Kenny Dalglish believes Scotland should go straight through to a World Cup play-off shootout with Wales in Cardiff - with Ukraine offered automatic entry to the next World Cup in 2026.
The Liverpool and Celtic legend argued it might be a way forward amid the ongoing crisis in war-torn Ukraine.
UEFA announced on Wednesday afternoon that the Scots will meet Ukraine in their semi-final clash at Hampden Park on June 1, with the winners coming to Cardiff City Stadium on June 5 to decide who progresses to the finals in Qatar.
READ MORE: Wales' World Cup and four other Nations League dates in June
Doubts persist over the frame of mind the Ukrainians will be in to play big games of football this summer. So King Kenny reckons one solution would be to guarantee Ukraine a spot in the 2026 finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada as a consolation for missing out on Qatar.
“You’ve got to have huge respect for the Ukrainian players and football association. It’s not their fault they are in the position they are in. I think it’s unfair to put them under pressure in any way, shape or form," said Dalglish.
“Maybe a wee olive branch and say, ‘In the next World Cup you can go straight through. You don’t need to qualify’.
"It would be a way of showing your respect and at the same time moving forward with this World Cup. I think it’d be nice, if they want a solution, to give them that.”
The winner of the World Cup play-off involving Wales, Scotland and Ukraine will take on England, the USA and Iran in the group stages in Qatar. The opening game is with America on Monday November 21. The World Cup group stage draw is available in full here.
This summer Gareth Bale and his team have four other matches too in the UEFA Nations League. Wales meet Poland on June 1, before breaking into World Cup mode. Three more Nations League matches then follow at home to Belgium and home and away against the Dutch.
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