Scotland coach Gordon Strachan is relishing the prospect of facing England in the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying Group F campaign.
The Tartan Army were drawn alongside Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta before the Auld Enemy came out to complete the six-team group which will see the two countries battle it out in a competitive international for the first time since their two-legged play-off for a place at the Euro 2000 finals.
England will host Scotland at Wembley on Friday 11th November, 2016 with the return fixture at Hampden Park on Saturday 10th June, 2017.
And Strachan claims his delight at the draw which was made in St Petersburg on Saturday night will be mirrored by Scotland fans up and down the country.
He said: "There must have been some sort of intervention there, because the sun came out and England got pulled out of the pot at the same time and the place erupted.
"I imagine that is the way everyone in Scotland felt.
"From the coaches' point of view it is good that there will be these two big fixtures, but I think first and foremost it is good for the fans of both nations.
"But the next stage, when you look at Slovenia and Slovakia, from the coaches' point of view that's great because we haven't locked horns with them, it is new for us and that will be good.
"It is nice to have a freshness and, on top of that, we have England."
Scotland are 8/1 to win Group F, while they can be backed at 4/1 to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. England are 2/5 and 1/5respectively.
