Scotland draw Ukraine, Republic of Ireland and Armenia in Nations League

Scotland will face Ukraine, Republic of Ireland and Armenia in the 2022/23 Nations League.

The sides were drawn together at the launch of the tournament on Thursday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

Steve Clarke’s side have already been paired with Ukraine in the World Cup play-offs semi-final next March and will now face them twice more in 2022.

The team will compete with Republic of Ireland for the first time since drawing 1-1 in a European Championship qualifier in 2015, and will face Armenia for the first time.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke said: “When you’re in a draw with teams of the same level you’re going to expect three difficult opponents. That’s what we got. It’s a good draw.

“The games against the Republic of Ireland will always be good for the supporters and hopefully we can make them good on the pitch for both sets of fans.

“So, three good opponents and something to look forward to in the summer.

“The nature of the Nations League is that it’s competitive and balanced. You are drawn against teams who are on a similar level to you. That’s why you get the A groups, the B groups and the C groups. Hopefully we do enough to win the section and get into the A groups but we are going to have six difficult matches.

“Being drawn against Ukraine tonight doesn’t add anything to the play-off match at all. The game in March, everyone knows the magnitude of that game and the importance of it.

“We’ve got good opponents to look forward to in the Nations League but all my thoughts in the coming weeks will be centred on the game against Ukraine and hopefully a follow-up against Wales and Austria.”

The competition, which provided Scotland’s route to Euro 2020, is running for the third time with fixtures across the continent next June and September, with the elite sides playing the finals in 2023.

With the competition once again providing a route into the European Championships, Scotland were looking for a good draw to enhance their chances of being in Germany for Euro 2024.

Scotland won promotion from their group in the first edition of the Nations League, and finished second in their group last time out.

While the fixture list has not yet been confirmed, UEFA have confirmed the schedule. Four games will be played in one short spell in June, with the remaining two match days in late September.

The four group winners in League A will progress to the finals in June 2023. The group winners from the other three leagues will be promoted for the 2024/25 season. Teams finishing fourth in the groups in Leagues A and B will be relegated.

UEFA have yet to announce the dates for play-offs but four group winners will progress to the 2024 European Championships.