Football Betting Tips & Predictions

Scotland vs Ukraine betting tips: European World Cup qualifying Play-off semi-final preview, predictions and odds


Scotland have won seven successive competitive matches, their longest such run since 1927. Excluding Euro 2020 matches, the Dark Blues are unbeaten in 12 games at Hampden. Ukraine won in Glasgow just last summer, beating Sweden 2-1 at the round of 16 stage last summer. 

The only previous meetings between these two came in Euro 2008 qualifying; Ukraine won 2-0 in Kyiv before Scotland were victorious 3-1 in Glasgow. The Blue and Yellows have only ever advanced through one of six play-off ties.

Both teams to score is 11/10.

Scotland to win and both teams to score is 5/1.

John McGinn has scored 12 international goals, all since September 2019, ten of which have come at Hampden. He is 10/1 to break the deadlock and 4/1 to score anytime. 

Match preview

The date with destiny has belatedly arrived for two countries desperate to end their wait for a World Cup return.

This game was originally scheduled for 24 March, but was rightly postponed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine that had escalated a month earlier.

In-spite of the ongoing, horrendous conflict, the Ukrainian team are raring to go and looking to inspire a nation otherwise bereft of hope.

Last year, the Blue and Yellows reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, their best-ever run at a European Championships.

Meanwhile, they only won two World Cup qualifiers but, having drawn the other six, managed to pip Finland and Bosnia to second spot.

So, Oleksandr Petrakov is looking to take his country back to the World Cup for the first time since 2006, their only appearance as an independent nation.

Despite the atrocities being committed in Ukraine, Scotland have to compartmentalise that as they seek to end their even longer World Cup exile.

In 2021, the Tartan Army finished in the top two of a qualification group for the first time since Euro 2004 qualifying.

Steve Clarke's side ended the campaign with seven consecutive victories, featuring unforgettable nights at Hampden against Israel and Denmark.

The Dark Blues also haven't lost a qualifier or Nations League game in Glasgow since September 2019, a run of 12 matches.

So, a nation believes that Scotland might actually be returning to the World Cup for the first time since France '98.

The winners of this tie will travel to Cardiff on Sunday evening and take on Wales in a mother-watering play-off final.

Before then, will Ukraine keep the fairytale alive or will it be another night to remember at Hampden with a Scotland victory to celebrate?

Scotland team news

The big concern coming into this game is that Kieran Tierney is sidelined following knee surgery.

This poses Steve Clarke with a tough conundrum, as the fundamental aspect of the back three is Tierney and Andy Robertson's link-up on the left.

Clarke is unlikely to change the shape though with Liam Cooper coming in alongside Jack Hendry and Grant Hanley at the back.

Craig Gordon will continue in goal; his 40th birthday is just 13 days after this year's World Cup Final.

Robertson will captain the side at left-wing-back but, on the other side, Nathan Patterson hasn't kicked a ball since 3 March after ankle surgery.

With the 20 year old a major doubt, teenager Aaron Hickey of Bologna is likely to get the nod, chosen over Stephen O'Donnell.

Scott McTominay and Callum McGregor will anchor midfield; Ryan Jack withdrew on Sunday while star man Billy Gilmour is a serious doubt.

Further forward, the squad's top-scorer John McGinn and Ryan Christie, who scored in 2020's play-off final, will support the lone front man.

That is likely to be Ché Adams, chosen over Lyndon Dykes, despite the QPR man's four goals during qualifying so far.

Ukraine team news

Ukraine have played club sides Borussia Mönchengladbach, Empoli and HNK Rijeka in recent weeks, so will be well prepared for this game.

Heorhiy Bushchan will keep his place in goal, chosen over the vastly more experience 37 year old Andriy Pyatov.

So, Andriy Yarmolenko will captain the side, needing four more goals to match Andriy Shevchenko's all-time record.

The now former West Ham winger alongside Ruslan Malinovskyi of Atalanta and Benfica's Roman Yaremchuk will be their main goal threats.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is deployed at left-back by Manchester City but plays in an attacking midfield position for his national team.

Can Oleksandr Petrakov's side pull off a remarkable victory given the circumstances?

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Ben Gray

Ben Gray

Arsenal fan – follow them over land and sea (and Leicester); sofa Celtic supporter; a bit of a football '"encyclopedia".


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