Scotland welcome Czech Republic to Hampden Park in Group D as Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army return to the international stage, following a 23 year absence in all competitions.
Depending on how England’s clash against Croatia unfolds, victory could see either Scotland or Czech Republic go top of Group D.
Team News
Scotland have a full squad available for selection after John Fleck resumed training in recent days following a positive case of Coronavirus, which kept him out of their two friendlies.
Czech Republic will be without Lukas Provod after the midfielder suffered a tournament-ending knee injury.
Manager, Jaroslav Silhavy however has no other fresh injury concerns to report with West Ham duo of Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek pushing for starts.
Stat Attack
- This is Scotland’s first meeting against Czech Republic at a major summer tournament, having previously met in this season’s UEFA Nations League.
- Scotland are unbeaten in five of nine previous meetings against Czech Republic (W4, D1, L4).
- Czech Republic are winless in three previous trips to Hampden Park against Scotland in all competitions (D1, L2), with both defeats coming by 1-0 results.
- Scotland’s John McGinn has scored three goals in his last two home appearances at Hampden Park.
- Czech Republic have won just one of their last five away matches in all competitions (W1, L4), failing to score in all four losses.
Prediction
Scotland enter this match off the back of two difficult friendlies against Netherlands and Luxembourg in which they often had to weather waves of attacks, yet looked more defensively solid against Luxembourg than in the Netherlands game so I expect to see Steve Clarke opt for an attacking 3-5-2 formation here.
Czech Republic have struggled lately away from home and I can’t see it being anything different here because the Tartan Army home fanbase will certainly be in a hot mood, meaning that the Czechs probably will be playing not just Scotland but the home fans too on top of their poor record at Hampden Park.
I however do expect this to be a closely fought contest but if Scotland can get the first goal and absorb the atmosphere as motivation, I can’t see why they can’t go on and win this.
Prediction: Scotland 1-0 Czech Republic
Result: Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic
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