By Kevin Kennedy

With Scotland securing a promotion/relegation play-off place in the most recent addition of the UEFA Nations League, the UWS Newsroom takes a look at who the ‘Tartan Army’ may face.

Georgia

The first of Scotland’s potential opponents is the old foe, Georgia. Having played them countless times over recent years, Willy Sagnol’s side is currently sitting second in a group where three of the four teams could still qualify for that player position. The Scots would fancy their chances against Georgia, having beaten them in June 2023 in one of the longest nights in Scottish football history, after the typical Scottish weather delayed the game by over an hour. Steve Clark’s side wouldn’t take this game lightly however, as Georgia possess some top class threats to Scotland’s defense, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, being Georgia’s talisman.

Albania

Another potential opponent is Albania, who sit fourteen places below Scotland in the FIFA World rankings. Scotland will be no stranger to playing the Southern eastern team, having been the victor against them twice under former boss Alex Mcleish, enroute to promotion from League C.

Ukraine

After the heartbreak of Ukraine’s win at Hamden in the World Cup Play-offs for 2022, we will be looking for redemption against a youthful Ukrainian side. The team have a squad full of premier league quality and top class players plying their trade on the continent. Scotland would be looking for a good result at home as they could face a tough away trip to Poland, due to the war in Ukraine, where they will be well backed by their passionate fanbase.

Greece

Potentially, Scotland’s toughest test on the play-offs, would come in the form of Greece who have been very impressive so far in their Nations League campaign, winning five of their six games in a tough group which includes Ireland and England. This addition in the Nations League has seen Greece pick up their most famous victory in a 2:1 win over England.

Austria

Following an impressive Euro 2024 campaign, Austria could pose one or two problems for Scotland’s safety in League A. This is under former Manchester United manager, Ralf Rangnick, who has Austria in a rich vein of form right now. Scotland have had some good results against the Austrian outfit in recent years, going unbeaten against them in World Cup qualification in 2022.

Wales

Wales could be future opponents for Steve Clark’s men with The Welsh ‘Dragons’ hitting their stride in recent months, under former hero, Craig Bellamy. The team seem to have turned a corner recently under his guidance and are in a transitional phase of Welsh football with more of their young talents, such as Brennan Johnson playing in the top leagues across the world. This is a game that our boys will not take lightly.

Iceland

Iceland are a team who, eight years ago, sent shockwaves through European international football as they reached the quarter final of Euro 2016 in France. They will be looking to reach the dizzying heights of League A and shake football to its core once again by causing another massive upset in beating Scotland.

One final thing to keep an eye on, however unlikely it may seem, is that Türkiye could conceivably drop into the play-offs if Montenegro beat them with their first win of this campaign and Wales beat Iceland.