With an experienced yet still youthful core, a likely away tie in the
World Cup play-offs to reach Qatar is to be embraced
![Scotland should enjoy these heady days and not fret over play-off | Ewan Murray](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ba4c441ee56b5200711ec9e07dd21f3d50eb643c/0_209_4237_2542/master/4237.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=892bc7923c7d2abba92570911a546ed8)
With appropriate level of apology to the good people of Norway, a Saturday evening scoreless draw with Latvia raised smiles in Scotland. As the Tartan Army glance towards March and World Cup play-offs – three teams from 12 will advance to Qatar – it is hardly being disrespectful to suggest the prospect of Grant Hanley squaring up to Erling Haaland is far from appealing.
With the World Cup as a prize, Denmark’s Christian Eriksen dismantled the Republic of
Ireland in 2017. Haaland would surely place similar stock in an appearance on international football’s greatest stage. Instead, barring a
Turkey stumble in Montenegro on Tuesday,
Scotland will be spared one of the most feared forwards in Europe.