Scotland Begins World Cup Qualifying Campaign Against Denmark
World Cup Qualifying: Denmark vs. Scotland
Venue: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen Date: Friday, September 5 Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Live broadcasts available on BBC Scotland, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website & app. Text updates can be found on the BBC Sport website & app, with audio coverage on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds.
Scotland's head coach, Steve Clarke, is determined that his players deserve to qualify for the World Cup as they kick off their qualifying campaign away against Denmark on Friday. Scotland will also face Greece and Belarus in their quest to reach the finals for the first time since 1998.
Clarke expressed his aspirations in an interview with BBC Scotland, stating, "I’m probably approaching the end of my career at the wrong side of 60, but there’s still a chance to go to a World Cup. If we could do it, for me personally, it would be good, but it’s not really about me. It’s about the country and this group of players who have been fantastic over the last six-and-a-bit years that I’ve been in charge. They’ve been great for the country and they deserve to go to a World Cup."
Despite his optimism, Clarke acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting, "Deserving to go and going are two different things because you have to work very, very hard to get there." The six qualifying matches will take place over the next three months, with automatic qualification or a playoff spot expected to be determined by November.
Scotland's only defeat in the previous World Cup qualifying campaign occurred in Copenhagen, where Denmark topped the group by four points. As runners-up, Scotland faced disappointment in a playoff semi-final at home against Ukraine.
Clarke, who has guided Scotland to consecutive European Championships, recognizes the difficulty of the current group, predicting a competitive race. "Three good sides," he explained. "Denmark is an established pot one team known for reaching the later stages of tournaments. We faced Greece at Hampden in March and suffered a 3-0 defeat; they are a strong team on the rise. Belarus, as a pot four team, also presents a challenge. It’s a tough group where all teams can take points off each other. This is another opportunity for us; it’s a tournament we haven’t participated in for a long time. We believe this group of players and coaches can deliver, so that’s what we have to try and do."