Scotland vs England predictions as Three Lions head over border for 'friendly'
On paper it is 'only' a friendly, but we all know that football matches aren't played on paper.
Scotland welcome England to Hampden Park on Tuesday night in remarkable form, with five wins from five in their Euro 2024 qualifying group propelling Steve Clarke's side to the cusp of next summer's finals in Germany.
England, meanwhile, saw their own serene progress to the Euros dented somewhat by a disjointed draw with Ukraine in Poland on Saturday, and that will have raised home expectations even more ahead of a clash that gives the Scots a great chance to show the progress they've made.
Can the Tartan Army beat the Auld Enemy for the first time since 1999? Or will England rise above the noise and deliver?
We asked our team what they think.
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John Cross
A Scottish colleague accused me the other day of trying to make excuses even before the game at Hampden Park.
Bearing in mind this was last week and I hadn’t thought about it yet (too busy worrying about Wroclaw first), I was simply saying this game is more important to Scotland than England (there I go again getting my patronising excuses in first).
Don’t get me wrong, I get the rivalry. I’ve always been a passionate England fan. I would have hated to go out to Scotland in ’99 in the Euros play-off or to lose at Wembley in the Euros two years ago. I was at Hampden six years ago to see England come within a whisker of defeat. But those were competitive games when they had everything riding on them and losing would have been unbearable.
England played out a 1-1 draw with Ukraine in Wroclaw (Paul Greenwood/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)And this game might well depend on what team England put out. And it’s a friendly. I want Scotland to get to the Euros. I want them to be at the next World Cup.
This is not Wales we’re talking about, who still can’t be forgiven for celebrating England’s demise at Euro 2016. Before that, I wanted Wales to do well. These days I’m cheering for Fiji and hoping that last gasp try goes over. That’s the twisted logic of a sports fan. And it’s impossible to explain or justify.
It’ll be great on Tuesday night, I can’t wait, it’ll be fierce and fabulous. But it means more to Scotland - and that could be their biggest advantage.
Prediction: Scotland 2 England 2
Ben Husband
Considering this is denoted as a ‘friendly’ game, the chances are that it will be significantly more hostile than England’s laboured 1-1 draw with Ukraine.
And that extra intensity can only be a positive for England, who resembled a team of sleepwalkers in Wroclaw. Scotland come into the fixture as one of the form international teams in Europe and have already accounted for Spain at Hampden.
But player for player, Southgate’s squad is still significantly stronger (with the important caveat, that said players actually need to be put in the right positions).
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For all of Scotland’s stark improvements, a refocused England should have too much quality. The crowd will need to be taken out of the equation, with the visitors’ extra class on the ball then proving the difference.
Prediction: Scotland 1 England 3
Andy Dunn
Gareth Southgate and England have set such exacting standards in qualification campaigns that Saturday’s result against Ukraine in Wroclaw has been widely seen as a disappointment. It was no such thing. Ukraine had a good game plan, played well and responded to a great ‘home’ atmosphere.
They are a decent side. England were not brilliant - far from it - but it was a decent point. Don’t forget, after five games, those were the first points dropped and the first goal conceded.
Yes, Scotland are on a roll but even though there is plenty of pride riding on the fixture, both managers will shuffle things around.
And Gareth Southgate’s options look more varied and more potent than Steve Clarke’s options.
England’s attacking strength in depth looks greater than Scotland’s and that is why they will come away with a win from Hampden Park. And don’t be surprised if it is a late substitute who seals the victory.
Prediction: Scotland 1 England 2
England have been limbering up ahead of the clash (Getty Images)Jacob Leeks
The outcome of England's trip to Scotland all depends on the lessons Gareth Southgate has learned from the drab draw with Ukraine.
Clearly, the Three Lions' midfield and attack failed to fire in the Euro 2024 qualifier, with changes surely on the way. Jordan Henderson should be dropped, allowing Jude Bellingham to take up his more natural role in midfield.
The midfield battle is all important, but with two of the best in the world in their positions in Bellingham and Declan Rice, the Three Lions should be able to win it. But more invention is needed and it would be interesting to see James Maddison pulled back into a more central role.
That would likely free up Marcus Rashford to start on the left, which he has more than earned given his stunning performances for Manchester United over the past year. Southgate needs to be bold, ditch the defensive strategy he favours and unleash England's lively attack.
Freeing up his players to go after Scotland, rather than prioritise merely being solid, should ensure the visitors have too much for the hosts. But if Southgate once again frustrates fans by going defensive, the in form Scots will likely spring a surprise.
Prediction: Scotland 1 England 2
Liam Prenderville
After a perfect qualifying campaign so far, Scotland will fancy their chances against England on Tuesday night and Hampden Park is going to be rocking. Steve Clarke will see this as the perfect acid test for his side ahead of next summer's Euros with qualification all but secure after their win in Cyprus last week.
Gareth Southgate will surely make changes for this one. Remarkably, he doesn't seem completely sure of his best team and formation right now, with places up for grabs.
It is vital that Jude Bellingham is played in his best position and that would pave the way for Marcus Rashford or Jack Grealish to come in on the left. Levi Colwill also deserves an opportunity in defence after a strong start to his Chelsea career.
The last two matches between England and Scotland have ended level and I am backing this one to follow suit.
