Who can Scotland face in the Nations League play-offs? | OneFootball

Scotland secured two big wins in November to avoid automatic relegation in the Nations League, though Steve Clarke’s side must navigate a play-off to preserve their top tier status.

As a third-placed team in League A, Scotland will take on one of the four runners-up from League B over two legs, home and away, in March. Victory will keep Scotland in the top tier, though defeat will result in relegation to League B.

We’ve looked at the opposition Scotland could face.

Who can Scotland face in the Nations League play-offs? Potential opponents.

Ukraine

Ukraine finished as runners-up in a tightly-contested Group B. Just a point separated the second-placed Ukrainians from Georgia and Albania below them.

Currently ranked 25th in the world, Ukraine are under the management of ex-Spurs striker Serhiy Rebrov and contain Premier League names Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko in their squad.

Heorhiy Sudakov is one to watch with Europe’s top clubs tracking the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder, while Artem Dovbyk is the threat further forward. Dovbyk was La Liga’s leading scorer at Girona last season before signing for Roma in the summer.

Greece

Greece just missed out on automatic promotion to League A after finishing as runners-up to England on goal difference. Their impressive campaign included a historic 2-1 win over the Three Lions at Wembley, their first-ever win over England.

Greece conceded just four goals in their six games and have lost just twice in 11 internationals in 2024, a run that includes that win at Wembley and a 2-2 draw with France. Ivan Jovanović’s side comfortably beat the Republic of Ireland home and away in the group phase.

Austria

Austria finished as runners-up to Norway in Group B3, despite an impressive 5-1 thrashing of the group winners in Linz last month.

Ralf Rangnick’s side caught the eye at Euro 2024 during their run to the Round of 16, topping a tough group containing France, the Netherlands and Poland. The ex-Manchester United manager has implemented a high-intensity style during his time in charge.

Turkey

Another of the surprise packages of Euro 2024, Turkey reached the quarter-finals in the summer before losing to the Dutch in a hard-fought contest.

Vincenzo Montella’s team have been less convincing since the tournament, however, and surrendered top spot on matchday six to miss out on automatic promotion to League A. A 3-1 defeat in Montenegro allowed Wales to overhaul them and condemned The Crescent-Stars to the play-offs.

When is the Nations League draw?

The Nations League draw will take place on Friday 22nd November, beginning at 11am BST. The draw will open with the quarter-final fixtures being determined, before the draw for the promotion/relegation play-offs. UEFA will stream the draw on their website for those interested in watching.

Read – Nations League Draw: When is it and how does it work?

See more – The top goal scorers in the Uefa Nations League 2024 group stage

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