Scotland Under-21 Team Eyes Historic European Championship Qualification

Scotland‘s Under-21 football team stands on the brink of ending a 28-year absence from the European Championship as they prepare for crucial encounters against Belgium and Kazakhstan. The young Scots, led by head coach Scot Gemmill, are positioned second in Group B, trailing Spain, who have already secured the group’s top position.

The team’s performance in the upcoming matches will be pivotal. Hosting Belgium at Tynecastle on Friday, Scotland requires a win to guarantee a place in the play-offs for the tournament scheduled in Slovakia next summer. Alternatively, a draw in Edinburgh combined with a victory over Kazakhstan in Almaty the following Tuesday would also suffice.

With five victories to date, Scotland’s only setbacks have come against the dominant Spain, while they secured a goalless draw against Hungary. Success in both upcoming fixtures might even ensure automatic qualification as one of the three best group runners-up in the competition.

In their previous meeting, Scotland defeated Belgium 2-0 in November on the latter’s home soil. Belgium is set to face Hungary in their concluding group match.

However, the Scottish squad faces challenges with several key players unavailable due to injuries. Among those absent are top scorer Kieron Bowie of Hibernian, Portsmouth‘s Ibane Bowat, Queens Park Rangers‘ Liam Morrison, and Ipswich Town‘s first-choice goalkeeper Cieran Slicker. Additionally, Matthew Anderson from Celtic, currently on loan at Admira Wacker, has withdrawn, with Robbie Fraser from Rangers stepping in as a replacement.

Liverpool winger Ben Doak, who is currently on loan to Middlesbrough, will miss the under-21 action due to commitments with the senior national team. Conversely, Rangers’ Connor Barron and Josh Doig of Sassuolo have returned to the under-21 setup after previously being involved with the senior team.

The team sees fresh talent introduced as Sheffield United‘s Ryan One joins from the under-19 ranks, alongside Stockport County‘s Lewis Fiorini, who makes a return after missing recent camps. “We have lots of quality in this squad, and hopefully we can secure the result we need to qualify,” stated the 18-year-old One. “The training standard has been high, reflecting the players’ experience in first-team football.”

The Scottish squad for the upcoming matches includes goalkeepers Lewis Budinaukas (Rangers), Murray Johnson (Hibernian on loan to Airdrieonians), and Jack Newman (Dundee United, on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle). The defensive line-up features Josh Doig (Sassuolo Calcio), Robbie Fraser (Rangers), and others. The midfield includes notable players such as Robert Apter (Blackpool) and Connor Barron (Rangers).