Scotland were beaten 3-2 in Greece to seemingly throw away their hopes of automatic World Cup qualification, only for Belarus to stun Denmark and keep the group alive.
Steve Clarke’s side will now meet Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday night in a huge showdown to decide who books their place at the World Cup and who has to settle for the play-offs.
Greece vs Scotland live updates
- Scotland make trip to Greece chasing automatic World Cup qualification | Kick-off 7:45pm GMT, live on BBC Two
- Scotland have already ensured at least a World Cup play-off but want more
- Steve Clarke's side are one point behind Group C leaders Denmark and meet on Tuesday
- Scotland XI: Gordon, Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson, Ferguson, Christie, McGinn, McTominay, Gannon-Doak, Adams.
- Greece XI: Vlachodimos, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas, Kourbelis, Mouzakitis, Karetsas, Bakasetas, Tzolis, Pavlidis.
- GOAL! Greece 1-0 Scotland (Bakasetas, 6 min)
- GOAL! Greece 2-0 Scotland (Karetsas, 57 min)
- GOAL! Greece 3-0 Scotland (Tzolis, 63 min)
- GOAL! Greece 3-1 Scotland (Gannon-Doak, 65 min)
- GOAL! Greece 3-2 Scotland (Christie, 68 min)
- Red card! (Bakasetas, 84 min)
Match summary
22:40 , Lawrence OstlereScotland were beaten 3-2 by Greece in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday but still received a lifeline after Denmark's 2-2 draw with Belarus in the other Group C game set up a blockbuster clash with the Danes on Tuesday.
Denmark top the group with 11 points after five games. Scotland, who could not find an equaliser despite clawing back from three goals down, are second with 10 points after suffering their first defeat of the campaign. Already-eliminated Greece have six points.
Greece looked poised to hand their visitors a thorough thrashing with goals from Tasos Bakasetas, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis.
But Scotland's Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie pulled goals back to set up a breathtaking final few minutes.
Gannon-Doak first breathed some hope into Steve Clarke's side in the 65th minute when John McGinn sent in a low cross that the 20-year-old finished from close range for his first Scotland goal.
Christie added a second five minutes later when he nodded home Andy Robertson's gorgeous cross from the left.
Robertson: 'Fans cheering was strange'
22:06 , Lawrence OstlereHe adds: "We heard the fans start cheering when we were 3-1 down which was a bit strange, but we didn't know what went on.
"We're disappointed with the result today, but to have a final against Denmark at home, with a play-off still in the bag, what more can you ask for?"
Robertson: 'It's all to play for'
22:04 , Lawrence OstlereAndy Robertson tells BBC Sport: “We cannot concede three goals, that's hugely disappointing. We had eight or nine really big chances so we got the attacking bit right tonight, but we didn't get the defensive stuff right.
"We could've come away with a draw and nobody would've said that at 3-0 down. A draw wouldn't have mattered anyway because Denmark drew.
"Winner takes all on Tuesday, that's all we could ask for. People were writing us off from the start of the group. Now we've got a shootout to win the group and it's all to play for on Tuesday.”
Scotland and Denmark set for showdown
21:50 , Lawrence OstlereDenmark will be kicking themselves tonight. They should be celebrating qualification.
Scotland, meanwhile, might feel a strange positivity even in defeat. They go into Tuesday’s meeting with the Danes at Hampden Park knowing a win will see them qualify for a first World Cup in 28 years. A draw will be enough for Denmark, though.
Full-time: Denmark 2-2 Belarus
21:47 , Lawrence OstlereWhat a let-off for Scotland, as Belarus pick up their first point of the qualification campaign against the Group C leaders. Remarkable.
Full-time: Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:42 , Lawrence OstlereThe final whistle blows. Greece deservedly win this game, despite Scotland’s entertaining late rally.
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:40 , Lawrence Ostlere90+5 min: Vlachodimos leaps on the ball and that must surely be that.
Still 2-2 in Copenhagen...
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:40 , Lawrence Ostlere90+4 min: One last free-kick to be swung into the box from the right wing...
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:38 , Lawrence Ostlere90+2 min: So close! McGinn bursts along the byline and slides a ball into the middle for a simple tap-in, but goalkeeper Vlachodimos gets a crucial toe to the cross and that diverts it away from McGinn’s awaiting teammates.
