Special! “Been giving some thought to this, and have narrowed the likely sequence down according to the patented Heartbreakometer: Option 1 - the last-minute heartbreaker. Win tonight then blow it at Hampden, presumably with a last-minute own goal. Option 2 - the what-could’ve-been. Blow it tonight then put in a brilliant performance on Tuesday. I lean towards 2, since we’ve used about three years’ worth of luck against Greece recently, but other opinions/results of decades of football trauma are available” – James Humphries
“Just because it’s a cliche doesn’t mean it’s not true” – Simon McMahon
Scotland and Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson speaks to the BBC. “Really positive … been a good week’s training camp … we’re well-prepared and ready to go … we’ve stayed on UK time so it’s been the normal routine for a night-time game … we know we need to perform better … we know Greece are really good … we know what to expect … we’re looking forward to the game.”
Scotland have three players tiptoeing along the disciplinary tightrope. Aaron Hickey, Ché Adams and Ben Gannon-Doak are all one booking away from missing Tuesday’s game against Denmark. Any one of them would be a huge miss.
Optimism! Agitation! Anticipation! Panic! As a world of possibility opens up in front of Scotland, Ewan Murray takes a cross section of the squad’s mindset.
Scotland make six changes to the side that scraped past Belarus at Hampden last month. Craig Gordon, 42, who hasn’t played competitive football since May, replaces the absent Angus Gunn in goal. Grant Hanley, John Souttar and Aaron Hickey come into the defence, while Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson go into the midfield. Anthony Ralston, Kenny McLean, Jack Hendry and Scott McKenna drop to the bench, while Billy Gilmour is injured.
The teams
Greece: Vlachodimos, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas, Kourbelis, Mouzakitis, Karetsas, Bakasetas, Tzolis, Pavlidis.
Subs: Tzolakis, Mandas, Michailidis, Masouras, Kostoulas, Rota, Triantis, Hatzidiakos, Tetteh, Mantalos, Siopis.
Scotland: Gordon, Hickey, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson, Ferguson, McGinn, Christie, McTominay, Gannon-Doak, Adams.
Subs: Kelly, Bain, Tierney, Irving, Dykes, Hendry, Barron, McKenna, Hirst, Shankland, Ralston, McLean.
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain).
Preamble
It feels strange, but Scotland find themselves in a reasonably comfortable position. They’re already guaranteed at least a place in the play-offs to qualify for next year’s World Cup, so they’re now able to have a proper, relatively stress-free, lunge at the big prize: first spot, automatic qualification, a ticket to the finals for the first time since 1998. All (ahem) they need to do, assuming Denmark see off Belarus tonight, is come away from Greece with at least a point, then beat the Danes at Hampden on Tuesday. A tough ask, but far from a pipe dream.
1. Denmark P4 W3 D1 L0 F12 A1 Pts10
2. Scotland P4 W1 D1 L0 F7 A2 Pts10
3. Greece P4 W1 D0 L3 F7 A10 Pts3
4. Belarus P4 W0 D0 L4 F2 A15 Pts0
The Greeks are already out, so they’ll either be disinterested or freewheeling, stroking it around without a care in the world. Seasoned followers of Scotland will have half an idea about which is the likelier, but it’s not all bad news: although Greece handed the Scots their trousers, freshly laundered, at Hampden in the second leg of the Nations League play-offs earlier this year, Steve Clarke’s side won the first leg of that tie in Piraeus, and also came from behind to win at Hampden last month in these qualifiers. And two out of three ain’t bad.
Of course, whether or not the play-offs represent much of a safety net is a moot point. Italy will be in those, for a start, and that screams a 1-0 victory for the Scots at Hampden followed by goals for the Azzurri in the 89th and 90th minutes of the second leg. But let’s cross that bridge if and when it comes. For now, automatic qualification is still in Scotland’s sight, and here’s the first hurdle. Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT. It’s on!
