Scotland secure Euro 2020 qualification with play-off victory in Serbia; Scotland face England in Group D; Scots will play twice at Hampden Park home and once at Wembley in first major tournament appearance since 1998; England vs Scotland at Wembley on June 18
Monday 30 November 2020 13:39, UK
It's been 22 years in the making but Scotland have finally done it - and a showdown with England awaits at next summer's European Championship.
Steve Clarke's side sealed a first major tournament appearance since 1998 after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Serbia after Luka Jovic had agonisingly forced extra-time with a 90th-minute equaliser.
Scotland's reward for defying the bookmakers' odds and prevailing eventually in Belgrade is a place in Group D alongside England, Croatia and Czech Republic, and a mouth-watering Euro 2020 schedule that will see all three group-stage games take place in the British Isles.
It all begins on June 14 at the home of Scottish football - Hampden Park - where Scotland host Croatia on matchday one, before they make the trip to Wembley Stadium to face the Auld Enemy, England, on June 18.
The Scots then return to Hampden on June 22 to play Croatia, where they could be vying for a place in the knockout stages of a major tournament for the very first time.
Gareth Southgate congratulated Scotland and said he hoped fans would be back to enjoy a "super occasion".
Speaking after England's friendly win over the Republic of Ireland, he said: "Firstly, to congratulate Steve Clarke. I think he's a super guy, I'm really pleased for him and Scotland. It's been a long time for them. They've got some young players coming through, and a team improving very quickly.
"Let's hope we're a full house. That would be a super occasion, although it certainly makes our lives a lot more difficult.
"In particular, going to Hampden a couple of years ago was an incredible game and atmosphere. That will give everybody something to look forward to in a difficult time, let's hope we've got full crowds back in the stadium for that."
After seeing his Scotland side hold their nerve from the spot in Serbia, Clarke said: "The whole nation can be proud - but nobody can be prouder than the players on the pitch because they were magnificent.
"This puts us back on the map and in a big tournament, but next summer will take care of itself. We've got three great group games - one especially that the Tartan Army will enjoy."
Scotland are expected to receive around 14,000 tickets for their Group D clash with England at Wembley.
UEFA has confirmed that a visiting team is entitled to 16 per cent of the stadium's capacity. England - as a host city - were allocated 19 per cent and will have an official allocation of 17,000.
More than 45,000 tickets have already been sold for the match in the UEFA ballot.
As Glasgow is also a host city, the SFA will receive 19 per cent of available tickets for Scotland's other group matches at Hampden Park against Croatia and Czech Republic - just under 10,000.
An official announcement on ticket allocations is expected in January.
England vs Scotland is the oldest international fixture in football, with a goalless draw first played at Hamilton Crescent, Partick in November 1872 in front of 4,000 spectators.
The two nations have met on 114 occasions in total, with England winning 48 times and Scotland winning 41.
England have dominated in recent years, though, winning seven of the last nine meetings.
The sides last met in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, with England easing to a 3-0 win at Wembley in November 2016 under then-caretaker Gareth Southgate, before being held 2-2 in June 2017 as Harry Kane's injury-time equaliser salvaged a dramatic draw.
Prior to that, England won when the teams met at Celtic Park in November 2014, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opening the scoring and Wayne Rooney's second-half double securing a 3-1 victory.
Scotland most recently won a competitive game against England in November 1999 - a Euro 2000 play-off dubbed the 'Battle of Britain' in which they triumphed 1-0 - but England progressed to the tournament on aggregate after winning 2-0 in the first leg four days earlier.
A few years earlier, Paul Gascoigne scored a memorable goal against Scotland at Euro '96 after David Seaman had saved Gary McAllister's penalty to ensure a 2-0 victory.
The all-time top goalscorer from head-to-heads is Steve Bloomer - who played for England between 1895-1907 - with eight goals. Familiar names in the top 20 include England's Geoff Hurst (four), England's Jimmy Greaves (four), Scotland's Denis Law (three) and England's Steve Coppell (three).
The highest-scoring match between the teams also featured the biggest winning margin, when England won 9-3 at Wembley in the British Championships on April 15, 1961.
Monday June 14 - Group D: Scotland vs Czech Republic; Kick-off 2pm (Glasgow)
Friday June 18 - Group D: England vs Scotland; Kick-off 8pm (London)
Tuesday June 22 - Group D: Croatia vs Scotland; Kick-off 8pm (Glasgow)
Sunday June 13 - Group D: England vs Croatia; Kick-off 2pm (London)
Friday June 18 - Group D: England vs Scotland; Kick-off 8pm (London)
Tuesday June 22 - Group D: Czech Republic vs England; Kick-off 8pm (London)
Each Euro 2020 venue city will host one last-16 or quarter-final match, before London takes centre stage for the semi-finals and final. There is no third-place play-off. The knockouts will run from June 26 to July 11.
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
