Scotland captain Andy Robertson was also talking yesterday and the Liverpool left-back said: "We started OK, we took points in every game we played but we wanted it to be more, of course we did.

"But we can't reflect on that, the group is still close, of course it is, but we need to start putting points on the board.

"Only one team qualify automatically, it is about pushing for that as much as we can and then hopefully minimum second to get the play-off place.

"You start to see where the group is at after six or seven qualifiers but it is about being in the race for it and the only way we do that is by picking up points.

"We are pot three, we are playing pot one and pot two away from home so it is going to be difficult. It is up to us to put in the performances we are capable of and if we do that we are difficult to beat."

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Craig Levein
Former Scotland manager on BBC Sportsound

Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has lost seven of his original squad, with Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite and Nice striker Kasper Dolberg among them, along with Leicester City defender Jannik Vestergaard.

Those three all started the Euros semi-final defeat to England.

I guess we should assess Scotland's showing at the Euros too.

We'll keep it brief since the return to major tournament football after 23 long years was something of an anti-climax.

There was a brief moment of cheer as Scotland matched England in a goalless draw at Wembley but that was sandwiched between disappointing losses to the Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden.

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Denmark: Schmeichel, Andersen, Christensen, Kjaer, Waas, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Maehle, Olsen, Poulsen, Damsgaard.

Substitutes: Lossl, Ronnow, Nelson, Christiansen, Bruun Larsen, Ingvartsen, Lindstrom, Kristensen, Norgaard, Stryger, Wind, Daramy.

Scotland: Gordon, Hanley, Cooper, McKenna, Tierney, McGregor, McLean, Gilmour, Robertson, Fraser, Adams.

Substitutes: Kelly, Clark, Dykes, Christie, Hendry, Gallagher, Ferguson, Turnbull.

Denmark, currently ranked the 11th best team in the world, continued that good form over the summer, warming up for the Euros with a draw against Germany and beating Bosnia and Herzegovina before going all the way to the last four at the championship.

And they did it the hard way, losing group games to Finland and Belgium before smashing Russia 4-1 to get to the last 16. All of that on the back of an alarming on-field cardiac arrest for star man Christian Eriksen in the first half of the first game.

Wins over Wales and the Czech Republic set up a semi-final with England at Wembley and the exhausted Danes were eventually undone by a contentious penalty award in extra time.

Image source, Getty Images

Tonight's hosts might have been viewed as the easiest of the number one seeds but they certainly underlined their favourites' status in March, with three convincing victories.

Denmark opened with a 2-0 win in Israel, demolished Moldova 8-0 and then hammered second seeds Austria 4-0 in Vienna.

Unbeaten on five points is an okay start but it doesn't leave much wriggle room.

This triple-header is significantly tougher and anything less than another five would leave Scotland in a precarious position.

Anything more would be considered a very useful return.

And how did Scotland get those five points?

It all started with a 2-2 draw at home to Austria, with Steve Clarke's side twice coming from behind.

Then there was a 1-1 draw in Israel, where, again, the opposition scored first.

A routine 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands at Hampden followed, with John McGinn scoring twice and Kieran Tierney providing a hat-trick of assists.

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Here's how Group F looks after the opening matches in March.

Denmark have a 100% record and a mighty goal difference, while Scotland are tucked in behind the leaders.

It doesn't look too bad but things can change quickly, with Austria and Israel in action against the two bottom sides this evening.

Image source, BBC Sport

Craig Gordon wins his 58th cap this evening, taking over from David Marshall, who can't get a look in at Derby County at the moment.

The Hearts captain has been in terrific form so far this season, helping his side get off to an unbeaten league start.

At 38 he's still moving so well and he is always a portrait of calm.

Can he add to his 23 international clean sheets this evening?

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Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

Talking yesterday, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was his usual impassive self.

"We don't have a full bench but we have more than enough to go there and be competitive in the game and get the result that we want and that's the most important thing," he said.

"Also, on the back of all the Covid issues, it is worth point out that it is a global pandemic. Other countries and teams have suffered from it. It's our turn this time but in the scheme of things, football is a relatively minor issue and not having players is a relatively minor issue because you have people who are dying of the illness, people on ventilators, people stuck in hospital, people with long Covid of which my daughter is one, so I understand it."

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Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

Scotland XI: Gordon, Hanley, Cooper, McKenna, Tierney, McGregor, McLean, Gilmour, Robertson, Fraser, Adams.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

The picture improves for Saturday's game against Moldova, with John McGinn, Stephen O'Donnell, Nathan Patterson and Kevin Nisbet expected to return, while Steve Clarke has the opportunity to draft in a few more if needed.

Covid testing deadlines ruled out any emergency calls for this game.

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It's been hard to keep up with the number of players withdrawing this week, so let's just run over the list of those who are absent.

Scott McTominay was injured before the squad was announced and Stuart Armstrong soon joined him. James Forrest and Greg Taylor were then added to the casualties and then Kevin Nisbet picked up a knock in training.

John McGinn tested positive for Covid, Nathan Patterson is isolating and Danish rules forbid Stephen O'Donnell from entering the country since he has only just returned after contracting the virus.

Of that lot, McTominay and McGinn would have been certain starters, while the loss of O'Donnell and Patterson leaves an alarming gap on the right flank.