Israel welcome Scotland to Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, in a mouth-watering 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Should Denmark lose to Moldova on Sunday afternoon and Austria fail to beat Faroe Islands, victory would see Israel go second whereas Scotland can go top with a win.
Team News
Israel have no injury issues to report after Taleb Tawatha and Orel Dgani withdrew prior to Thursday’s home loss to Denmark.
Scotland have no fresh injury concerns to report after Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Austria, as Steve Clarke has a full squad available for selection
Stat Attack
- Israel have lost both previous World Cup qualifiers against Scotland, which came in 1981 as both teams failed to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup (L2).
- Scotland have lost two of four trips to Israel in all competitions (W2, L2), although they did win their only previous World Cup Qualifying visit 1-0 in February 1981.
- Steve Clarke’s Scotland have scored in each of their last five away trips in all competitions.
Prediction
Having already locked horns three times this season across two different competitions, this certainly promises to be an interesting encounter between two teams who should be massively aware of each other’s best qualities.
Israel however need to improve after careless defending plus a serious lack of clinical finishing cost them in a closely fought contest against Denmark.
Scotland meanwhile showed great spirit to fight back for a point against Austria through clinical finishing of rare attacking chances, despite poor man-marking cost them for both conceded goals.
This though is the fourth meeting in this fixture in the last six months alone so I expect a close contest between these two teams, but if Scotland can show more spirit and improve defensively then this should be an away win.
Prediction: Israel 0-1 Scotland
Result: Israel 1-1 Scotland
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