Tartan Chris

When was that? They won a major tournament in the early 90s and since then made knock outs of 2002 world cup, euro 2004, qualified for world cup 2010 and euro 2012 and at last world cup lost on penalties in last 16 to team who made the final in the end. Their record is comfortably better than Russia in last 30 years who were a comfortable second in the last qualification group. Much poorer to finish behind likes of Slovakia and ROI in last few campaigns than Denmark imo.

8 goal swing tonight!

I agree. I wasn't shocked at all Clarke played them tonight as ideal sort of game to test it out in match you'll dominate terrority and possession. Now the crux for Clarke....how to fit them in against better teams. I don't expect them to play together in any of the three matches in the summer. Perhaps v Czechs but watching them last night v Wales they are very compact and physical in central midfield so really don't think unloading midfield is a good idea for that. I think it's a must they start at home to Israel and I'd even do it away to Austria tbh, less so Denmark given how good they are in central midfield. That's the next step really, remaning compact ish but also having a genuine threat in final third v better quality teams.

As predicted then....Austria ain't getting anywhere near 20 points in this group.

Honestly don't think much has changed...well apart from the majority who seem to be demanding 1st spot now all of a sudden... Anyway. To have any chance of 2nd need 12 points from Moldova-Faroes which I think everyone would agree with and then try to finally end the Israel jinx by beating them at Hampden. Gets to 17 points there so then could be something like two draws from the remaining games v Austria and Denmark as usually 19-20 points gets 2nd. If Austria only get 1 point from the Denmark games and lose in Israel as they did in the last qualification they will only be able to get to 20 points as a maximum so certainly don't need to be potentially shooting 24-25 points imo. Still lots to play for infact, I'd be expecting to be 2nd on Weds evening.

Two years ago: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47686996

Yeah for 1st...don't really see that as realistic given what I've seen from Danes so far. Likely to get 2nd with about 18/19 points so that's still very much on imo. Yes play offs will be very hard but would be same in normal format with a home and leg away tie v seeded team so just got to see if it can work out like last time. This team is hard to actually beat at least now so at long last got the mentality of what Wales and the Irish teams have had in last decade.

Think Denmark will be already qualified by final game so hopefully work in favour. I just see it as getting ahead of Austria now. They also have to play Denmark twice and got to go to Israel so they'll be dropping plenty more points aswell.

Way better second half. Shows how much I know in that I'd have subbed Fraser off at half time! Him and Adams were good second half as outlets. Could've won, could've lost. While back 3 shouldn't just be ditched as that will be needed during the euros it is limited on occasions against beatable opposition as tonight showed so Clarke needs to be more flexible at times. Pleased for Adams, just feel to really get the best from him he needs Dykes up alongside him in the long term but can't see two out and out strikers being used in the euros. Needs to be looked at for the home games for rest of the world cup campaign though as they're pretty much all must win now. O.k point. Israel haven't won either of their first two home games so they're pretty much out of contention as they don't win away much but hopefully they can beat Austria at home like they did last year. Beat faroes and Denmark beat Austria and that's 2nd place with pretty much a quarter of the group gone. I know people are demanding 1st but think we have to be realistic, Denmark are the best team in this group by a margin so better to really secure 2nd. At the very worst that should give another decent group for the euros with better seeding. One annoyance remains for me. Some o.k one touch passing and overlap from players which gets them in decent crossing positions with 2-3 in the box and the crossing is constantly shocking, just low crosses that are easily kicked out by first defender, were a couple in last 10 minutes. Really frustrating.

Same could easily happen again or even 2-0 if Israel keep pushing on. I think Adams has had some nice lay offs and he's trying to get involved but simply needs Dykes up there to make it all stick and work imo, Fraser done nowhere near enough so far. Also get Christie on at some stage, risk to ditch 3 at the back v these but been far too easy to play around the midfield area for Israel so will have to happen at some stage in second half. McGinn another who's barely got into the game tonight. Will do well to get a point from this.

Denmark did that with their reserve team btw....made 9-10 changes from the other night! Simply can't afford to mess up v Moldova, pretty sure dropped points v them under Vogts years back?

Denmark 3 up after half an hour against Moldova. Is it GD or head to head that decides things if teams are level on points?

