Scotland v England: Three Lions could struggle in heat of Hampden
Published:
Scotland v England betting tips and odds
England and Scotland meet in a high-profile friendly at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
Both countries are on the cusp of qualifying for next summer’s European Championship in Germany, but the Three Lions are 4/5 favourites to claim the bragging rights from the world’s oldest rivalry.
We’ve looked at the markets and picked out three Scotland v England betting tips ahead of the 150th anniversary heritage match.
Three Lions toothless in Ukraine qualifier
England’s perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying ended in Poland on Saturday night when they fought back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with Ukraine.
Head coach Gareth Southgate accepted the Three Lions were not at their fluent best, but they remain top of the group with 13 points, six points clear of Ukraine and nine ahead of third-placed Italy, who have two games in hand.
Scotland’s remarkable qualifying run continued on Friday when first-half goals from Scott McTominay, Ryan Porteous and John McGinn secured a 3-0 victory in Cyprus to make it five wins from five in Group A.
With Steve Clarke’s side 11 points clear of third place, they will qualify for next summer’s tournament if Norway and Georgia draw on Tuesday night.
For now, though, their focus is on the auld enemy and there will be a raucous atmosphere in Glasgow where Scotland start as 7/2 underdogs.
The Scots put in a gritty display during a goalless draw with England at Euro 2020 two years ago, having drawn 2-2 with the Three Lions at Hampden Park in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
And Southgate is expecting another tough encounter in England’s first friendly since beating the Ivory Coast at Wembley in March 2022.
“We can have everybody in the squad involved for the next one,” Southgate said after 16 successive competitive matches, covering last year’s Nations League campaign, the 2022 World Cup and this qualifying campaign.
“It’s another really good test. Another hostile environment, a team that are playing really well.”
In what should be a very competitive game, we like the #GetAPrice offer of evens on England to win or draw, Scotland under 0.5 goals in the first half and under 3.5 goals in the match.
True, Scotland have scored in the opening 10 minutes in three of their five qualifiers, including a 2-0 victory over Spain, and England conceded in the first half against Ukraine, but we expect the visitors’ defence to bust a gut to keep out the marauding Scots in the least friendly of friendlies.
Close contest expected in Glasgow
The next of our Scotland v England betting tips is for the friendly to end in a score draw at 7/2.
The last two encounters between these nations have ended all square and while that’s no guarantee of a third share of the spoils, England’s superior squad have a 12th man to face in the shape of the vocal Tartan Army who will create an electric atmosphere and give the home players the lift they need.
The last of our Scotland v England betting tips is a #GetAPrice – both teams option on Harry Kane to score, Scott McTominay to be booked and over 2.5 goals in the match at 9/1.
Kane is England’s record goalscorer with 58, although the captain found himself in the role of playmaker in Poland on Saturday when his diagonal ball from just outside the centre circle picked out the run of Kyle Walker, who equalised from close range.
Bayern Munich’s new signing scored a dramatic equaliser against Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at this venue six years ago and he will be keen to put a frustrating night in Wroclaw behind him.
McTominay has scored six goals in his last five appearances for Scotland, but has also been booked in three of his last seven internationals and in the white heat of an England game could let the adrenaline take over on occasions.
Match Info
Where: Hampden Park
When: 19:45, Tuesday 12th September
How to watch: Ch4
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