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:36 , Lawrence Ostlere90 min: Scotland pour forwards again in search of the equaliser. Four minutes to be added on...
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:35 , Lawrence Ostlere88 min: Greece make a couple of subs after the red card.
Denmark and Belarus are still level, 2-2, which really is the key scoreline right now...
Red card! (Bakasetas, 84 min)
21:31 , Lawrence OstlereAnother twist here: Greece captain and first goalscorer Bakasetas elbows Ferguson in the stomach, and he’s shown a second yellow card. He can’t really argue, looking at the replay. It was deliberate.
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:28 , Lawrence Ostlere80 min: Denmark are level against Belarus. It’s 2-2, so an equaliser for Scotland now won’t change too much on Tuesday.
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:26 , Lawrence Ostlere76 min: So close! McTominay arrives in typical fashion on the penalty spot to connect first-time with a cross, but Vlachodimos makes a great save with his legs.
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:22 , Lawrence Ostlere74 min: Another huge chance for Scotland! Gannon-Doak pinches the ball high up the pitch and he’s through on goal. He lays it off for Che Adams who should just shoot into a half-empty goal, but takes a couple of touches and the moment escapes.
Greece 3-2 Scotland
21:19 , Lawrence Ostlere72 min: Another Scotland goal would really change things, because it would mean the Scots go top of the group and could afford to draw with Denmark on Tuesday.
GOAL! Greece 3-2 Scotland (Christie, 68 min)
21:16 , Lawrence OstlereThis is bonkers. Andy Robertson crosses from the left and there’s Ryan Christie, unmarked in the middle, to head home. What a wild 10 minutes. Scotland were dead, now their very much alive.
Denmark trail Belarus 2-1
21:15 , Lawrence OstlereThis is incredible – Belarus, who have no points in this qualifying campaign so far, now lead Denmark 2-1 in Copenhagen!! What on earth is going on there.
It means that, as it stands, Scotland remain level on points with the Danes and their showdown on Tuesday will decide everything.
GOAL! Greece 3-1 Scotland (Gannon-Doak, 65 min)
21:13 , Lawrence OstlereScotland have one back – McGinn whips in a cross from the left and Ben Gannon-Doak arrives to tap home from close range.
Perhaps more importantly, Denmark have been pegged back by Belarus. It’s 1-1, and that’s extraordinary. Scotland’s hopes are still alive.
GOAL! Greece 3-0 Scotland (Tzolis, 63 min)
21:10 , Lawrence OstlereAnd that’s the end of that – Tzolis strikes from range and Craig Gordon must save it, but lets the shot fly through his fingres. A huge error, and the veteran goalkeeper beats the turf with frustration.
Greece 2-0 Scotland
21:07 , Lawrence Ostlere60 min: It could and perhaps should be three as Tettah shimmies away from Hanley before firing a low shot which Gordon saves with his feet.
GOAL! Greece 2-0 Scotland (Karetsas, 57 min)
21:04 , Lawrence OstlereThis could be the knockout blow for Scotland’s automatic qualification hopes. It’s the 17-year-old prodigy Konstantinos Karetsas, who arrives in the box to fire home Tetteh’s lay-off after a counter-attack.
What a moment for the young man, his third international goal. What a disaster for Scotland.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
21:01 , Lawrence Ostlere52 min: What a chance! Christie bursts on to a poor crossfield pass and suddenly he’s in on goal. He takes a heavy touch and it allows Vlachodimos to rush out and close down the angle, but Christie makes the right choice to lay it to his left where Che Adams has virtually an open goal. Adams slams the shot on target, but it’s blocked brilliantly by Karetsas making a recovery lunge! Vlachodimos jumps up to save the follow-up, and somehow Greece survive.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:57 , Lawrence Ostlere48 min: John McGinn delivers a corner but it’s cleared by the Greek defence. Scotland are playing positively, though. McGinn tries a shot from range but it’s easily saved by Vlachodimos.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:53 , Lawrence OstlereThe second half is underway, and Scotland make a fast start, straight on the attack.
Half-time: Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:50 , Lawrence OstlereA reminder that, as it stands, Scotland are heading to the play-offs. That’s because Group C leaders Denmark are 1-0 up against Belarus tonight.
