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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Why Scotland are seeded as safest World Cup route laid bare after late Faroe Islands drama

Scotland have put themselves on the brink of a play-off spot after a nervy win against the Faroe Islands.

Steve Clarke 's side continued their positive momentum in the World Cup qualifiers thanks to Lyndon Dykes' last-gasp goal.

A win over Moldova win seal the playoff spot, and we are on the brink of being among the top seeds.

But how are we securing that status?

The six best runners-up from the qualifying groups will be seeded, the rest unseeded.

The ten group runners up and the two best Nations League group winners who don't finish in the top two.

Those 12 teams are then divided into seeded and unseeded, with the seeded sides hosting one-off semi-finals in March.

Seeded sides will enjoy home advantage and potentially avoid some of the better sides in the draw, although that could be tempting fate.

Scotland currently have the fourth best record with 14 points, with a plus 5 goal difference.

It's hard to imagine a tournament without Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Portuguese national side are trailing Serbia in Group A.

A convincing five-goal thrashing of win over Luxembourg kept the pressure on for top spot though, as they stand on 16 points and a plus 12 goal difference.

Croatia on 14 points following the big win in Torshavn, and the Croats have a plus 10 record after this round of World Cup qualifiers.

Tournament veterans Switzerland hold a top six of seeded teams following their win over Lithuania, which puts them on 14 points, with a positive goal difference of plus nine

(Tony Nicoletti Daily Record)

Sweden's win with Greece saw them leapfrog Spain, who are off World Cup qualifier duty following their Nations League Final defeat.

The former World Cup and European champions have 13 points and a goal difference of seven.

Poland are closing in on a playoff place in England's group, and moved on to 12 with a plus six goal tally.

Then we move on to a clump of teams stuck on the 11 point mark - who make up the unseeded sides.

The Czech Republic are battling it out with Wales for second place in Group E. Both sides sit on plus three goal difference.

Norway are on 11 points and keep up their push for the playoff following Moi Elyounoussi's double against Montenegro last night, and hold a plus two goal difference.

Ukraine sit on 11 points and also hold a plus two goal difference following their victory of Bosnia in Kiev.

Romania have leapfrogged North Macedonia and sit on 10 points so far. Scottish football fans will be keen to avoid Ianis Hagi after his brilliant solo effort against Germany.

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