World Cup: What do Scotland need to happen to reach finals?

Scotland and Denmark would be on 10 points and both would be guaranteed to be, at worst, in the play-offs.

The Danes would still lead on goal difference, unless Clarke’s side win by six or more and Brian Riemer’s men only by one. And that is the first deciding factor if teams are level on points – not head-to-head.

For those play-offs, the 12 runners up – plus the four best Nations League group winners who fail to finish top two in their sections – will be drawn into four sets.

Each set will have a one-legged semi-final – with the seeded team at home – and a final. So, basically, two games to decide which four teams join the World Cup party.

However, Scotland will be hoping they can get the job done without the need for such messiness.

We can probably assume Denmark will beat Belarus at home in November, which would move them to 13 points.

If Scotland beat an already-out Greece in Athens, they would match that tally, setting up a winner-takes-all game at Hampden.

A draw in that one on 18 November would likely favour the Danes, given the goal difference disparity.

Should the Scots draw in Athens, victory over Denmark would still be enough to win the group. However, defeat in Greece would require a handsome victory in that final game to give Clarke’s side any chance of automatic qualification.