Half-time: Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:38 , Lawrence OstlereA strange half in which Greece were utterly dominant for half an hour or so, and should have had more than their one and only goal. Then then game slowed down, Pavlidis went off injured and Scotland pushed hard for a late equaliser, but they just couldn’t find the finish.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:37 , Lawrence Ostlere45+1 min: Oh, Scotland have to score here! Ben Gannon-Doak races on to a pass and suddenly he’s through on goal. He hesitates, though, and it allows Vlachodimos to rush out of his goal and close down the angle before making a good save.
In hindsight, Gannon-Doak could have squared it to Adams for a tap in but must not have seen him.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:35 , Lawrence Ostlere44 min: Crossbar! Scott McTominay strides on to a pass just outside the box and guides the ball on to the bar with his left foot. Great effort, and much better from Scotland, who haven’t faced much from the Greeks over the past 15 minutes.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:30 , Lawrence Ostlere42 min: Pavlidis can’t continue, so Andrews Tetteh comes on for his debut to replace him.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:27 , Lawrence Ostlere39 min: A brief pause in play as Greek striker Pavlidis is treated for a knock on the knee.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:22 , Lawrence Ostlere35 min: Scotland earn their first corner of the match and Christie’s low ball almost finds Adams at the near post, but he’s crowded out. They’ll get another corner.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:20 , Lawrence Ostlere33 min: The only positive Steve Clarke can take from this opening half an hour is that it’s only one goal. Scotland, somehow, are still in this game.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:19 , Lawrence Ostlere31 min: Another opportunity as Tzolis wriggles into the box and whips a low cross through the box, but a sliding Pavlidis can’t quite steer his shot on target at the back post.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:16 , Lawrence Ostlere28 min: Another chance for the Greeks, as Karetsas’ cross finds Bakasetas, whose volley is easy enough for Gordon to catch.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:12 , Lawrence Ostlere24 min: Andy Robertson gives chase down the left but gets barged off the ball and it runs out for a goal-kick. Scotland are really struggling for ideas out there.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:10 , Lawrence Ostlere22 min: A flowing move by Greece almost releases striker Pavlidis through on goal, but Gordon rushes out of his goal to collect the overhit pass.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:07 , Lawrence Ostlere18 min: Huge chance! Gordon makes another good save after a deflected shot and when the ball rebounds to Tzolis in the box, he fires off another shot, but it flies wide when he should have hit the target.
Denmark lead
20:02 , Lawrence OstlereDenmark are ahead against Belarus, and that means that – as it stands – the Danes will qualify for the World Cup tonight. Still plenty of time for Scotland to turn this around, of course.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
20:01 , Lawrence Ostlere13 min: Ben Gannon-Doak makes an excellent burst down the right side and into the box but hesitates and he’s eventually crowded out. He’s Scotland’s outlet tonight.
Greece 1-0 Scotland
19:57 , Lawrence Ostlere9 min: Lewis Ferguson is booked for a late challenge. Scotland look a little rattled right now.
GOAL! Greece 1-0 Scotland (Bakasetas, 6 min)
19:54 , Lawrence OstlereOh dear. Craig Gordon makes a good save initially but Greek captain Bakasetas picks up the rebound, easily shrugs off Hanley in the box and fires a low shot home.
Greece 0-0 Scotland
19:49 , Lawrence Ostlere3 min: Greece have started with plenty of the ball, and Scotland look happy to sit in and keep their shape without it.
Kick-off!
19:47 , Lawrence OstlereThis one is underway. Greece are in all white, Scotland in all blue.
Greece v Scotland
19:41 , Lawrence OstlereThe players emerge on to the pitch on a warm evening in Piraeus. Here come the anthems...
Steve Clarke speaks before kick-off
19:38 , Lawrence OstlereHere’s the Scotland manager, speaking to BBC Sport. He’s asked what he wants to see from his side tonight:
“Better on the ball. We have to be more of a threat. We have to be more threatening going forwards. They’re a very good side. We have to control what they do, and then concentrate on ourselves.”
Who can qualify for the World Cup this week?
19:36 , Lawrence OstlereA reminder of how it all stands going into the finale of Uefa’s World Cup qualification:
World Cup qualifying
19:32 , Lawrence OstlereTonight’s other World Cup qualifying games:
- Bosnia-Herzegovina v Romania
- Denmark v Belarus
- Slovenia v Kosovo
- Switzerland v Sweden
Scotland will have one eye on the Denmark game in the hope Belarus can pull off a shock... but the Belarusians haven’t picked up a single point yet.
