Three, as the saying goes, is a crowd while two is company - and it is only the top two from Group B who will qualify for Austria 2008. So, one from France, Scotland and Italy will definitely miss out.

If Scotland beat Italy at Hampden Park in their final match, they will clinch qualification. But if Alex McLeish's men lose, they are out.

However, a draw would leave Scotland with two qualification lifelines on 21 November: They will go through if Faroe Islands beat Italy or France lose in Ukraine.

Scotland would then finish a point ahead of Italy and also finish above France because of their superior head-to-head record.