Prediction: Scotland 2 England 2
Scotland have been in superb form of late (Getty Images)Mike Walters
It's the hope that kills you north of the border. Every time Scotland look like they are getting their act together, our Caledonian brethren get a bit too carried away and reality slaps them in the chops like a Teofilo Cubillas free-kick at the World Cup in Argentina.
It's good to see the Saltire flying high again, and Steve Clarke has done a first-rate job in reviving Scotland's fortunes, but tribal dress code and belting out Flower of Scotland as the loudest dirge in the songbook is no substitute for quality.
England can't be as lukewarm as they were against Ukraine at the weekend (can they?) and, with respect, Scotland have only beaten the auld enemy once since 1985... and even then, they lost 2-1 on aggregate in the Euro 2000 play-off.
The Tartan Army may love colonising London when they make the pilgrimage to Wembley, but don't under-estimate English stiff upper lips. When the Three Lions landed in Glasgow once, and Sir Alf Ramsey was greeted at the airport by an enthusiastic member of the groundstaff saying, "Welcome to Scotland", Sir Alf hissed back: "You must be f****** joking."
Prediction: Scotland 0 England 2
Colin Millar
Is Scotland against England ever really a friendly? There may not be anything tangible on the line, but there will be no absence of a competitive edge in front of a fervent Hampden Park crowd.
These are heady times for Scottish football after a prolonged period of mediocrity and underachievement. Five wins in a row and just one loss in ten – a run which included impressive victories over Spain, Ukraine, and Norway – reflects a team full of self-belief and purpose.
The two most recent meetings between the sides have also given more positives to the Tartan Army than the Auld Enemy. Harry Kane ’s last-gasp equaliser in 2017 and Scotland’s superiority in their Euros group clash at Wembley will give Steve Clarke’s troops no shortage of positives.
Harry Kane got a late equaliser at Hampden Park in 2017 (Getty Images)This fixture may traditionally hold greater weight for Scotland than England, but after a drab performance against Ukraine – there is an expectation for Gareth Southgate’s side to bounce back. The Three Lions boss has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal and results, alongside imposing, positive football, are prerequisites.
From a Northern Ireland perspective, I can appreciate a prolonged – and somewhat unexpected – run of strong form, coupled with an intimidating home support. Scotland will fancy this game much more than their visitors from south of the border.
Prediction: Scotland 2 England 1
Neil Moxley
Current form suggests Scotland have their best chance of defeating the Auld Enemy for the first time in yonks. Tellingly, they aren't conceding many goals. That always provides a platform for success. Confidence will be sky-high after their 100 per cent start to the European Championship qualifiers in Group A - and Cyprus were brushed aside without too many problems.
They have a settled set of players under Steve Clarke who is rapidly establishing himself as a manager of substance in his own right after working as an assistant to some of the game's biggest names. If I'm being honest, he was doing a good job at West Brom a few years ago and was unlucky to get the sack at the Hawthorns - so his success with Scotland comes as no surprise.
By contrast, England are a bit 'meh' at the moment. There are grumblings about Gareth Southgate's loyalty - misplaced or otherwise - to players such as Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson. Their show at the weekend, set against the backdrop of an emotionally charged evening in Wroclaw against Ukraine, was lacking in verve or excitement.
But Southgate's side is filled with big-game players who are more than capable of reading the script and who will know they are being set up as the fall guys. It won't be the first time they've stepped into a raucous atmosphere. It could lift them. It needs to.
Scotland are on the up. But they might have to wait a while longer before claiming England's scalp.
Prediction: Scotland 1 England 1
Daniel Orme
There’s no disputing that Scotland are in scintillating form and will provide England with a stern test at Hampden Park. Steve Clarke’s side are on the verge of qualification for the Euros - and could even qualify for the tournament ahead of Tuesday’s anniversary showdown.
Qualification - coupled with their five-match winning run - should see a partisan atmosphere on offer. England have already struggled to match their performance to the noise produced in Wroclaw last week.
There is certainly no doubt that on paper though, the Three Lions should run out victorious. Declan Rice’s battle with Scott McTominay, who has been in stunning goalscoring form for Scotland, could prove pivotal.
Should the Arsenal star keep his opposite number quiet, that would go a long way in silencing the hosts’ main threat, whilst it could also open up plenty of space for Harry Kane - who could and will likely get on the scoresheet at Hampden. The Three Lions’ added attacking quality - Kane included - should see them across the line north of the border.
Prediction: Scotland 0 England 2
Declan Rice is likely to keep his place in Glasgow, but a Jordan Henderson start would be a surprise (Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)Kieran King
This has all the credentials to be another barnstorming encounter between Scotland and England.
Scotland are arguably playing their best football for decades, while England have some of the most talented players in the world. And Hampden Park can create special atmospheres, especially at night.
Although this is a friendly, both sides will want to continue their winning and unbeaten runs into October's international matches and I see this being a very tight match, with little to separate each-other.
And therefore I think the game will end in an entertaining 2-2 draw. I think both sets of attackers will do damage, and I am backing Scott McTominay to continue his scoring spree with another strike.
Prediction: Scotland 2 England 2
Martin Domin
We'll hammer em.
Prediction: Scotland 2 England 1
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