Share<\/a>Wales v North Macedonia team news<\/p>\n Harry Wilson captains Wales in the absence of the suspended Ethan Ampadu. Josh Sheehan, Brennan Johnson and Liam Cullen all come into the side.<\/p>\n Wales<\/strong> Darlow; Williams, Lawlor, Rodon, Dasilva, Sheehan, Wilson, D James, Cullen, Brooks, Johnson.<\/p>\n Subs: King, A Davies, Mepham, Koumas, I Davies, Kpakio, Norrington-Davies, J Colwill, R Colwill, Harris, Thomas, Broadhead.<\/p>\n North Macedonia<\/strong> Dimitrievski, Ilievski, Velkovski, Zajkov, Askovski, Kostadinov, Bardhi, Alimi, Stojchevski, Miovski, Elmas.<\/p>\n Subs: Iliev, Aleksovski, Serafimov, Babunski, Trajkovski, Churlinov, Despotovski, Rastoder, Qamili, Ristovski, Ramadani, Atanasov.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fancy some goosebumps? <\/strong>If you haven\u2019t seen the celebrations after Troy Parrott\u2019s third goal for Ireland on Sunday, I implore you to watch this irresistible slice of life-affirmation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.33 EST<\/p>\n Denmark team news: Hojlund returns<\/p>\n Four changes from the Denmark<\/a> from the XI that started their potential costly draw at home to Belarus. Joachim Andersen<\/strong>, Morten Hjulmand<\/strong>, Victor Froholdt<\/strong> and Rasmus Hojlund<\/strong> replace Jannik Vestergaard, Christian Norgaard, Christian Eriksen and Jonas Wind.<\/p>\n Denmark (4-2-3-1ish) <\/strong>Schmeichel; Kristensen, Andersen, Christensen, Dorgu; Hjulmand, Hojbjerg; Isaksen, Frohold, Damsgaard; Hojlund.<\/p>\n Subs: Hermansen, Jorgensen, Vestergaard, Hogsberg, Nartey, O\u2019Riley, Eriksen, Norgaard, Billing, Wind, Biereth, Bruun Larsen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.33 EST<\/p>\n Scotland team news: Dykes and McKenna start<\/p>\n Steve Clarke has made two changes from the madcap defeat in Greece on Saturday. Scott McKenna<\/strong> replaces Grant Hanley and Lyndon Dykes<\/strong> is preferred up front to Che Adams. Interesting. Very interesting.<\/p>\n Scotland (4-2-3-1ish) <\/strong>Gordon; Hickey, Souttar, McKenna, Robertson; Christie, Ferguson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, McGinn; Dykes.<\/p>\n Subs: Kelly, Bain, Hanley, Tierney, Irving, Adams, Hendry, Barron, Hirst, Shankland, Ralston, McLean.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.33 EST<\/p>\n Wounding events in modern history mean Scotland<\/a> can not be a football country that expects.<\/strong> It is, however, one on tenterhooks as the prospect of long\u2011awaited World Cup qualification looms so large.<\/p>\n On paper, the task is simple: beat Denmark<\/a> at Hampden Park and the Scots will take a place in next summer\u2019s tournament. It is the significance of progress that matters far more than the fact the Danes are ranked 18 places higher in the world.<\/p>\n Scotland have not played in the World Cup since 1998. You must go back to 1989 for the last time they qualified for anything in front of a Hampden audience. This ranks as a game for the ages. Potentially.<\/p>\n The testimony of Andy Robertson is fascinating in this context. The Liverpool full-back and Scotland captain knows a thing or two about marquee achievement. He has 89 caps. What would leading his country to a World Cup mean? \u201cI don\u2019t like thinking about it and that\u2019s the honest answer,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m excited and looking forward to a one-game shootout for the World Cup. If it happens, I\u2019ll tell you how I feel about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The last time Scotland qualified for a World Cup<\/strong> was 11 October 1997, when Sunchyme by Dario G<\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s okay, you can admit you like it now \u2013 was second in the charts, William Hague was all over the front pages and some of us had more hair then him.<\/p>\n Scotland beat Latvia 2-0 that night and qualified automatically as the best runner-up across nine groups. Tonight\u2019s task is tougher, but then the reward is greater. If Scotland<\/a> beat Denmark at Hampden, they will be among the chosen 48 for next summer\u2019s World Cup; if they draw or lose, they will go into the playoffs. It\u2019s mercifully simple, terrifyingly so if you\u2019re a Scotland fan.<\/p>\n Scotland v Denmark<\/a> is our main focus but we\u2019ll have goalflashes from Cardiff, where Wales need to beat North Macedonia to improve their seeding for the upcoming playoffs, and half-time\/full-time updates from the other matches. Here\u2019s the full list.<\/p>\n Group B<\/strong><\/p>\n Kosovo v Switzerland<\/p>\n Sweden v Slovenia<\/p>\n Switzerland will qualify automatically unless they lose by six goals to Kosovo, who along with Sweden are guaranteed a playoff place.<\/p>\n Group C<\/strong><\/p>\n Belarus v Greece<\/p>\n Scotland v Denmark<\/p>\n See above<\/p>\n Group E<\/strong><\/p>\n Spain v Turkey<\/p>\n Bulgaria v Georgia<\/p>\n Spain will qualify unless they lose by seven goals at home to Turkey, who are guaranteed a playoff place. Spain could join England in winning every game without conceding a goal.<\/p>\n Group H<\/strong><\/p>\n Romania v San Marino<\/p>\n Austria v Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/p>\n This group is a bit tighter. Bosnia and Herzegovina will steal the automatic qualification spot from Austria if they win in Vienna. Romania are guaranteed a playoff spot along with Austria or Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n Group I<\/strong><\/p>\n Belgium v Liechtenstein<\/p>\n Wales v North Macedonia<\/p>\n Belgium need to win at home to Liechtenstein to guarantee automatic qualification, though a draw should be enough and we feel a bit silly acknowleding this as a live prospect. Assuming Belgium win, Wales and North Macedonia \u2013 both guaranteed a playoff place \u2013 are fighting for a better seeding in that draw. They are level on points but Wales have an inferior goal difference so they need to win.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Preamble? There are no preambles. Who needs preambles when Scotland<\/a> are one win away from reaching their first World Cup since 1998.<\/p>\n![\"Ewan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ewan_Murray,_L.png\")
Ewan Murray<\/p>\n