Scotland not expecting Ukraine World Cup play-off to go ahead in June

Steve Clarke says he cannot see Scotland's World Cup play-off against Ukraine going ahead in June.

The two nations should have been playing at Hampden Park on Thursday evening but the game was postponed earlier this month following Russia's invasion of their neighbouring country.

A date in early June was set to be scheduled but that now looks unlikely given the ongoing conflict and suspension of football in Ukraine.

Clarke believes their opponents should be given as much time as possible to fulfil the fixture, from which the winners will face Wales or Austria for a place at Qatar 2022.

But the fact the finals kick off on November 21 means any delay until August or September at the earliest leaves little time for the qualifying nation to arrange logistics. It could yet be that FIFA have to proceed without Ukraine.

Clarke said: 'If you're asking me now, "Will the game go ahead in June?", then it's going to be difficult. If you're honest about the situation now, then it's difficult to see.

'It's not just the fixture, it's the fact they need to get together, have a training camp and get all their players on the pitch with a proper period of time to prepare for such an important game.

'Andriy Shevchenko, who I know from my time at Chelsea, spoke quite well about the situation and said they would want to play on the pitch. But the way the situation is, I think they should get as much time as possible to try to make that game happen - Scotland against Ukraine at Hampden.'

Clarke's side face Poland in a home friendly on Thursday evening with £10 from each ticket donated to the humanitarian response in Ukraine.

The Poles had been due to face Russia in a World Cup play-off but stated they would not play the fixture before the