MATCH RESCHEDULED: Scotland vs. Croatia—’New” kick-off time, Prediction, Team News, Lineups

The hosts will be relegated if they lose and Poland avoids defeat to Portugal, or if they draw and the Poles pull off a surprise victory—while their guests are closing in on a quarterfinal spot.

Though they fought against the odds to get their first point last month, Scotland had previously suffered three consecutive defeats at the start of their most recent Nations League season.

Steve Clarke’s team is currently at the bottom of Group 1 and faces relegation to League B. However, they managed to keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with leaders Portugal.

 

That success may have taken some of the strain off Clarke’s shoulders, but Scotland is still on their greatest winless skid at home (six matches) as well as their longest streak without a competitive victory (10).

In fact, failure to get maximum points on Friday night would equal their worst winless streak of all time, tying a nine-game streak recorded in 1998.

To avoid relegation, Scotland will need at least four points from their next two games – finishing third would result in a relegation playoff.

 

While Croatia have never won in Scotland – as they prepare for their first trip to Hampden since October 2013, when they lost 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier – goals and veteran striker Andrej Kramaric secured victory over the Scots last month.

Having started with defeat in Portugal and a home win over the Poles, the 2023 Nations League runners-up have accrued seven points thus far, and that has them on the brink of qualifying for the knockout rounds again.

 

If they win in Glasgow – or even if they draw and Poland fail to defeat Portugal – Croatia can wrap up progress with one game to spare, as their growing fondness for UEFA’s newest international tournament continues.

Only Greece have won more games across the last two editions of the Nations League, which actually represents quite a turnaround, as Dalic and co had lost seven of their first 10 matches in the competition.

Croatia have also scored in each of their last 14 away games all told, averaging just over two goals per game in the process, so they can head for Glasgow confident of breaching their hosts’ leaky back line

 

Visit https://sportviewers.com/for more related news