Scotland's World Cup 2022 Qualifying group - all you need to know

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicks off on the 21st of November 2022, and will last for 28 days until the 18th of December - Qatar's national day being the date of the final - and is covered in controversy. Allegations of corruption, the 'intense' working conditions in place to build all the stadiums, the tournament being held mid-season as well as alcohol and same-sex relations being banned, have often engulfed the tournament in the media. However, today we saw the draw for the qualification groups which has kicked off the footballing aspects of this event with the qualifiers beginning in March 2021.

The 'tartan army' have had a good few years under Steve Clark and are currently looking towards next summer's Euro 2021 with one of the strongest Scotland squads in recent memories as well as a largely positive couple of Nation's League campaigns behind us. After that win vs Serbia confidence and love for the national team is the highest it has been in a long long time, with supporters eager to see how we will perform at the upcoming Euro's, cast your eye further and let's see what is in store for Scotland, and could we make our second consecutive major tournament?

Scotland have been drawn into qualifying group F and will be joined by the following (in order of seed), here is all you need to know about our upcoming opponents and what stands between Scotland and the forever elusive World Cup Qualification.

[Scotland celebrate their penalty shootout win against Israel]

Denmark

Denmark have enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in recent years, rising from a record low of 46th in the FIFA rankings in 2016 all the way back up to one of the highest positions they have ever held and currently sit in 12th. The Danes have qualified for 4 World Cup's since 1998, even making the quarter-final stage in France. Last time out in Russia Aage Hareide's side went out at the round-of-16 stage to eventual finalists Croatia, narrowly exiting on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

The Euros have been a very fruitful competition for Denmark and since 1984 have only missed out on qualification twice, getting to the semi-finals and then famously winning the tournament in 1992, in Sweden. New coach Kasper Hjulmand would do well to even be half as successful as the team of '92, with Denmark not qualifying for the tournament since Ukraine 2012 the 'De rød-hvide' will be eager to do well at the 2021 installment. The recent 'Nations League' has been very fruitful for the Scandinavians who have gone from Division B to A and finished second in group 2 last time out, meaning they shall go and play in the 2021 tournament in Italy.

Denmark have a very well rounded team, with well known players including Christian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeicel, as well as Bundesliga stars Thomas Delaney and Yussuf Poulsen among their ranks. Captain Simon Kjaer and Spurs' summer signing Højbjerg are both enjoying good seasons domestically as well with AC Milan and tottenham excelling.

[Denmark during their 1-0 triumph over England]

Austria

Currently ranked 26th in the world by FIFA, the Austrian team was at a record low of 75th in 2011 and then a record high of 10th back in 2015. 'Unsere Burschen' last qualified for a World Cup in 1998 and the last time they made it past the group stage was nearly 40 years ago, in Spain 82' where they won 2 of the 5 matches they played. This means that they certainly have something to prove in this qualifying stage, and will be desperate to break that record.

When it comes to the Euro's, qualification has come easier to the Austrians, especially in recent times with the side making the 2008, 2016 and recently the 2021 editions of the tournament. In the cases of 08' and 16' they crashed out at the group stage on both occasions. The recent 'Nations League' competitions have seen Austria rise to group A which they will compete in from 2022/23.

The current Austria team posses many players who are at the pinnacle of the European game, David Alaba in particular with the Bayern Munich regular winning 9 German Bundesliga titles, and clinching his 2nd Champions League winners medal in 2020. Captain Baumgartlinger has been a stalwart for consistent Europa League challengers Bayer Leverkusen. While Sabitzer and Laimer are consistent names on the RB Leipzig team sheet who are currently contesting a Champions League Group with PSG and Manchester United, and are top of the league in Germany. Another well known face for many fans of the Premier League down south is Marko Arnautović, with the ex-stoke and West Ham man currently plying his trade out in China for Shanghai SIPG.

[Marko Arnautović celebrating a winner in the Nations League]

Israel

The Israeli's are an awfully too familiar face for the Scot's, and I had half the mind not to include them in this as I know some fans are sick to death of hearing about them, after facing off 5 times since 2018 alone, and now having 2 more fixtures pencilled in, I'll try to keep this one short.

Last time out they defeated Scotland 1-0 in a close affair with some excellent individual skill from Solomon all that could separate the sides. Israel currently sit 87th in the FIFA world rankings and have been steadily rising since the depths of their lowest ever position of 98th in 2017. They have only ever qualified for one World Cup, the 1970 edition in Mexico, where they exited at the group stage. The national side have never qualified for the Euro's since becoming a UEFA member in the 1990s.

As many of us know already oh too well, the Israel team has quite a few decent players. With star striker Eran Zahavi (currently at Dutch giants PSV), young winger Manor Solomon of Shakhtar Donetsk and Abd Elhamed of Celtic among their finest players. Goalkeeper Marciano is also rather well known in Scotland as 'Hibs' number one.

[Israel contest the ball vs Spain]

Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are currently ranked 107th in the world by FIFA and have maintained an average ranking of 129th, with 1992 bringing the highest ever result of 94th in the world. The side are managed by Håkan Ericson, and captained by Hallur Hansson. They have never made it to a World Cup or Euro tournament. Some positive news is that they have recently won 4 'Nations League' games across their two campaigns in group D, seeing promotion to Group C last time out.

[The Faroe Islands in action]

Moldova

Moldova are currently experiencing a record low when it comes to FIFA rankings, sitting 177th in the world despite averaging 117th. The team have been in steady decline since 2013. The nation have never qualified for the Euros or a World Cup since earning independence from the USSR and becoming a FIFA/UEFA member in the 1990s. They are currently managed by Engin Fırat and are captained by record appearance holder Alexandru Epureanu, who plays for currently flourishing Turkish Side Istanbul Basaksehir, and has done so since 2014, now representing them in the UEFA Champions League.

[Alexandru Epureanu representing Moldova in 2018]

Overall, I think this will be a difficult group for Scotland with some tricky games and excellent players from around Europe and beyond on show, but I believe we can succeed.

Written by - @StJFansVoice on Twitter, @StJohnstoneFansVoice on Instagram