International Friendly or Not So Friendly? This is Scotland vs England!

Scotland vs England 

International Friendly: Scotland vs England isn’t really a thing you know.

It’s the oldest international derby in world football and one of the fiercest rivalries, which runs deeper than you may care to look at. And rarely is it anywhere near friendly.

Scotland fans despise England, and will cheer for whichever team is facing the Three Lions, while England supporters take great delight in laughing at Scotland’s failure to qualify for major tournaments or, when the Tartan Army do make it, exiting within three games of the start.

Well the two warring neighbours are set to do battle on Tuesday at Hampden Park, which will be packed to the rafters with so much pride at stake.      

Scotland come into the game on the back of a 3-0 win over Cyprus, a result which takes them to the brink of Euro 2024 qualification, while England drew with Ukraine and are also almost there.

The Scotland vs England betting odds back a win for the visitors on Tuesday but they better be ready for a fight.  

Talking Points 

Scotland are so close to Germany

At 39^th in the FIFA World rankings Scotland are a full 34 places behind the English but Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army is marching on Germany just as quickly as their foes south of the border. They could even qualify for Euro 2024 next week if results go their way and Norway draw with Georgia in Oslo on Tuesday.

The Scots have a 100 per cent record in Group A and it was never under any threat against the minnows of Cyprus, as early goals from Scott McTominay, Ryan Porteus and John McGinn made it a relaxing night for the travelling Scotland fans. McTominay may be out of favour at Manchester United but he is becoming one of Scotland’s most influential players as a defensive midfielder who is weighing in with his fair share of goals, with seven in 42 appearances. Aston Villa winger McGinn is a real handful with bags of pace and great ball control, and now he has scored 17 goals in 57 internationals.

Tuesday night could turn out to be a celebration for Scotland, but if Norway win their game Clarke’s men need just two points from their remaining three games, away to Spain and Georgia and at home to Norway. 

The laughter in England will be deafening if the Scots mess it up from here…but I just can’t see it.   

England’s wait goes on

At odds of 1.39 to beat Ukraine England expected to have five wins from five, but they faced determined opposition in the game played in Poland. Despite dominating possession with 61 per cent of the ball the Three Lions went behind to Ukraine’s only shot on target as Arsenal midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko scored after a breakaway. England were level before the break when Harry Kane hit a brilliant through ball to give Kyle Walker his first international goal in 77 appearances.  

Jordan Henderson was picked and he put in a solid performance in midfield but young star Jude Bellingham had a frustrating night and was replaced on 65 minutes by Phil Foden. Real Madrid have started their La Liga campaign with four wins and Bellingham has been in sublime form, but he had a rare quiet night.

England pushed for a winner as Bukayo Saka hit the crossbar and McTominay’s club mate Harry Maguire missed a host of chances; but the second goal never came and Southgate has more work to do.  

History

You have to go back over 150 years to find the first ever official meeting between England and Scotland, a match played at a cricket ground in Glasgow attended by 4,000 spectators. The teams played with formations unrecognisable today, Scotland with a 2-2 6 and England playing two defenders behind eight attackers.

Amazingly the game ended in a 0-0 draw! 

One of the most iconic moments in Scottish history came in 1977 when the Tartan Army witnessed a 2-1 victory at Wembley Stadium. Fans invaded the pitch and broke one of the crossbars which they allegedly took from the ground and tried to carry back to Scotland!       

England haven’t had it all their own way against Scotland over the last ten encounters either, winning just half, while Scotland have won two and drawn three. The Three Lions won three in a row, before drawing 2-2 in a friendly back in 2017 and then 0-0 at the European Championships in June 2021.

In terms of recent form, Scotland have won five from six while England have won four, and Scotland have won their last six games at home. 

Betting Tip

Scotland are at SBOTOP odds of 4.07 to win and 3.64 to draw this tasty fixture with the Three Lions at 1.59 to win. The Scotland vs England highlights will likely resemble a defence versus attack training session but with added bite and, while England have far greater quality in depth, Scotland will be dangerous on the break.

I don’t think we’ll see another 0-0, even with just three or four strikers on the pitch! 

 

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