Winning your qualifying group would normally mean job done, but for Scotland and Wales – and Northern Ireland as one of the runners-up – it is only the latest stage in a convoluted journey to the Euro 2025 finals.
For the first time, the qualifiers and Women’s Nations League have been merged, which means winning their respective groups secures the Scots and Welsh promotion back up to the top tier after one campaign in League B.
But it also means they and the Northern Irish are among the seeded teams in Friday’s draw for the first of two play-off stages they must traverse in order to reach next year’s finals in Switzerland.
So how have they reached the 12:00 BST draw in Nyon and what comes next?
- Author, Clive Lindsay
- Role, BBC Sport Scotland
Who could British trio face?
As winners and runners-up of their Group A sections, holders England, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands and Spain join hosts Switzerland, who incidentally won their Group B section, in qualifying directly for Euro 2025.
That leaves everyone else battling for the remaining seven spots over those two rounds of play-offs.
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, along with Portugal, who topped Northern Ireland’s group, Scotland’s group runners-up, Serbia, and Ukraine, who finished behind the Welsh, will be seeded for the first round of play-offs.
They will face one of the following sides, also from League B:
Turkey – Ranked 61st in the world. Finished seven points behind the Swiss in Group B1.
Croatia – Ranked 56. Finished third behind Wales and Ukraine in Group B4. Were eased aside 4-0 in Wrexham and 3-0 by the Welsh at home.
Hungary – Ranked 43. Finished third behind Switzerland and Turkey in B1.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Ranked 62. Finished third behind Portugal and Northern Ireland, who beat them 3-1 away from home and 2-0 in Belfast.
Slovakia – Ranked 50. Finished third behind Scotland and Serbia. Lost 1-0 at Hampden and 2-0 at home to the Scots.
Azerbaijan – Ranked 75. Finished last in their group behind Switzerland, Turkey and Hungary.
After five straight wins, Scotland have moved up one place to 23rd in the current rankings, while Wales are up one to 31st after also finishing their group unbeaten.
Both should start favourites to progress whoever they face, while Northern Ireland, although down two to 48th, will also fancy their chances when the ties are played over two legs on 23 and 29 October.
What if they do progress?
While those Group B sides are doing battle, the eight teams who finished third and fourth in their Group A sections, including Republic of Ireland, will have been taking on the top finishers from Group C.
The 25th-ranked Irish, who finished bottom of their group behind France, England and Sweden, will be seeded in the round-two draw.
That could set up a potential meeting with the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish, who will not be among the round-two seeds.
The sixth-ranked Swedes and fellow top-20 sides Norway, Austria and Belgium, along with Finland and the Czech Republic, are also potential opponents barring the way to Euro 2025.
Those ties, to be played on 27 November and 3 December, will also be drawn on Friday.
What are their chances?
Scotland have only lost once in eight games – after a penalty shootout in the Pinatar Cup against Finland – since their embarrassing 6-0 Nations League drubbing at home to England in December.
Understandably, captain Rachel Corsie believes Pedro Martinez Losa’s side have restored some “pride”.
Likewise, Wales have built on their Nations League draw with Germany and their unbeaten run of eight games has Rhian Wilkinson’s squad dreaming of their first major tournament appearance.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland head coach Tanya Oxtoby believes her side have “turned the corner” after finishing the group campaign with two consecutive wins – indeed, their only two defeats were by table-topping Portugal.
However, as Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert pointed out, “from here on in, it gets harder”.
We will find out later this year whether her side, Northern Ireland and Wales can “step up” in the face of the challenges ahead and join England at Euro 2025.