Honestly think he needs to fit in Dykes and Adams together as a two tonight. I mean you can still have 3 at the back and 3 centrally, just take out Armstrong for Adams. Che Adams is more effective playing alongside targetman or other striker. At Birmingham he played alongside striker with similar profile to Dykes and had a 20 goal season that got him prem move and he's started regularly alongside Danny Ings this season. Feels like an error just to wait to play this v Faroes or later match when likely playing catch up in group. Win tonight and potentially 7 points from first 3 games is pretty good. Can also see McGregor returning which will push McGinn further forward so other issue given I want two strikers is how to fit Christie in as I thought he was good Friday at keeping hold of the ball in tight spots and creating space with quick turns to get shots away. Always a good player to have in tight away games as he proved in Serbia. Interesting team selection anyway.

Edit: Posted in wrong thread.

He's nae bad and as said before Clarke obviously know him more than pretty much any other player in the squad so knows his strengths and weaknesses very well. Frustrating for me on Thursday is due to the quality on left he got loads of space to work with but time and again his cross would just hit the first man and go out for corner or throw in. Needs to be getting crosses that get through to likes of Dykes/Adams more when in final third.

Yes had 5k in for Denmark game last night. Did Austria have loads missing last night or were the travel restrictions lifted given likes of Dragovic and Alaba from Bundesliga still featured?

Kasper Dolberg is decent striker. Was up and coming at Ajax but lost his way a bit. 11 goals for nice last season before their season ended in March although completely lost form again this year so that's why he didn't start. Poulsen a regular for RB Leipzig although more of a hardworking wide striker.

I agree. When you look at Denmark team it's actually full of good players in most positions and they know how to qualify for major tournaments so to me they're clear group favourites and the opening games just confirm that. Austria are o.k but I can see Denmark taking 4 points off them and they could also slip up in Israel so think the good news is 15/16 points could well be enough for 2nd spot. Take chances in play offs although obviously much harder to qualify than for the euros. At least the team wouldn't go into that batch of games with negativity after getting through last time.

That was pleasing for me. Hanley looked a walking red card in first half but thankfully calmed down and played his part in getting the point. Hendry did fine. Yes none of them will ever be world class but Clarke is showing the system put out can nulify that and make the collective stronger. As I've said countless times before it's nothing radical and both Ireland teams and Wales have done it themselves for ages with decent results. To have any hope of getting a win in the euros need McTominay in central midfield despite the very decent job he's done at the back in last 12 months as you're going in against two teams with world class midfields and Czechs have Soucek who's been outstanding for West Ham and huge threat in the air so need McTom to counter that a little more.

O.k point. Think the Austria final ball was simply the difference here. Towards end of match they hit a really good low cross in that Marshall had to palm away while so often O'Donnell would get in similar position and just hit a defender. Hopefully they don't have someone like Arnautovic back for away game as feel he's the sort to make the difference in final third. Big game Sunday for sure. Need to turn up for once over there. Would start Adams (which I imagine is the plan giving him last 15 minutes) and perhaps Fraser.

Good win for the group favourites. They have a very good set of CB options. Joachim Andersen been excellent for Fulham and only sub tonight and Vestegaard had decent season for Southampton. Probably shows the difference there. Israel just a bang average middle of road international team so got to get out of our heads there's some incredible unit. They'll finish 4th in this group.

Right old niggly game so far, this ref is missing so much. Think McTominay been far and away the best passer on the pitch, just lovely angles and drills it in to feet no problem with pace. Sadly he ain't playing with likes of Pogba and Fernandes here so it just rebounds back. Best player though on pitch. Think in this set up I'd rather have Tiernay bombing up and down the left and Robbo tucked in as LCB as feels like Tierney has the beating of their RB if he wa pushed forward. Big fan of Armstrong at club level but less said about him tonight and in a few other Scotland games, too many poor touches or wrong decisions in final third. Get Adams on at hour mark and see if he can link up with Dykes but so far feels like one of those early 0-0 home draws while the group favourites win one of their toughest fixtures type day. Seen this script many times before.

Hamilton looked promising a few years back, seems like he's made a couple of bad loan moves in recent seasons but Peterborough is certainly an excellent club for up and coming player to play for as they've sold on loads to premier league and championship in last 15 years and might be in it next season anyway.

Might just be me but I love watching him play, having excellent game today.

Difference with Dykes for me is he at least decided to join up halfway through the qualification so unlike Adams he didn't decide to jump on the bangwagon once qualification started given Adams been approached a few times in the past and played his part in the team getting to the euros. That's the one bug bearer for me as you worry he'll be one of those that constantly pulls out of squads once we're back in qualification period like many other players recruited from that pool have been in recent times. I'd have liked to have seen a bit more commitment if he was asked this time last year for instance.