Scotland vs Cyprus

Hampden Park forms the backdrop as Scotland and Cyprus lock horns in the opening game of their Euro 2024 qualification Group A campaign.

Despite missing out on the 2022 World Cup, Scotland will take the field in high spirits after winning their UEFA Nations League group last summer (W4, D1, L1) to earn promotion to the competition’s top-tier. Though a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly contest last time out arrested Scotland’s decent four-match unbeaten streak (W3, D1), the hosts should still be in a prime position to get their Group A campaign off to a flying start. Indeed, the ‘Tartan Terriers’ have each of their six historical meetings with Cyprus in all competitions, netting multiple goals on each occasion. What’s more, Steve Clarke’s men have lost just one of their last 16 home outings in all competitions (W11, D4), underlining their status as pre-match favorites.

In the meantime, visiting Cyprus blew hot and cold in their final four internationals of 2022 (W2, L2) as they embark on an uphill task to secure European Championship qualification for the first time in the nation’s history. Flying out of the traps is crucial, but after losing all three previous visits to Scotland in qualifiers for major tournaments, that’s easier said than done. Cyprus’ painful memories of their historical visits to British soil stretch beyond the Scottish borders. They’ve lost all nine away qualification meetings with British opposition by an aggregate score of 32-4. On a more positive note, Temur Ketsbaia’s men have emerged victorious in their first match across their past two European Championship qualification campaigns.