Scotland welcome Austria to Hampden Park as both teams kick off their bids to qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup in UEFA Qualifying Group F.
With Denmark, Israel, Faroe Islands and Moldova also in this group, victory here is imperative for Scotland and Austria’s early qualification hopes.
Team News
Scotland will be without Rangers midfielder, Ryan Jack after he withdrew with an on-going calf injury.
Austria have no fresh injury concerns to report after 14 players were omitted from the preliminary squad after a change of travel restrictions within various European countries permitted those playing for German clubs to not quarantine after this game.
Stat Attack
- Scotland are unbeaten in three of four World Cup qualifiers against Austria (W2, D1, L1).
- Austria have lost their two World Cup away qualifiers against Scotland, conceding twice on both visits (L2).
- Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army has kept clean sheets in three of their last four home matches at Hampden Park in all competitions.
- Adrian Grbic has scored in each of Austria’s last three matches.
Prediction
After seeing their Nations League promotion bid self-destruct in November with two narrow away defeats, Scotland will be relieved to be back at Hampden Park where they have conceded just twice in their last six home games with positive progress in confidence.
Austria come into this game off the back of a strong 2020 in which they lost just once and scored in all eight matches, and now boast real threats across the pitch for a team of Scotland’s stature.
This therefore feels like a game which will be a close contest given the defensive quality in both teams, which makes a draw a good punt but Austria do have strong goal threats who should make the difference.
Prediction: Scotland 1-2 Austria
Result: Scotland 2-2 Austria
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