Greece v Scotland: National Team hoping to keep World Cup dream on track

Scotland are preparing for a do-or-die double header in their quest to achieve automatic qualification to the World Cup.

First up is a trip to Athens to take on Greece on Saturday night before Denmark visit Hampden for a potential winner-takes-all clash on Tuesday.

If Steve Clarke’s side avoid defeat at the weekend, they will go into the final group game knowing a win will secure their place in North America next summer.

The national team beat Greece 3-1 in the last meeting between the sides last month, and also won on their last trip to Athens back in March, but will be wary of a talented young Greek side who also won 3-0 at Hampden earlier this year in the Nations League.

Saturday’s opponents are already consigned to third place in the group, with Scotland and Denmark now competing for the top spot that will guarantee a World Cup spot.

However, the dream will not be dead for the team that finishes second, as they will take part in a play-off stage early next year.

Scotland guaranteed at least a play-off spot with a win over Belarus at Hampden in their last game, but the Tartan Army would rather avoid a nervy wait and will be hoping they can start making travel plans to the USA, Canada, and Mexico on Wednesday morning.

Group C is currently on a knife-edge with two games remaining, Scotland and Denmark have ten points each, with the Danes at the top due to a superior goal difference.

Denmark are fully expected to beat bottom side Belarus, who have lost every game so far, in Copenhagen on Saturday.

So that will leave Scotland needing at least a point in Greece and then a win over the Danes to take top spot.

It’s all set up for a mouth-watering group finale at Hampden on Tuesday, with the national team having a chance to reach the biggest stage in football for the first time since 1998.

But first, all their attention must be on Saturday night and avoiding a Greek tragedy that would likely consign them to a play-off in March.