Scotland v England Preview, Betting Tips and odds

The game

Let’s face it, a sporting clash between England and Scotland, especially when it’s football, needs no real introduction.

We are talking about literally the oldest international footballing rivalry on the planet. When the teams met in 1872 at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow – a goalless draw in front of just 4000 spectators – it was the first time two national teams had ever faced each other.

The game was actually played annually until 1989, though Scotland’s decline as a footballing power has seen the sporting importance of the fixture diminish somewhat since the late 1970s.

However, in terms of actual rivalry, the fixture still holds gravitas and, even to this day, very few fixtures in international football provoke the kind of passion from the stands as the “Auld Enemy” clash does.

The context

Just in case a little extra spice was needed, which it wasn’t, this game is a World Cup qualifier with some real importance attached, especially for Scotland.

England sit top of Group F after the first five games – the half-way point – and haven’t even conceded a goal yet. Gareth Southgate’s men already hold a four-point lead over second-placed Slovakia and appear to be in a commanding position to claim the group’s one automatic qualification spot for Russia 2018.

Scotland, however, are sitting far less comfortably in fourth, two points shy of Slovakia and the possibility of being granted a play-off berth and opportunity to book their ticket to the finals.

The emphasis, therefore, is without a doubt on Scotland to win the game. Anything less and their dreams of a first World Cup finals appearance in 20 years could be in tatters.

Past meetings

To recount the past meetings of Scotland and England is to essentially recount the history of international football itself.

The two countries have faced each other on a football pitch 113 times which, unsurprisingly, is more than any other fixture that international football can boast.

Perhaps more surprisingly, is that the head-to-head record is actually a lot closer than you’d probably expect. England have the better of it, with 48 wins, but the Scots are not far behind with 41.

That said, Scotland’s period of success over England is a distant memory now, with them only being able to muster 6 wins in the fixture since 1967 compared to England’s 19.

Indeed, there can be no doubt that England have bossed their northern neighbours in recent times. The Three Lions won 3-0 when the teams met in the reverse fixture in the group back in November, and you can back a repeat scoreline at 12/1.

Scotland’s last three wins against England have all been by a scoreline of 1-0, and given England’s tendency to not concede many goals, the 19/2 available with Betsafe for Scotland to do it again appears to be very good value. In fact, you can back Scotland to win by any one-goal margin at 53/10.

As an interesting side note, this will be England’s first visit to Hampden Park this century. Their last trip was in a Euro 2000 play-off in 1999 when a pair of Paul Scholes goals handed them a 2-0 win.

You can back a 2-0 scoreline again at 11/2, with England winning by two or more goals in any result available at 2/1.

The managers

It’ll be a case of two former Middlesbrough managers meeting in the dugouts this weekend, which can’t happen too often in international football.

Gareth Southgate has started well for England since stepping up from his successful spell in charge of the under-21s, winning three and drawing two of his first six games in charge. It has been very solid stuff from the no-nonsense former defender.

Gordon Strachan, meanwhile, has had a mixed time in charge of Scotland, which is probably understandable given the far fewer resources he has available.

He came under pressure two years ago after being the only home-countries manager not to take his side to the freshly expanded European Championships, and expectations were high going into World Cup qualifying.

Strachan has won more games than he has lost as Scotland boss, however, though he has faced England three times and lost all three, conceding three goals in each of them.

What’s been said

Scotland head into the game full of confidence with Strachan saying the Celtic players in his squad in particular are buzzing following a trophy-laden conclusion to their club season.

“People are in good form and we must use that, use their enthusiasm and the enthusiasm of the crowd.” “I’ll go back to the game we played in November (a 3-0 defeat against England) and the boys performed.”Unfortunately, the three headed attempts at goal went into the back of the net. Craig Gordon didn’t have too much to do apart from that, but the players performed. “The only thing that let them down was the finishing, and their chances were as good as the England chances, if not better.”This is a huge game, an exciting game, a game everybody is looking forward to.”
Gordan Strachan

That’s an assertion with which England striker Harry Kane agrees, who added: “It is a massive game, everyone knows how big England versus Scotland is with the rivalry that we have and we had a great result against them at Wembley in November.

“We just want to go out there and do it again – we know it will be a bit tougher doing it away from home but with the team we have got and the confidence we have got we know we just have to go out there and not get too caught up in the moment.“You have to be professional. Of course, it is going to be a passionate game but it’s about being calm and composed and sticking to the game plan. “I feel we can do that – I feel we have a level-headed squad.”
Harry Kane

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