In an upcoming Euro 2024 qualification match, Scotland will face Cyprus as they aim to maintain their perfect record in Group A.
Currently sitting at the top of the group with 12 points, Steve Clarke’s side will be looking for their fifth consecutive victory.
Cyprus, on the other hand, have struggled in the qualifications, losing all three of their previous matches.
The team led by Temur Ketsbaia has never qualified for major tournaments like the World Cup or the European Championship, making it a tough challenge for them in this highly competitive group.
Cyprus started their campaign with a 3-0 defeat against Scotland and suffered another loss at home against Georgia.
In their last match, they were defeated 3-1 by Norway, leaving them at the bottom of the group with zero points.
While Cyprus hasn’t won a competitive match in almost a year, they managed to hold Armenia to a 2-2 draw in their recent friendly encounter.
However, their history against Scotland isn’t promising, as they have lost all eight previous games, including the 3-0 defeat earlier in the qualification process.
Scotland, although they failed to make an impression in Euro 2020, are determined to secure a spot in the European Championship next summer. With a strong start in Group A, including a 2-0 victory over Spain, Clarke’s side is currently leading the group, eight points ahead of second-placed Georgia.
Coming off wins against Norway and Georgia, Scotland is in an excellent position to continue their winning streak.
However, they won’t underestimate Cyprus and will be cautious in ensuring another victory before their friendly match against England.
Possible Lineups:
Cyprus:
- Mall
- Antoniou
- Gogic
- Laifis
- Ioannou
- Correia
- Charalampous
- Kousoulos
- Kastanos
- Kyriakou
- Sotiriou
Scotland:
- Gunn
- Hickey
- Porteous
- Hendry
- Tierney
- Robertson
- McTominay
- Gilmour
- McGregor
- McGinn
- Dykes
Prediction:
We anticipate a competitive match between Cyprus and Scotland, with the home team putting up a fight. Cyprus possesses talented players in the final third, making them capable of scoring against Scotland. However, considering Scotland’s current form and momentum, we predict a 2-1 victory for the visitors.