World Cup Qualifying: Scotland vs England preview

Scotland will be looking to take advantage of the support of their fans as they take on rivals England at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Sunday in a match that could bring serious changes in World Cup Qualifying Group F. England have won the reverse fixture 3-0 in November and manager Gareth Southgate was appointed on a permanent basis after that result. Scotland would really need a win on Saturday, but they have not managed to beat England since 1999. England have won the last three direct matches. Scotland are currently fourth in Group F with seven points collected in five games, victory on Saturday would give them a significant boost as second-placed Slovakia are just two points ahead. Last time out Scotland clinched a vital 1-0 victory over third-placed Slovenia, a result that kept them in the race for qualification. Manager Gordon Strachan will most likely choose to field the same eleven that beat Slovenia in March, even though Kieran Tierney suffered a serious injury in the Scottish Cup Final and might have to play with a mouthguard. England are the only unbeaten team in Group F with four wins and a draw recorded so far and they are leading the table with a comfortable four-point advantage over second-placed Slovakia. Victory in Scotland would put Gareth Southgate and his men in a very favourable position for qualification, but any other result could see the last four matches of the campaign become uncomfortably interesting for them. Striker Jamie Vardy will not be part of the squad because of a minor injury. Probable line-ups: Scotland: Gordon - Tierney, Martin, Mulgrew, Robertson - Morrison, Brown - Forrest, Armstrong, Snodgrass - Griffiths England: Hart - Walker, Cahill, Smalling, Bertrand - Dier, Chamberlain - Lallana, Alli, Sterling - Kane My prediction: England to win 2-1. Here are the odds for the match at Bet365: Scotland win - 6.00 Draw - 3.60 England win - 1.73