It looked a distant prospect when Scotland went down with a whimper in Dublin back in June. And yet, here we are, ready to mix it with the very best at the very top of the Nations League.
A hard-earned goalless draw with Ukraine in Krakow on Tuesday night ensures Steve Clarke 's side have won Group B1 and are now heading for Group A and the potential for glory.
Three big results, and three very different performances, have ensured a wholesale turnaround from losing the World Cup 2022 play-off to the Ukrainians back in June, a result that was then followed by a thumping from Ireland.
But Clarke has shown he knows how to turn a difficult situation around and he's proven so once again in this latest international break.
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