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Scotland, unbelievably, has.
The enormity of it all may take a while to sink in, but after more than two decades of failure, the national team will once again grace a great men’s tournament.
Victory in Thursday’s play-off final in Serbia has sent Steve Clarke’s men to Euro 2020. But what happens next?
When are the games?
Euro 2020, delayed a year due to Covid-19, is scheduled to finally start on June 11, 2021 when Turkey takes on Italy in Rome.
But the start date that Scotland fans longed for comes three days later. Hampden will be the stage on Monday June 14 as Clarke’s team, hopefully roaring to a sold out house, or at least a partial crowd if restrictions have been eased, race on their own turf to face the Czech Republic.
If that wasn’t exciting enough, then the big one is coming. Scotland will then head to Wembley on Friday June 18 to renew their rivalry with England in the oldest game in international football.
Nothing would be sweeter for the Tartan Army than to evoke the spirit of the 1967 Wembley Wizards by delivering the Three Lions in their own backyard.
Scotland will close the group stage in Hampden on Tuesday 22 June. The opposition does not get easier: with the runners-up of the world Croatia visitors, but this is what the party is about, right?
Russia’s uncertainty and rumors
So is there a lot to look forward to? Well yes, but with a big warning in the form of Covid. Uncertainty continues to hover over the finals next summer, with Glasgow one of 12 host cities across the continent.
Amid the continuing impact of the pandemic, pan-European games with fans packed to and from different countries may not be the most sensible approach.
UEFA is standing firm, for now. The governing body has dismissed reports from the French newspaper Le Parisien that it is considering making Russia the sole host. However, UEFA has not ruled out changing the format of the tournament, making it a case of wait and see.
Wouldn’t it be typical for Scotland if their first finals in two decades ended up being ruled out, or the games moved from Mount Florida to Moscow?
And the opposition?
Let’s put any pessimism aside and assume the tournament goes according to plan. What are Scotland’s chances of making it to the group stage of a major final for the first time?
With the top two teams in each section, along with the top four teams in third place, there is scope for Clarke’s men to make more history.
England are the top ranked heavyweight team in the group, fourth in the FIFA rankings, and their array of talents is well known north of the border.
Gareth Southgate’s team quickly surpassed their qualifying group, winning seven of eight matches and scoring 37 goals. Twelve of them came from captain and star forward Harry Kane, the top scorer in the qualifying stage.
Kane, of course, was Scotland’s scourge when the two teams last met, scoring in injury time to salvage a 2-2 draw in a World Cup qualifier in June 2017. An opportunity looms for him. Rematch.
Croatia, like England, automatically qualified, finishing three points ahead of Wales at the top of Group E. They are in ninth place in the world, but have struggled to regain form since international football returned, losing three of their four. Nations League matches.
Zlatko Dalic remains in command, having led the Croats to the final of the 2018 World Cup, where they were defeated by France. Striker Mario Mandzukic was one of the key players who retired from international football after the defeat, but his team still presents a lot of quality.
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric continues to pull the strings for his country at 35. Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is also a regular. And Borna Barisic of the Rangers had made the left-back job his own.
The Czech Republic booked their place in the finals as runners-up to England in Group A after winning five of their eight matches. It is a team Scotland is familiar with, having lost both Nations League meetings to Clarke’s team in recent months.
However, the Czechs’ head coach Jaroslav Silhavy was not in charge of either of those two matches for Covid-related reasons. They are ranked 45th in FIFA, along with Scotland.
