Why Nations League is so important for Scotland to build experience and find that 'Serbia feeling'

It’s been a common conclusion amongst fans in the immediate aftermath of Scotland's agonising, deflating, frustrating World Cup play-off defeat to Ukraine on Wednesday at Hampden Park. “We won't get a better chance”.

All Scotland had to muster, by hook or by crook, over five days was two victories to return to the tournament they haven’t been present at since 1998.

Now, following Ukraine’s confident and relatively comfortable 3-1 win over Steve Clarke’s side, that place on the wall or fridge door earmarked for a World Cup planner may well stay empty. At least for another two years, as the focus should and needs to be on Euro 2024 in Germany.

This squad, the country’s best in a generation, has to be at that tournament. A proper one. One country and no controversy. This squad’s legacy can’t be that penalty shoot-out win over Serbia and a win-less Euro 2020.

“We’re been successful in recent years – getting to the Euros was huge for everyone,” goalkeeper Craig Gordon said.

“We’ve missed out on the World Cup but we don’t want to be a team that’s only got to one tournament, we want to go back again. Everybody’s desperate to relive that and have another shot at it but we need to play better than we did against Ukraine and we need to go out and win games."

Captain Andy Robertson spoke about finding “that Serbia feeling”. It could easily be the “Israel feeling” or “Denmark feeling”. Yet, for all of those, there has now been the “Ukraine feeling”, “Croatia feeling" and “Czech Republic feeling”. All part of building blocks to a hopeful and better future.

“There are people a lot younger than some of us,” the Liverpool full-back said. “But I believe what the manager is saying. We are trying to build something. You need to take