Scotland fans are preparing for a nerve-jangling night at Hampden when Steve Clarke’s men take on Croatia in Tuesday’s do or die Group D clash.
But they face an anxious afternoon ahead of the country’s biggest game in more than two decades with all eyes on two other fixtures that could determine our Euro 2020 fate.
Scotland need to take care of Croatia with a win to have any chance of reaching the knockout stage following Friday’s draw against England at Wembley.
However, two results elsewhere today could confirm that any sort of victory against the 2018 World Cup runners-up will see Scotland go through as one of the four best third-placed nations.
And that means all Tartan Army eyes will be on the Group B and Group C action at tea time with everything crossed for the right outcome.
Fancied Belgium take on Finland in Saint Petersburg and providing Roberto Martinez’s men win that game and Ukraine and Austria don’t draw in their match in Budapest then Scotland know any win against Croatia would take them through.
The fact Austria are involved in a game where a certain result would favour both sides is ironic given they were involved in one of the most controversial games in a major international tournament.
Dubbed the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’, the Austrians and West Germany settled for a 1-0 win for the latter side which took both sides through to the second round of the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
It was the final match in the group and because both nations knew in advance that a 1-0 or 2-0 win for West Germany would see the pair qualify at the expense of Algeria, they barely had an attempt at goal after Horst Hrubesch’s 10th minute opener.
Both teams were accused of match fixing, although it was never proved by FIFA, and resulted in a change in format that ensured all final group fixtures were played at the same time.
Austria now find themselves in a similar situation as a draw would give them a great chance of going through as one of the best third-placed sides while it would also guarantee Ukraine second spot.
Scotland have suffered agony in similar scenarios before after going out of the 1974 World Cup on goal difference despite being undefeated and again in 1982 after finishing level on points with USSR.
But the Tartan Army will be hoping for better luck this time if they can beat Croatia at Hampden – and it is set up for an exciting afternoon ahead of that encounter.
