Scotland v Spain: Talking points ahead of Hampden clash
Scotland take on Spain in the second of their 2024 Euro qualifying double-header at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
The Scots began their campaign with an encouraging 3-0 win over bottom seeds Cyprus on Saturday.
Here we look at the main talking points and Scotland v Spain betting odds ahead of the visit of La Roja.
An unusually good start to a qualifying campaign
The victory over Cyprus was Scotland’s first opening-day win in a Euro qualifying campaign since a 6-0 victory over the Faroe Islands at Celtic Park in 2006.
In previous Euro campaigns it has felt like Scotland almost immediately had to play catch-up but three points is a solid if expected start to Group A fixtures.
Top seeds Spain, who beat Norway 3-0 at home on Saturday night, will of course be tougher opponents but manager Steve Clarke knows a positive result will offer even more encouragement going into June’s double-header against Norway and Georgia.
Scotland are 24/5 to make it two wins out of two and 13/10 to avoid defeat.
Scott McTominay to start?
The Manchester United midfielder came off the bench on Saturday to secure the points for Clarke’s side.
John McGinn’s first-half strike separated the two sides but it was getting a little nervy until McTominay showed his finishing prowess with two strikes from inside the box in the final minutes.
ICYMI | Relive the action from Saturday with our #ScotlandHQ View highlights 🎥 🏴#SCOESP pic.twitter.com/GaDYOaenTm
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 27, 2023
Clarke started with a 3-4-3 formation with attacking midfielders Stuart Armstrong and McGinn supporting Che Adams.
Callum McGregor is a fixture in the holding midfield area so if there is any change to the more defensive-minded playmakers then it likely that Ryan Jack will make way for McTominay, who is 8/1 to be on target again.
Che Adams to be replaced by Lyndon Dykes?
The Southampton attacker dropped out of the squad with a calf knock picked up against Cyprus and Clarke admitted the loss was a “blow”.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland was drafted in as a replacement on Sunday but will almost certainly start on the bench.
Clarke also has Ryan Christie and Jacob Brown in his squad but Dykes, recently recovered from a debilitating bout of pneumonia, took over from Adams on Saturday and is likely to start against Spain.
The QPR striker has scored eight times in 27 international games – including winners against the likes of Slovakia, Moldova and Austria – but a goal against the Spanish would endear him further to the Tartan Army.
Dykes is seen as the most likely home goalscorer at 3/1 in the Scotland v Spain betting odds and is 8/1 to open the scoring.
Does Clarke play three at the back again?
Defence will be key to a positive result against Spain. Clarke played three centre-backs against Cyprus – Ryan Porteous, Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney – which allowed him to use the Arsenal defender along with captain Andrew Robertson.
All focus on tomorrow 💪
🔜 🇪🇸#SCOESP pic.twitter.com/3GkYZInvBx
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 27, 2023
The former Kilmarnock, Reading and West Brom manager may well be pondering a return to a back four against Spain but would that include Tierney as one of the two centre-backs?
Moreover, will Clarke be tempted to replace the youngest member of the squad, 20-year-old Aaron Hickey, who had a fine game at right-back against Cyprus, with Nathan Patterson who was his replacement after 79 minutes on Saturday?
Under 2.5 goals can be backed at 8/11 while a goalless first half is 31/20.
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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
