SCOTLAND and the Republic of Ireland will face each other in the Euro 2016 qualifying stages.
They have been drawn together in Group D, along with Germany, Poland and Georgia, as well as UEFA's newest member, Gibraltar.
There could be Derby County interest when the two home nations go head-to-head.
The Rams have three current Ireland internationals in their ranks - Richard Keogh, Jeff Hendrick and Conor Sammon - while Craig Bryson has been capped by Scotland.
Scotland boss Gordon Strachan said: "The commercial manager is happy. Every tie, there's something in it.
"It is exciting. There's some groups you might call mundane but we're definitely in an exciting group. It's a terrific, terrific draw."
Ireland boss Martin O'Neill added: "They will be great occasions, I hope. I'm sure he (Strachan) is looking forward to it. I'm sure he'll be as excited as I am myself. It's tough and there's other groups we might have preferred to be in but we'll get on with it.
"Germany you would say are the outstanding side in the group but there's plenty to fight for."
Wales have a shot at a play-off place or better in Group B, where they will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium, Israel, Cyprus and Andorra.
With 23 places at the finals up for grabs - France go straight in as hosts - prospects of smaller nations going through have raisied the stakes.
Two teams will go directly to the finals from each group, and the best third-placed side will join them, with four others advancing from play-offs between the eight other third-placed finishers.
Northern Ireland were drawn in Group F with top seeds Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland and the Faroe Islands in a competitive-looking group.
