Scotland and Ukraine will lock horns in the World Cup qualifier play-offs on Thursday to secure a spot for the final in the playoff for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The winner of this match will meet Wales in the eliminator (in Cardiff) and the winner here will seal a spot in Qatar 2022.
Follow the match live:
Only one spot of the 13 from Europe remain for the World Cup and the winner will be grouped alongside England, Iran and the United States of America.
Russia was scheduled to take part in the playoffs but was suspended from international football by UEFA and FIFA, following its invasion of Ukraine.
The World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 18.
Scotland has played in eight world cups so far, with five consecutive appearances between 1974 to 1990, but it has not gone beyond the group stage in any of them.
It's last apperance in the tournament was in 1998, under manager Craig Brown, when the team could not win a single match and was eliminated in the group stage.
RELATED | FIFA World Cup 2022 Draw: Group guide
Ukraine, since its formation after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has qualified for the World Cup just once, in 2006. The team, led by Andriy Shevchenko, finally lost to eventual champion Italy in the quarterfinals.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Ukraine and Scotland last met in the European Championship 15 years ago and it was Scotland which had come out victorious.
- Scotland 3-1 Ukraine -- European Championship (October 13, 2007)
- Ukraine 2-0 Scotland -- European Championship Qualifier (October 11, 2006)
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FORM GUIDE: Both the teams, Scotland and Ukraine, are unbeaten in their last five matches with Scotland having three wins and two draws while Ukraine has won twice and drawn the remaining three matches.
Scotland's last five matches:
- Draw: Austria 2-2 Scotland
- Draw: Scotland 1-1 Poland
- Win: Scotland 2-0 Denmark
- Win: Moldova 0-2 Scotland
- Win: Faroe Islands 0-1 Scotland
Ukraine's last five matches:
- Win: Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-2 Ukraine
- Draw: Ukraine 1-1 Bulgaria
- Draw: Ukraine 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Win : Finland 1-2 Ukraine
- Draw: Czech Republic 1-1 Ukraine
Players to watch out for:
Andy Robertson, Scotland: The Liverpool full-back has been a danger along the wings throughout the season and returns to the National team after winning the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup with the Reds.
The 28-year-old will be a key player in orchestrating attacks through wing-play and also in containing counter-attacks led by Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk.
Roman Yaremchuk, Ukraine: The Benfica forward held Liverpool to a draw in the Champions League quarterfinals and has created a vicious attack for the Portuguese side along with Darwin Nunez.
He is currentky the highest goalscorer for the team (in the current squad) with eight goals in three matches.
When and where to watch the FIFA World Cup play-off semifinal?
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