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Preview: Scotland vs. Wales

Preview: Scotland vs. Wales
© PA Photos
Sports Mole previews the World Cup qualifying meeting between British rivals Scotland and Wales.

As many Premier League matches have this season, when these two nations met back in October, it turned into the Gareth Bale show.

It looked as though visiting Scotland were going to leave Wales with a 1-0 victory, but the Tottenham Hotspur winger scored two late goals to give his nation all three points.

It proved to be Wales's only bright point of the qualification phase so far considering that Chris Coleman's side have lost their other three matches. What's more, they also have an injury doubt over talisman Bale, who is struggling with an ankle problem. Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has also been ruled out with a shoulder complaint.

Not that Scotland have fared much better. They are keeping Wales off the bottom of the group with a return of two points from their four outings. However, the Tartan Army will be hoping that Gordon Strachan's first competitive match in charge will spark a change in fortune.

Having had a number of players pull out of the squad because of fitness concerns, Strachan may give Hull City's George Boyd the chance to prove himself on the international stage.

It may be worth noting that Wales have won four of the last five meetings between these two nations.

Recent form

Scotland: DDLLWW

Wales: LLLWLL

Possible starting lineups

Scotland: Marshall; Mulgrew, Caldwell, Martin, Fox; Adam, Snodgrass, Commons, McArthur; Boyd, Rhodes

Wales: Myhill; Gunter, Collins, Williams, Davies; Ledley, Ramsey, Collison, Robson-Kanu; Bale; Bellamy

Sports Mole says: 2-2


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Written by
Liam Apicella
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Group A

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Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

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Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

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Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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