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With Scotland on the brink of promotion to Nations League section A, this represents a pivotal moment in the modern history of the national team and proof that Steve Clarke is shaping a team to restore pride in the country.

With that in mind we take a look back a decade to September 2012, when the national team were at a significantly lower ebb.

Going into the qualifying campaign for the 2014 world cup in Brazil, manager Craig Levein was already under pressure. This was only exacerbated by a disappointing draw with Serbia at home in the opening game before a bleak 1-1 draw with North Macedonia in front of a dismayed Hampden.

Here we take a look back at the side that started that day and look at how far the squad has come in 10 years.

Goalkeeper – Alan McGregor

Despite already being one of the senior members of the squad at 30 in 2012, incredibly McGregor is one of three players who started that day who is still playing. The Rangers keeper would retire from international football in 2019 having picked up 42 caps.

Right Back – Alan Hutton

Often praised as one of the success stories of the Rangers academy, Hutton joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 for a fee in the region of £9 million. The full back made 50 caps across 9 years and was generally recognised as a solid performer at international level.

Centre Backs – Christophe Berra & Andy Webster

Although eligible for both Scotland and France, Berra represented Scotland at U21, B team and full international level. He won 49 caps scoring 4 goals from centre back.

Both centre backs were best known for their time at Heart of Midlothian although Webster’s career was often overshadowed by persistent injuries. Webster gained 28 caps across 10 years as he failed to ever cement a consistent place in the national team.

Left Back – Paul Dixon

This was one of only three caps won by the then Dundee United defender. Dixon had come into the squad for the draw with Serbia the game before, earning man of the match for his display in a 0-0 draw. He is still on the books of Peterhead.

Holding Midfield – Gary Caldwell

A centre back by trade, Caldwell was often used as an auxiliary defensive midfielder for the national team. He won 55 caps at full international level, a high point coming against France at Hampden in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign when he netted the winning goal in an historic 1-0 defeat of World Cup finalists France.

Right Wing – James Forrest 

Another who is still playing, Forrest was just 21 years old in 2012 and came into the squad off the back of winning PFA young player of the year. The promising winger would go on to reach unprecedented success with Celtic where he was part of the side that won 9 in a row, securing a quadruple treble along the way.  The winger has since notched up 38 caps, scoring 5 goals.

Central Midfield – Shaun Maloney & James Morrison 

Maloney had a successful career in both Scotland and England where he famously played a vital role in leading Wigan to the 2013 FA Cup final where they famously beat Manchester City. Maloney will be remembered in a Scotland jersey for scoring a stunning winner against Rep of Ireland at Celtic Park during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Despite being born in England, James Morrison was a mainstay in the Scotland set up for 9 years after qualifying to play via his grandparents. Morrison gained 46 caps scoring 3 goals.

Left wing – Jamie Mackie 

Another who qualified to play for the tartan army due to his grandparents, Mackie failed to make a significant impact in a Scotland jersey winning 9 caps scoring twice.

Striker – Kenny Miller 

The goal scorer that day and one of the most high-profile figures in Scottish football. Not least because he took the unorthodox step to cross the old firm divide TWICE. Miller had a storied Scotland career, racking up 69 caps in 12 years where he managed 18 goals.