If the play-off schedule had not been interrupted by the war in Eastern Europe, Scotland would have faced a tough task to overcome these matches to secure a place in the World Cup final. World for the first time since France 98. Clarke’s team is ranked 39th. in the FIFA men’s ranking, Ukraine ranks 27th and the Welsh 18th.
That said, the Scots are in a streak of eight unbeaten games, which includes a 2-0 home win over Denmark, currently ranked 11th. Another factor in favor of Scotland is the Hampden crowd, which once again found its roar when Clarke oversaw an incremental increase in performance and results, including qualifying for Euro 2020, to finish with more than two decades of exile from the finals of the big tournaments.
Scottish progress has been based on a 3-4-2-1 squad anchored to Kieran Tierney playing to the left of a side three behind Andrew Robertson as a side. Tierney, however, has been out of action for the past three months of the season and although Nathan Patterson – convalescent for a similar period – was considered fit enough to be part of the squad, Clarke confirmed that the winger ‘Everton will not participate. in Hampden.
Patterson would have deployed to the right of a midfielder four, but Clarke has capable options in the form of Aaron Hickey of Bologna and Anthony Ralston of Celtic, as well as his usual man for the position, Stephen O’Donnell of Motherwell. Whoever gets the approval will probably play alongside Billy Gilmour and Callum McGregor, with Robertson on the left flank in front of a back three from Liam Cooper, Grant Hanley and John Souttar or Scott McKenna.
John McGinn and Ryan Christie are the likely links with Che Adams as the striker. The other crucial participant will be the local public – some of whom have been rehearsing Ukraine’s national anthem in solidarity with visitors – who have once again shown that they can literally shake Hampden to its foundations before an evening. of the rawest emotions. , whatever the outcome.