Just over two months ago, Belgium clinched third place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup but now head to Hampden Park as they face Scotland in an international friendly.
Team news
Scotland have called up Ryan Jack, Steven Naismith and Robert Snodgrass to replaced the injured group of; Tom Cairney, Jack Hendry, Oli McBurnie and Matt Phillips.
Belgium will be without the Premier League pair of Christian Benteke and Marouane Fellaini due to respective knee and back issues.
Kevin De Bruyne (knee) and ex Manchester United star, Adnan Januzaj (knee) are also absent with injury.
Stat Attack
- Four of last five have been won by 2-0 results with Belgium winning the last three meetings whilst Scotland won by same result in October 1987. The only meeting during this run not to end with a 2-0 conclusion, ended 2-2 in March 2001 at Hampden Park.
- Last ten meetings in this fixture have all been competitive matches, with the last friendly between these teams coming way back in June 1974 when Belgium won 2-1.
- Belgium were top scorers at the World Cup with 16 goals whilst Scotland’s top two scorers from qualifying can only reach a combined eight goals (Leigh Griffiths and Robert Snodgrass – four goals each)
- Scotland have played out only three draws against Belgium with two of those finishing 2-2.
Prediction
Belgium will be dangerous as always, especially seeing as they were top scorers in Russia but Scotland could go for a 3-5-2 formation, particularly given that they have named only six defenders but 10 midfielders in their squad.
If that is the case, I am expecting the Scots to try and play on the counter here but the visitors will be too strong once they suss out the midfield, so am going for a Belgian win.
Prediction: Scotland 0-2 Belgium
Result: Scotland 0-4 Belgium