'Scots are a warm people'
19:29 , Lawrence OstlereJovanovic did signal that he could experiment over the two games against Scotland and Belarus.
"It's something we are looking at, to expand the pool of players available to us, especially with the Nations League format," he said. "We will have four games in two weeks so we will need to have more options available."
Longer term, that could be good news for uncapped Hearts winger Alexandros Kyziridis, who has scored five goals since moving to Scotland in the summer and has four William Hill Premiership assists for the leaders.
Jovanovic, whose son Nikola studied business management at Heriot Watt University, said: "Kyziridis is having a good season and we are watching him and we are watching Hearts like other clubs in Scotland.
"I do watch Scottish football. I actually really like the Scots as a people. My son was in Edinburgh for a few years and I visited him regularly, and I found the Scots a warm people."
Greece not out for 'revenge'
19:22 , Lawrence OstlereJovanovic admits his team need to be more decisive in key moments but when asked whether he believed Greece or Scotland were the better team over the course of the three matches, he said instantly with a smile: "Greece. I don't think there's any doubt that all of the matches have been entertaining.
"I always have respect for Scotland, they are a very good team with very good players but I believe we have been very good and competitive in each game.
"Sometimes it's the details that make the difference overall.
"Certainly Scotland have more motivation in what's at stake but Greece have their own motivation in terms of playing in front of our own supporters. I don't really see football in terms of revenge."
Jovanovic has seen his position come under scrutiny 18 months into his reign amid reports that his employers approached former Juventus head coach Thiago Motta in the wake of the World Cup failure.
The Serbian said: "Of the four games, there has only been one where we did not reach the levels we feel we are capable of.
"The details were not on our side and we conceded goals we are not used to conceding. But our belief remains high."
Greece not out for 'revenge'
19:16 , Lawrence OstlereGreece head coach Ivan Jovanovic retains belief that his side are better than Scotland but is not motivated by revenge in tonight’s World Cup qualifier.
The Greeks saw their qualification hopes end last month following three consecutive defeats, with a 3-1 loss at Hampden sandwiched by games against Group C leaders Denmark.
That leaves them trying to play the role of spoilers in Piraeus as Scotland seek the point they will almost certainly need to retain a chance of leapfrogging Denmark and qualifying automatically.
Greece dominated for more than an hour at Hampden before conceding two goals from set-pieces and a late third following a goalkeeping error.
It was a reversal of fortunes from the Nations League play-offs in March when Greece overturned a one-goal deficit from the first leg to win 3-0 at Hampden.
Scotland must improve to qualify, says Clarke
19:03 , Lawrence OstlereScotland secured at least a play-off when they beat Greece and Belarus at Hampden last month, but they will need to improve on both performances to stand a chance of sealing automatic qualification.
With Group C leaders Denmark almost certain to beat Belarus at home, Scotland will need a point at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in order to set up a winner-takes-all clash with the Danes at Hampden next Tuesday.
Clarke said: "The last time was a Thursday-Sunday camp, so you don't get a hell of a lot of time on the training pitch.
"So this time we've had more time on the pitch, a chance to discuss a few things that we feel we can do better, and hopefully you see the fruits of that in the next two games."
With goal difference heavily stacked in Denmark's favour, a draw in Greece would effectively be as good as a win for Scotland, but Clarke insists that will not affect his tactics.
"My approach is always the same every game: I prepare my teams to win," he said. "If you prepare to win and you play as well as you can, most of the times you don't lose."
World Cup qualifying
18:53 , Lawrence OstlereEarlier, A disappointed Jeremy Doku said Belgium have not been good enough in most of their World Cup qualifiers, even though they have the routine task of needing to beat tiny Liechtenstein at home on Tuesday to secure a berth at next year's finals.
Belgium could have booked their place today with an away win in Kazakhstan but played out a 1-1 draw to delay confirming their qualification.
Doku, who was one of Belgium's better players, was particularly critical of his own team's showing.
"It's a lack of efficiency. We didn't win against Kazakhstan, so we absolutely can't be satisfied," he said.
"We've already dropped too many points because we weren't good enough in a large number of matches. Our campaign hasn't gone well, no. Everyone needs to do better. The coach, me, everyone."
