What Scotland need to do in the Nations League to reach Euro 2024

Scotland face a triple header of fixtures as they bring their 2022/23 Nations League group stage campaign to a close.

The coming week is a tough ask for Steve Clarke's men who battle it out with Ukraine both home and away, along with a Hampden tie against Ireland falling in between. The Nations League provides our national side with a potential pathway to the 2024 European Championship playoffs, and the Scots are no doubt eyeing up the mighty prize.

As has been witnessed throughout the last two decades, qualifying for major tournaments is not quite the norma for Scotland. But with the joy of making it to Euro 2020 fresh in the mind of the players and fans alike, many will be hoping it is two in a row. With the heartbreak of missing out on this year's World Cup we are due a little luck, aren't we? But what do Scotland need to do to secure their spot in the competition? Here is everything you need to know.

Interestingly, if Scotland manage to finish top of their Nations League group, they would be second seeds for the European Championships in two years’ time. This means that Steve Clarke's side would therefore be in with a greater chance of finishing in the top two of their qualifying section of the actual tournament.

Fifty-three countries will battle it out for the 23 places in the finals. Russia will not be in the hat after UEFA confirmed on Tuesday that they will be banned from the competition following their invasion of Ukraine in February this year. The 10 group winners and runners up will qualify, plus a further three team via play-off competition, due to be played in March 2024.

It means what the national side face is a kind of domino effect. But it is tough ask with a double header against Ukraine and a game