Scotland are still one game away from their first World Cup since 1998 despite failing to stage a notable comeback, losing 3-2 to Greece following Belarus’ win over Denmark.
Scotland, who fell 3-0 down after 63 minutes against Greece, drew 2-2 with bottom-placed Belarus in Copenhagen before taking on Group C leaders Denmark at Hampden on Tuesday in a winner-takes-all match.
Goals from Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie gave Scotland hope in the final 20 minutes and they threatened to equalize on several occasions when Greece captain Tasos Bakasetas was sent off for a second booking offense in the 84th minute.
Ryan Christie scored in a 3-2 win over Scotland in Greece.
Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos made a stunning save with his legs to deny Scott McTominay and George Hirst’s tap-in from six yards either side of a red card.
The Danes overturned a one-point lead against Belarus three minutes into the second half, while the Tartans held on for a 2-2 draw in Copenhagen after several agonizing minutes after the final whistle in Piraeus, outside Athens.
Scotland had ample chances to turn the game around when Che Adams missed a huge chance to equalize 1-0 in the second half and equalized again to make it 3-2. His debauchery was punished by Greece.
Che Adams had an unforgettable night in front of goal
Craig Gordon, 42, made five first-half saves in place of the injured Angus Gunn.
In the end, Scotland’s disastrous start took its toll as Greece took the lead after seven minutes against Bakasetas, and second-half strikes from Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis put the game out of reach.
Scotland’s 42-year-old stand-in goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who had not played for six months, put in a very impressive performance in place of the injured Angus Gunn, making five first-half saves to keep his side in the match.
Dramatic endings in Greece and Copenhagen have shifted focus from another worrying Scotland performance, but Clarke will know more is needed to beat Denmark on Tuesday and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Clarke: I was planning on going 3-0 and making the playoffs.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke said if he had known how the Denmark-Belarus game was going, he would have said:
“It was only late in the game when we were down 3-0 that we gave some different instructions to the pitch. I can’t tell you what they were, but it was more about keeping the play-offs in mind.
“Then all of a sudden we realized we were down 3-1 and the other game was too, so we canceled that instruction and tried our best to get something out of the game here.
“It was a hectic game and a hectic night. We conceded bad goals and scored good goals. Every time we went forward we looked threatening. Christ did too. Both goalkeepers made great saves.”
“It’s probably a great sight for those watching, but it’s not a good result.
“It’s actually the long ball down the pitch that’s causing the problem. It’s something to see, and it’s not something that usually causes us too many problems, so hopefully it’s just a one-off night.”
Robertson: Gunfight at Hampden – what more could you ask for?
Scotland defender Andy Robertson told the BBC:
“That’s what we wanted. It’s a really strange game today. We can’t give up three goals.
“We had eight or nine really big chances. We had success on offense but not on defense.
“But we fought back. Denmark got a point but it shows how much better Belarus have become.
“On Tuesday, the winner takes all. People criticized us, but now we have a penalty shoot-out and a final on Tuesday.
“When we were down 3-1 I heard the fans start cheering and it was a bit strange but I didn’t know what was happening.
“You knew something was missing but when the players come on they know it. “We waited a long time to see if they dropped a point but a penalty shoot-out at Hampden, what more can you ask for?
“We hope everyone will follow us on Tuesday.”
Christie: We’ve shut down Denmark before.
Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie told the BBC:
“We were upset because we wanted to come here and win or draw. On the contrary, the other result gave us the opportunity on Tuesday night that we all wanted.
“It was frustrating because we worked all week. Greece came out of the trap really well.
“They probably deserved to go ahead. We grew late in the first half and then the second and third seemed to go against the grain of the game.”
“I knew we were still in the game, it was a little different because in our heads we were just trying to get points and get another goal.
“I think the second half was the best we’ve played in the last 18 months offensively.
“We know we’ve shut down Denmark before and we hope we can do that again.”
The 2026 World Cup draw will be held in Washington on December 5.
President Trump will decide the schedule for the group stage together with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the John F. Kennedy Center, where President Trump is president.
Announcing the draw location at the White House in August, President Trump said the World Cup was “the biggest event in sports,” while President Infantino declared the 104 games would be like “104 Super Bowls.”
The draw will take place from 12pm local time (5pm UK time).
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
This competition will be the 23rd.
