World Cup qualifier: Scotland v Wales match preview

A
look ahead to tonight’s Group A match at Hampden Park

Suggested Topics

Wales head into to night’s encounter looking to complete a qualifying group double over their Scottish counterparts after securing a last-gasp 2-1 victory the last time the two sides met in Cardiff.

The two sides occupy the bottom two slots in the Group A table, with Scotland rooted to the foot of the group. Wales have only secured one win in the tournament so far, against Scotland in October, whilst the Scots are searching for an elusive victory after losses to Wales and Belgium and draws against Macedonia and Serbia.

Former Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall has commented that manager Chris Coleman could be under pressure should his side lose against Scotland. 

 

KICK-OFF: Friday, 8pm.

 

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Wales 2 (Bale 2) Scotland 1 (Morrison), World Cup Qualifying Group A, October 2012

Wales 1 (Earnshaw) Scotland 3 (Morrison, Miller, Berra), Nations Cup, May 2011

Wales 3 (Edwards, Church, Ramsey) Scotland 0, International Friendly, November 2009

 

STATS…

Gordon Strachan is looking for back-to-back wins in his first two games as Scotland manager.

Scotland have only beaten Wales once since 1985.

Wales did not win once in the first 23 meetings between the teams.

 

ODDS…

Scotland to win: 0.75

Wales to win: 3.6

Draw: 2.5

 

CLASSIC MATCH...

Wales 1 Scotland 1 - September 10, 1985. This might have been the game which secured Scotland’s passage into the World Cup, but events were overshadowed by the tragic death of Scotland manager Jock Stein, who collapsed with a heart attack in the final stages of the match. Stein died in the treatment room at Ninian Park after the game.

 

TV: Live on Sky Sports HD2 , Sky Sports 2 & Sky 3D at 8pm, highlights on ITV at 10.45pm.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Latest in Sport
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

New day (slowly) rising – As Brasileirão gets underway, Brazilian football stumbles, rather than leaps into the future

The average Serie A crowd last year was 13,000 - comparable to Australia’s A-League.

by James Young

iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco

Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages

Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...

by Martin Ayres

       
Career Services

Day In a Page

Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?
After the flood: From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands
Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.
How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

At first it seemed clever and cute. Then the 'Keep Calm' motif went mad, spawning endless offshoots.
The man who built Brum: A lament for the demise of John Madin's Brutalist Birmingham

John Madin: The man who built Brum

The architect's buildings were supposed to leave an indelible, futuristic mark on his beloved hometown but they are now being inexorably torn down.
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery at the Ginger Pig

School of chop: Learning the art of butchery

How do you butcher a lamb? Or make Mexican street food in a British kitchen? Christopher Hirst finds out.
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats