- Date: Tuesday September 12 – 19.45 BST
- Location: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland.
- Teams: Scotland vs England
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Both teams in good shape ahead of Hampden date
Scotland
Since his appointment in May 2019, Steve Clarke has made a positive impact on the Scotland team. He has players of genuine class with the likes of Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, Scott McTominay and John McGinn and has developed a committed squad. The teams Clarke has turned out have always been well organised and the Scots look capable of causing most sides problems.The team failed to qualify automatically for UEFA Euro 2020, but consecutive victories in penalty shootouts in the playoffs against Israel and Serbia put Scotland into their first major tournament since 1998. Defeats by the Czech Republic and Croatia, either side of a goalless draw with England,[85] meant that Scotland finished bottom of Group D.
Six consecutive wins later that year meant that Scotland finished second in Group F of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. This meant a play-off, with the Scots being drawn against Ukraine. A 3-1 defeat meant that Clarke’s side did not make the trip to Qatar. 2022 however, ended on a positive note with Scotland winning their Nations League group and gaining promotion to League A.
The Euro 2024 qualifying campaign got off to a dream start, with five wins from five, the highlight being the win over Spain at Hampden where the visitors simply could not live with Scotland’s intensity. They strolled to a 3-0 win away to Cyprus and are on the brink of qualification.
Scotland were sweating on the fitness of Lynden Dykes, however, the QPR striker came off the bench in the win over Cyprus. They have suffered the blow of Newcastle United’s promising youngster Elliot Anderson withdrawing from the squad for both the Cyprus and England games through injury. Clarke could shuffle his pack with the fomer Chelsea defender likely to give some minutes to the likes of Nathan Patterson and Stuart Armstong, while Dykes could return to the starting line-up.
England
England are in a strong position in their Euro 2024 qualifying group and come into the match on the back of one of their most consistent eras. England implemented a long-term coaching strategy back in 2013 and this has paid dividends with an exciting young team and plenty of promise in the age-group sides. Manager Gareth Southgate has consistently seen his sides reach the later stages of tournaments and has successfully blended experienced players with emerging talent.
While they no longer have a 100% record, the 1-1 draw against Ukraine in Poland leaves them comfortable at the top of the group. Their performance against Ukraine was, however, far from vintage and there will be concerns over how the Three Lions found it difficult to break down a team who sat deep and aimed to defend and deny space. However, credit must be given to Ukraine for making life difficult for England and a plus point for Southgate will be how his team still managed to grind out a draw despite not being at their best. Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko gave Ukraine the lead on 26 minutes, before Kyle Walker levelled the scores late in the first half, after a superb ball from Harry Kane.
England have been hit by the late withdrawals of Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold through injury. Grealish was absent from Manchester City’s win against Fulham at the weekend and Alexander-Arnold sustained a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa. Southgate has elected not to call any replacements into the squad.
Reece James and Mason Mount both miss out through injury. Tyrone Mings will be missing from the squad after sustaining a serious knee injury on the opening day of the Premier League season. Manchester City’s John Stones has been struggling with a muscle injury since pre-season and is also unavailable. Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is also facing a spell on the sidelines. Shaw, 28, will be out of action for up to two months so will not be involved.
Arsenal’s young striker Eddie Nketiah and Chelsea’s emerging centre-back Levi Colwill have received their first call-ups. Jordan Henderson, who recently departed Liverpool for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq remains in the squad. Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips are both selected despite limited involvement with their clubs in the early weeks of the season. There is no place for James Ward-Prowse in the squad, despite an impressive start to the season for West Ham.
Despite the profile of the match it is, still, technically a friendly so it is not certain whether Southgate will ring the changes or whether he will play his strongest possible side. Many of the side who started against the Ukraine could continue, however, their may well be game time for the likes of Kieran Trippier, Conor Gallagher and Marcus Rashford. There could be international debuts for Colwill and Nketiah.
Scotland and England: Overall record
Scotland have 41 wins and England 48 with 26 matches ending as a draw.
The last meeting between the sides was the goalless draw at Euro 2020 in June 2021.
Scotland and England: Last 10 matches (all venues, all competitions)
21 May 1988 England 1 Scotland 0 Rous Cup
27 May 1989 Scotland 0 England 2 Rous Cup
15 Jun 1996 England 2 Scotland 0 UEFA European Championship
13 Nov 1999 Scotland 0 England 2 UEFA European Championship
17 Nov 1999 England 0 Scotland 1 UEFA European Championship
14 Aug 2013 England 3 Scotland 2 International Friendly
18 Nov 2014 Scotland 1 England 3 International Friendly
11 Nov 2016 England 3 Scotland 0 FIFA World Cup
10 Jun 2017 Scotland 2 England 2 FIFA World Cup
18 Jun 2021 England 0 Scotland 0 UEFA European Championship
Prediction
There will be an electric atmosphere at Hampden Park and you can be sure that both sides will be motivated and well organised. Both teams have talented players, with England, on paper, possessing more quality. The English are favourites, but given the Hampden Crowd and the occasion a score draw could be likely.
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