Scotland v Belgium
Football: World Cup Qualifier
Friday 6 September 2013 - Kick Off 8pm
Football: World Cup Qualifier
Friday 6 September 2013 - Kick Off 8pm
Scotland
There was rightfully a lot of praise sent in the direction of Scotland
after an impressive performance against England last month at Wembley,
but I still believe Gordon Strachan needs more recognition for the 0-1
win in Croatia in June. It has been a long time since Scotland have
qualified for a major tournament and while that won't be the case this
season, Strachan will look for a high finish in the section with the
hope they can have an improved draw for Euro 2016
.
It was a tough start to the section that cost Craig Levein his job as
the Scottish FA decided they needed a fresh approach to their team. If
the team had held on to 1-0 leads in both games against Wales, they
could have been comfortably in 3rd place in the Group, but those defeats
leave them 5th. Scotland are 0-2-1 in their 3 home games in the Group,
but they can still have a big say in the section as they host the top
two teams in the last month of qualifiers
.
Despite some of the positives in performances, Scotland have lost 3 of
their last 4 games, although they have continued to be a very tough side
to play at Hampden Park in front of their own fans. Scotland had been
unbeaten in their last 8 home games before the defeat to Wales and they
have only lost 5 of their last 27 games here. Aside from Wales, it has
been the likes of Italy, Argentina, Netherlands and Spain that have won
here in that time, and none of those teams found it easy.
David Marshall will start in goal, while George Boyd, Graham Dorrans,
James Morrison, Gary Caldwell and Darren Fletcher are all missing. Kenny
Miller announced his retirement last month and is also no longer
available
Belgium
There would have been a sense of joy in Belgium as well as Scotland when
the latter won their first game in the Group in Croatia as that leaves
the former in control of the Group. There has been a lot of people
tipping Belgium as a team that could potentially surprise at the next
World Cup or European Championships, but they still have work to do to
book their place in Brazil for next summer
.
Thanks to Scotland's win in Croatia, Belgium have a three point lead in
this Group, although with a big trip to Croatia still to come. The
Belgians will be hoping for another favour from Serbia, who play Croatia
on Friday too, to give them a little more breathing room, although the
initial concern will be to keep winning their games. Belgium have won 6
of their 7 qualifiers and remain unbeaten in the section, and they have
won all 3 away qualifiers without conceding a goal.
Belgium are unbeaten in their last 6 games and they have won 5 of those
before a goalless draw with France last month. They have won 4 of their
last 5 away games, although the other result saw them defeated by
Romania
.
Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelan are both ruled out for Belgium, but
Jan Vertonghen is available. Fans of the Premier League in England will
recognise many of the names that will likely start for Belgium on
Friday.
MATCH LIVE HERE
.
