Still plenty to play for – Scotland v Georgia talking points
Scotland have already qualified for Germany 2024 (Isabel Infantes/PA)
Scotland take on Georgia in their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier in Tbilisi on Thursday night.
Steve Clarke’s side have already qualified for Germany after winning five of their first six Group A games.
Here are some of the key talking points ahead of the game at the Boris Paichadze Stadium.
Scotland are highly unlikely to top the group given they sit on 15 points with Spain, who are seven goals better off and finish with games against Cyprus and Georgia. An unfortunate slip from Aaron Hickey late on in Seville last month led to a second Spanish goal and wiped out Scotland’s head-to-head advantage. However, good results against Georgia and Norway will boost Scotland’s hopes of landing in the second pot of seeds for next month’s Euro 2024 draw as well as regaining momentum after three consecutive defeats.
James McFadden and team-mates came unstuck in the Boris Paichadze Stadium (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Scotland have twice come unstuck in Tbilisi before – their Euro 2008 and Euro 2016 campaigns suffered fatal blows against Georgia. Having beaten France home and away, Alex McLeish’s side lost 2-0 against a side featuring three teenagers, including 17-year-old goalkeeper Giorgi Makaridze and 17-year-old goalscorer Levan Mchedlidze. Gordon Strachan was also on the end of a defeat in Tbilisi as the hosts frustrated Scotland in a 1-0 win. Despite being unbeaten against qualification rivals Poland and Republic of Ireland, Scotland missed out on a play-off.
Josh Doig, centre, is back in the squad (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Scotland are without about half a team of likely starters – Angus Gunn, Kieran Tierney, Grant Hanley, Hickey, Andy Robertson and Che Adams are all
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