Can Scotland overcome late withdrawals and isolation of key players to keep their World Cup dream alive against Denmark?

Scotland’s preparation for their vital away clash in Copenhagen has been severely hampered by three players pulling out and two isolating due to COVID-19 concerns.

Steve Clarke’s side are in desperate need of a positive result to keep their World Cup 2022 qualification hopes alive after an unbeaten yet disappointing start to the campaign.

Draws against Denmark and Israel were not ideal, with most of the Tartan Army agreeing that they were games Scotland needed to win.

However, a confident win at home against the Faroe Islands restored some belief that qualification is still possible.

The country was at fever pitch during Euro 2020, but ultimately the result was disheartening, after sadly being outclassed by both the Czech Republic and Croatia despite a brave draw against England at Wembley.

Denmark, on the other hand, is a football nation on the up after an unexpectedly successful Euro 2020, reaching the semi-final only to lose to England.

The Danes early form in qualifying has been perfect so far, winning all three games and scoring 14 goals without reply. Kasper Hjulmand has got his side playing swashbuckling football, with a 4-0 away win against Austria the pick of the results so far.

Denmark currently top Group F on nine points from three games, while Scotland sit four points below in the Danes in second place.

Team News

Denmark

Denmark are likely to be without their talisman in Martin Braithwaite due to having knee issues; this may be a big blow with Denmark winning the last eight of the last ten games in which he has scored.

Hjulmand will be hoping that one of his backup strikers, such as Jonas Wind or Andreas Cornelius, can help put Scotland to the sword.

Mikkel Damsgaard and Kasper Dolberg will try to recreate the stunning individual performances shown at Euro 2020, which were vital towards the Danes’ success.

Scotland

If the news of Scott McTominay’s groin problems weren’t already a body blow to Steve Clarke, the Scotland manager could not have foreseen the disruption still to come. Stuart Armstrong was next to pull out of the squad with a calf injury.

John McGinn announced this week that he has tested positive for COVID-19, while Nathan Patterson is isolating due to COVID issues at Rangers. Stephen O’Donnell will also be unavailable with local regulations not allowing those who recently tested positive to travel to Denmark.

Celtic duo Greg Taylor and James Forrest withdrew from the squad on the 30th with injuries after missing the Old Firm derby.

Liam Kelly, Zander Clarke and Lewis Fergusson look to gain their first cap for the national side.

 

Last time out

Scotland last played Denmark in a friendly back in March 2016 at Hampden Park. Both sides looked very different, with Gordon Strachan in charge of Scotland whilst Åge Hareide was managing the Danes.

The hosts raced into an early lead after a mix up between Daniel Agger and Kasper Schmeichel allowed Matt Ritchie to open the scoring.

Yussuf Poulsen had a fantastic opportunity to equalise for Denmark, latching onto Christian Eriksen’s precise through ball and seemingly in on goal, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Kieran Tierney.

Only Craig Gordon’s excellent reflexes denied a Danish reply after Scotland failed to deal with Eriksen’s corner, which had players queuing up to knock it into the net. Gordon again denied Denmark and Nicolas Jorgensen in the first half with a save down low to his right-hand side.

Schmeichel was equally busy at the other end to deny Steven Fletcher from doubling Scotland’s lead.

Shaun Maloney tested Jonas Lossel in the second half with a rasping shot from the edge of the area, but the Danish stopper comfortably pushed the ball over the bar.

However, it was the Scotland number one, Gordon, who produced the most spectacular goalkeeping of the match to initially parry Eriksen’s hard-hit shot and then springing back up to deny Braithwaite’s header.

Matt Ritchie must have been convinced he was going to score his second of the game when he hit Ikechi Anya’s cross first time, but Andreas Christensen made a superb diving block to deny Ritchie a double.

The game is most notably remembered for both John McGinn and Kieran Tierney being handed their international debuts.

 

Head-to-head

These sides have met 16 times in the past, with Scotland winning 10 of the fixtures while Denmark have come out on top six times.  There is yet to be a draw between the two sides.

Steve Clarke will attempt to overcome an incredibly difficult week to put pressure on Denmark at the top of Group F.

A Danish side have already got the better of a Scottish team this season after Malmo beat Rangers 4-2 on aggregate in a UEFA Champions League qualifying clash.

If the Danes win in Copenhagen on Wednesday night, they are unlikely to be caught at the top of Group F, whilst Scotland have the job of reeling in the leaders.

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