With an experienced yet still youthful core, a likely away tie in the
World Cup play-offs to reach Qatar is to be embraced

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.