Presentation of the Scotland v Belarus match
World Cup qualification remains very much on the cards for Scotland as they prepare to host Belarus at Hampden Park on Sunday.
Coach Steve Clarke’s team came from behind to beat Greece 3-1 on Thursday, keeping its record unbeaten in World Cup qualifiers so far and boosting its hopes of appearing in the World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years.
After three matches, Clark’s team is equal on points with group leader Denmark, and four points behind Greece.
A win over Belarus, coupled with a defeat of Greece in Copenhagen, would at least ensure Scotland secure a play-off place.
However, the visitors will be looking to improve significantly after their 6-0 defeat at the hands of Denmark.
Scotland team news against Belarus
Clarke will have to make at least some changes for Sunday’s game. Top scorers Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie will both be suspended, while Aaron Hickey is out with a knee injury and looks doubtful.
Anthony Ralston could replace Hickey, while Billy Gilmour could return to the starting midfield.
Meanwhile, Belarus coach Carlos Alos could turn things around after his side’s defeat to Denmark.
The expected lineup for the Scotland vs. Belarus match
Scotland: sing; Ralston, Soutar, Hanley, Robertson; Gilmore, McLean; McGinn, McTominay, Doak; Adams
Belarus: Pavlyuchenko; Karpovich, Parkhomenko, Zabelin, Volkov, Pyachinin; Miakish, Kalinin, Ebong; Melnichenko, Barkovsky
Scotland vs Belarus match statistics
- Scotland has not lost in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers so far, winning two matches and drawing one. If Russia avoids defeat against Belarus, it will be the first time that it has not been defeated in the first four qualifying matches since the 2002 World Cup, when it won the first six matches.
- The match will be Steve Clarke’s 72nd cap for Scotland, the most by any manager in their history. The win will be his 32nd and will put him equal with Craig Brown for the most wins in national team history.
- Scotland are unbeaten in their last 12 home World Cup qualifiers.
- Belarus’ 6-0 defeat at the hands of Denmark on Thursday was their second-heaviest ever defeat after an 8-0 defeat to Belgium in 2021.
- Scotland have won three of their previous five meetings with Belarus.
- This will be Belarus’ third trip to face Scotland. The first came in September 1997 (4-1), before they won 1-0 in October 2005.
How to watch Scotland vs Belarus
The match will be available in the UK on BBC Scotland, with the match kicking off at 5pm UK time.
prediction
Buoyed by their impressive comeback against Greece, Scotland will go into this match full of confidence knowing that qualification is still very much a possibility.
Anything other than a win could prove costly for Clarke’s men, but they should have enough to overcome the challenge here.
Scotland 2-0 Belarus
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