Lewis Ferguson speaks
18:48 , Lawrence OstlereThe midfielder tells BBC Scotland: "We need to perform better [than against Belarus]. It'll be a difficult game. I don't know if it makes too much of a difference that Greece are out [of World Cup qualification]. We're still expecting a really difficult game. They know us well and we know them well.
"We're approaching this game to go and win it. albeit a draw will be enough, but the mindset and the message from the manager, the feeling around the players is that we're coming here to win the game."
Greece v Scotland
18:43 , Lawrence OstlereThe two line-ups in full:
Greece XI: Vlachodimos, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas, Kourbelis, Mouzakitis, Karetsas, Bakasetas, Tzolis, Pavlidis.
Subs: Tzolakis, Mandas, Michailidis, Masouras, Kostoulas, Rota, Triantis, Hatzidiakos, Tetteh, Mantalos, Siopis.
Scotland XI: Gordon, Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson, Ferguson, Christie, McGinn, McTominay, Gannon-Doak, Adams.
Subs: Kelly, Bain, Tierney, Irving, Dykes, Hendry, Barron, McKenna, Hirst, Shankland, Ralston, McLean.
Scotland line-up
18:36 , Lawrence OstlereHere it is – Craig Gordon starts at the ripe old age of 42.
Scotland XI: Gordon, Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson, Ferguson, Christie, McGinn, McTominay, Gannon-Doak, Adams.
Greece v Scotland
18:29 , Lawrence OstlereTeams dropping shortly...
Clarke faces goalkeeper choice
18:24 , Lawrence Ostlere"Craig's good," said Clarke, who took his squad to Turkey to prepare for a game Scotland cannot afford to lose.
"Liam's the same. Not playing at Rangers, but working ever so hard, training great.
"Scott Bain's come into the squad and shown that he's benefited from coming out of Celtic as the third goalkeeper and playing at Falkirk week in, week out.
"It's been good. (Goalkeeping coach) Chris Woods is happy with the three of them. It's a slightly different mindset that goalkeepers have got because only one of them can play.
"You've got 10 outfield players and one goalie. So they know that when they're the number two at the club or the number three, whatever, even if they're the number four at the club, they know that they have to work well every day in training. They have to prepare as well as they can prepare.
"As long as they're training flat out and concentrating fully on what they're doing, they should be ready to play."
Clarke faces goalkeeper choice
18:19 , Lawrence OstlereScotland head coach Steve Clarke is confident in his goalkeeping options after making his choice ahead of this crucial World Cup qualifier in Greece.
Clarke was giving nothing away in his pre-match media conference in Piraeus but Craig Gordon is the likeliest replacement for the injured Angus Gunn based on his experience.
The Hearts goalkeeper has not played this season and turns 43 next month, but he is fully fit after recovering from the injury that forced him out towards the end of last season and his 81 caps put him far ahead of Liam Kelly, who has played once for Rangers this season, and Scott Bain, who is back in regular action for Falkirk after years as a Celtic understudy.
Possible Scotland XI
18:07 , Lawrence OstlereGordon; Hickey, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, Christie; McGinn; Adams.
Scotland team news
17:55 , Lawrence OstlereBilly Gilmour has been ruled out of the trip to Greece but could face Denmark on Tuesday. Lennon Miller has also been ruled out but Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson are back from suspension and Aaron Hickey returned from injury in Brentford’s win over Newcastle.
Greece v Scotland: How to watch
17:43 , Lawrence OstlereThe match will kick off at 7:45pm GMT at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. It will be shown on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Greece v Scotland
17:31 , Lawrence OstlereScotland look to keep their automatic World Cup qualification hopes as they head to Greece. The Scots are just two games away from qualifying from the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Assuming Denmark beat Belarus, who are without a point in qualifying so far, Steve Clarke’s side can set up a winner-takes-all clash against the Danes if they avoid defeat to Greece tonight.
As Scotland have a worse goal difference than Denmark, a draw against the Danes is unlikely to be enough at Hampden - so ensuring they avoid defeat against Greece, who are eliminated, is the priority.
Scotland are already assured of a play-off spot but Greece will be out for revenge after the robbery of their defeat to Scotland at Hampden last month. Here’s everything you need to know.
Greece v Scotland – live
14:29 , Lawrence OstlereHello and welcome along to live coverage of this crucial World Cup qualifier between Greece and Scotland in Athens. We’ll have all the build-up and latest updates right here through the evening.
