Lyndon Dykes says helping Scotland reach their first World Cup since 1998 would soften the blow of being forced to miss last year’s European Championships.
Scotland can clinch automatic qualification for next summer’s finals if they take at least a point against Greece in Piraeus on Saturday and then beat Denmark at Hampden Park three days later. Steve Clarke’s side have already secured at least a play-off place after going unbeaten in Group C.
The Birmingham City striker missed the Euros after a training-ground incident during the pre-tournament camp and did not feature in Germany. “I want to play as many games for Scotland as possible. I want to make as many tournaments as possible and obviously missing out on the Euros was a big blow,” Dykes said. “The way it happened as well, it really hurt a lot. I had to just do my best to get over it leading up to that because obviously it wasn’t like the first Euros when we had the Serbia play-off. You don’t know what’s around the corner. Hopefully I can play my part for this team to get to the World Cup and be in the squad for the World Cup if we do make it.”
Dykes, now 30, was two when Scotland last appeared at a World Cup and says playing in North America would be a dream. “To play in a World Cup, personally, I never even thought I’d have the opportunity to do that. It’s such an amazing thing. I think what we’ve been through for the last number of years, we had the burden of the Euros and we did that as a team. We got back-to-back Euros and now the next thing is a World Cup and everyone wants that, all the players, all the staff and the whole nation. Anyone wants to play in a World Cup because it’s just a pinnacle of your career.”
Scotland’s qualifying campaign has seen wins over Belarus (twice), a home victory against Greece and a goalless draw away to Denmark. They are level with Denmark on 10 points; Greece sit seven points behind with two games remaining.
“I wouldn’t say there is any pressure at the moment. We’ve done great in these group stages, we’ve got automatic play-offs,” the 46-cap striker added. “When the time comes to it I’m sure boys and the whole squad will have a little bit of nerves coming into games because we know how big these games are. The squad that we have, the players that we have, they’ve played in massive games, every single one of them. Pressure comes with this sport.”
Reflecting on past experience, Dykes pointed to the Serbia play-off that sent Scotland to Euro 2020 as a formative moment. “Previously being in that Serbia [play-off] for the first Euros, which seems a long time ago now, the pressure on that game was massive and we got through that as a team. Ever since that situation and that moment, we just kind of grew from there. We know we can always get through things as a team and together. Even though the squad’s changed a little bit from there, we’ve still got some players. That’s the main core of the whole Scotland and the Scotland nation as well because when we’re all together and we’re all aligned, we get things done.”
Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Connor Barron (Rangers), Andy Irving (West Ham).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).
Scotland’s final World Cup qualifiers
Greece (A) – November 15
Denmark (H) – November 18