By John Barnes

Stark is hoping for a big home support to help the U-21s

Scotland Under-21s have been drawn against Iceland in the play-offs to reach the finals of the European Championship in Denmark next summer.

The play-off double-header will take place between 8 and 12 October, with the Scots at home for the return leg.

Manager Billy Stark said: "Iceland are a country that exports players to good leagues across Europe.

"We'll have our work cut out but are pleased to have been in the draw and we'll look on it as an opportunity."

On Tuesday at Pittodrie, Stark's men beat Austria to top Group 10, which included Belarus, Albania and Azerbaijan.

With victory essential, Chris Maguire was the hero for Scotland when he scored a late goal to secure a 2-1 win.

We hope that we can get dates that would allow us to get the size of crowd in that we would want Scotland U-21s manager Billy Stark

His 89th-minute strike put the Scots into the draw that took place in Herning, Denmark, on Friday at lunch-time.

Stark's side, who could not be drawn against their group runners-up, Belarus, might have faced England, Spain, Greece, Switzerland or Ukraine - the other non-seeds - instead of Iceland.

Meanwhile, Sweden, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, Italy and Croatia were the seeds that Iceland avoided.

"If I can put it into perspective, Iceland are very happy to have been drawn against us, so that gives us an indication of how tough it will be," said Stark.

"But with this group of players, they have shown that they can handle big games and they don't come any bigger than the two games against Iceland."

Iceland finished second in their group which featured Czech Republic, Germany, Northern Ireland and San Marino.

They lost two matches, both to group winners Czech Republic, and drew with Germany 2-2 away before beating them at home 4-1 in August.

Iceland beat Northern Ireland and San Marino both home and away in their other matches.

Stark is keen to ensure that the date for the home leg of the play-off does not clash with that of the full international team, who play Spain at Hampden on 12 October.

"The other day at Pittodrie, at four o'clock, we had over 2,000 people and they played a big part," he said.

"If we can multiply that, it would give us a tremendous boost and increase our chances.

"We hope that we can get dates that would allow us to get the size of crowd in that we would want."

Meanwhile, Hearts midfielder Eggert Jonsson thinks his Iceland side have been handed an advantage by being drawn at home in the first-leg.

"It's a tough draw for us, but there were some big teams in it and I'm happy we avoided them," he told Hearts' website.

"Scotland are a good side, though, have some good players and went well in their group.

"I think the fact we play the first game at home is an advantage and it's important we use that advantage to get a good result to take into the second leg."

European Championship play-off draw

England v Romania
Netherlands v Ukraine
Spain v Croatia
Switzerland v Sweden
Iceland v Scotland
Czech Republic v Greece
Italy v Belarus

Matches to be played between 8-12 October

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