World Cup 2018 draw: Old rivals England and Scotland clash on road to Russia
It was not a lack of respect that made England glad to draw Scotland in qualifying for the World Cup 2018. By that stage, after two hours of glass balls, ballet and mundane interviews in the Konstantinovsky Palace, it had come down to a stark choice for Roy Hodgson's team: Scotland, or Italy. Notwithstanding Scotland's sharp improvement under Gordon Strachan the preference was clear.