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Scotland national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Mar 25, 2023 at 2pm UK
Hampden Park
Cyprus national football team

Scotland
3 - 0
Cyprus

McGinn (21'), McTominay (87', 90+3')
Armstrong (14'), Porteous (74')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Kastanos (32'), Ioannou (53')

Preview: Scotland vs. Cyprus - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Scotland and Cyprus, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Scotland and Cyprus square off on Saturday afternoon with both nations aware of the importance of starting their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a win.

Spain, Norway and Georgia make up the remainder of Group A, heaping the pressure on the two sides to impress at Hampden Park.


Match preview

Scotland manager Steve Clarke on June 14, 2021© Reuters

After missing out in the World Cup playoffs, Steve Clarke has had to work hard to keep the belief in this Scotland squad, particularly when a 3-0 defeat in Republic of Ireland followed soon afterwards.

However, the Tartan Army bounced back in some style, reeling off three successive wins before earning a potentially-pivotal goalless draw versus Ukraine on neutral territory to top their UEFA Nations League group.

As a result, Scotland guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs, regardless of how their fare in Group A, and being provided with a immensely difficult group has proven how important that stalemate versus Ukraine could be further down the line.

For now, though, Clarke wants Scotland to focus on trying to upset the odds during qualifying, and it is imperative that they get off to the perfect start against Cyprus.

That would make up for ending 2022 with a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly, with Scotland requiring some momentum ahead of the showdown with Spain next week.

Cyprus' Andronikos Kakoulli celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on June 12, 2022© Reuters

From the perspective of Cyprus, they are aware that they are up against it to not finish bottom of this group, with Georgia having made rapid strides over the past two years.

Nevertheless, this is still a new era under Temur Ketsbaia, who was appointed at the end of June, and his early fixtures produced two eye-catching results.

A 1-0 Nations League win over Greece was followed by a 3-2 triumph over Israel in a friendly on away territory at the end of the year, and the belief will be there that they can push Scotland all the way at the weekend.

In all fixtures during 2023, Cyprus lost on just four occasions, while they only went down by 2-1 scorelines versus Scotland when they met in the qualifiers for Euro 2020.

Scotland form (all competitions):


Cyprus form (all competitions):



Team News

Southampton forward Che Adams celebrates scoring against Lincoln City in the EFL Cup fourth round on December 20, 2022.© Reuters

With none of the goalkeepers having a senior international cap between them, Angus Gunn appears most likely to be named between the sticks.

Grant Hanley and Ryan Porteous could get the nod in the centre of defence, but the midfield and attack may pick itself providing that everyone is fit.

Che Adams is expected to get the nod over Lyndon Dykes, who has recently shaken off pneumonia to feature on three occasions for Queens Park Rangers.

Ketsbaia must decide whether to go with a back four or five, Cyprus having enjoyed success with both options since his appointment.

Alex Gogic, who represents Scottish side St Mirren, may have to make do with a spot among the replacements, but veteran Demetris Christofi could feature down the middle of the attack with Pieros Sotiriou not present in the squad.

Scotland possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, Porteous, Robertson; McTominay, McGregor; Armstrong, McGinn, Christie; Adams

Cyprus possible starting lineup:
Panagi; Antoniou, Laifis, Roberge, Ioannou; Kyriakou, Kastanos, Artymatas; Loizou, Christofi, Tzionis


SM words green background

We say: Scotland 2-0 Cyprus

With this being the first fixture in a number of months, neither side are likely to produce their best football. Nevertheless, the better quality remains with Scotland, and it would be a surprise if the Tartan Army do not collect a necessary three points.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Scotland vs Cyprus

Scotland
83.3%
Draw
9.4%
Cyprus
7.3%
96
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Scotland manager Steve Clarke on June 6, 2021
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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