WATCHING the Group B matches involving England, Iran, the United States and Wales at the Qatar 2022 finals in the coming weeks will be painful for Scotland supporters.
It is the section that Steve Clarke’s team would have been involved in if they had been able to successfully negotiate the World Cup play-offs this summer.
Members of the Tartan Army, who have not travelled to the greatest show on planet football to cheer on their heroes since France ’98 some 24 years ago, will watch on wistfully as their would-be opponents slug it out for a place in the last 16.
Yet, those among them who revel in the misfortunes of the Auld Enemy – and that is, let’s face it, the vast majority – may well have much to cheer.
England’s performances and results since being beaten by Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley last summer have not exactly filled their fans with confidence that they can enjoy a successful tournament.
Yes, Gareth Southgate’s side went undefeated in a qualifying group that contained Poland, Albania, Hungary, Andorra and San Marino and booked their place in the Middle East automatically.
But since then their form has nosedived dramatically; they failed to win any of their five Nations League matches and were relegated from the top tier in September just a few days before Scotland were promoted.
Can Harry Kane and his team mates reach the levels that saw them make it through to their first major tournament final in 55 years? The jury is very much out. Those who love to hate them could very well have an enjoyable fortnight.
Difficulty scoring from open play and an over-reliance on Kane and Raheem Sterling are weaknesses which Southgate will have to address if his side are to meet the excessive expectations of the English public.
Yet, he was missing some important players during the meetings with Hungary, Germany and Italy. The experience and intelligence of Jordan Henderson in midfield and the youth and creativity of Phil Foden up front may help to bring about an upturn in fortunes.
Their opening match against Iran in the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan should also help them ease into Qatar 2022 with a confidence-boosting victory; their opponents have won just two games in their five previous appearances at the World Cup finals and have never made it beyond the group stages.
That said, Iran have Carlos Queiroz, the former Manchester United assistant and Portugal and Real Madrid manager, in the dugout and can field players who ply their trade at clubs in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Turkey.
As any Scotland fan who can remember the 1978 World Cup in Argentina will tell you, it would be foolish to underestimate them.
That is not a mistake the United States will make. They suffered an infamous 2-1 loss to their rivals at France ’98 in a group encounter that was, due to the political tensions between the nations at the time, described as “the mother of all games”.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter has an several gifted young footballers on his “roster”. But his side is perhaps one for the future. They have, though, a chance to get out of the group stages for the sixth time. There is little between the United States, Iran and Wales.
The Welsh ended a 64 year wait to reach a World Cup in June when they defeated Ukraine in Cardiff amid scenes of delirious rejoicing. Can they make as big an impact at Qatar 2022 as they did at Euro 2016?
It is improbable they will get anywhere near the semi-finals. Gareth Bale is still a formidable competitor who is capable of winning a match by himself with a moment of brilliance even if he is now 33 and playing in the MLS with Los Angeles FC. That was obvious in the play-offs. The former Real Madrid man scored all three of their goals in the semi-final and final.
However, elsewhere Rob Page looks as if he lacks the quality in his squad to reach the latter stages. A result against England will send their fans home happy. And it will lift the spirits of few armchair supporters in this country too.
