What Scotland’s win over Ukraine really means as 3 major Euro 2024 boosts now within touching distance

Hampden roared as Scotland produced one of their best performances of recent times to move to the top of Nations League Group B1 with two games to go. Steve Clarke's men now just require two draws from their final fixtures against Ireland on Saturday followed by the second part of their Ukraine double header.

It's a great position to be in as that drubbing by Stephen Kenny's Boys in Green in Dublin back in the summer was banished. Clarke's men were outstanding against a team who turned Scotland over in the World Cup playoff semi-final in June.

Oleksandr Petrakov's men will be looking for revenge when the nations meet again in Krakow next week, with Ukraine having to play their home games in a neutral venue with their country ravaged by the invasion of neighbours Russia. But if Scotland can see this one out and top their Nations League group then it will have huge benefits. Here, Record Sport looks at the three big boosts.

This would be the first benefit and ensure some glamour games against the cream of the continent. It would be a chance for Steve Clarke’s men to pit their wits against the big boys and for the SFA marketing team a chance to cash in on some mouthwatering fixtures against the likes of Holland, Germany, England, Spain and France. And, of course, being the top group would offer an opportunity to actually win the trophy in the summer of 2025 with the four group winners going into the semi-finals. And it would underline the progress made after starting out the inaugural Nations League back in 2018/19 in Group C when we topped the group featuring Israel and Albania.

The most important factor. We all know how valuable this can be after ending more than two decades to reach an international tournament