One national side which has definitely missed out on qualification for the next major championship they were eligible for are the Under 21s. While the main focus has been on the senior side getting a good start to their World Cup 2014 campaign, the Under 21s failed at the last hurdle to make the play offs for European Championships as one of the four best runner ups. Coach Billy Stark hopes the experience of the ultimately unsuccessful group campaign will pay dividends next time around. The young side lost to 3-2 away to Austria on Monday night after conceding an injury-time goal on the counter-attack as they pushed for the late winner. This was the only defeat in the group games and had won four points against Group 10 winners Holland. By the very nature of the competition, Stark will lose a number of players as they move over the age limits. However, Tottenham goalkeeper Jordan Archer, Aberdeen right-back Ryan Jack and Dundee United midfielder Stuart Armstrong are all eligible to play in the qualifiers for the 2105 finals after being involved with the squad throughout the campaign. they started the game in Altach along with Celtic striker Tony Watt, who marked his first start with a headed goal and also set up Johnny Russell for a goal that put Scotland 2-1 ahead. Stark said: "The fact we have a number of players that can play in the next championship is really another pleasing aspect of this campaign. In the past we've had two or three that have played in two tournaments for us but last night we had four that started the match and another few in the squad. The likes of Paul Hanlon, Ross Perry and Danny Wilson all played in the last campaign when we reached the play-offs and that experience stood them in good stead. Hopefully the guys that can play in the next campaign can keep progressing and hit the ground running for us when we set out to qualify for the next championship."
Source: FOOTYMAD
