Scotland vs Northern Ireland Prediction & Betting Tips

Hampden Park welcomes Scotland and Northern Ireland this Tuesday in an international friendly. Whereas Scotland will be looking to build some form before the European Championships, Northern Ireland are just looking for a win.

• Date: 26/03/2024
• Kick off time: 19:45
• Location: Hampden Park

This international break serves as a way for Michael O’Neill to get to know his team and focus on building a side to compete at tournaments in the future. Scotland, however, needs to build some momentum for the Euros this summer.

Scotland were a surprise in the European Qualifiers, challenging Spain for the top of the group. In eight games, The Tartan Army have five wins, two draws and one loss, which leaves them on 17 points, four points from Spain but qualified.

The last time out at the Euros, Scotland crashed out at the group stage. In a group with England, Croatia and the Czech Republic, Scotland drew one of their games and lost the other two, finishing teh group stage on one point and out of the competition.

Northern Ireland, on the other hand, were underwhelming in the Qualifiers. Group H saw Denmark, Slovenia, Finland, Kazakhstan and San Marino all battle for qualification. In ten games, Northern Ireland have just three wins and seven losses, leaving them on nine points, 13 points from top of the group Denmark and nine points from nearest team Kazakhstan.

In relation to the European Championships, Northern Ireland have only competed once, this being back in 2016 where they made the Round of 16 but lost 1 - 0 to Wales.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have met 36 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming in the British Home Championship in 1954. Scotland have a much better record in the fixture with 17 wins in comparison to Northern Ireland’s nine wins. However, a draw is more common than a Northern Ireland win, happening on ten occasions.

In fact, Northern Ireland haven’t won in this fixture since all the way back in 1983. However, this fixture rarely sees a lot of goals, with only one team on the scoresheet more often than not, with both teams on the scoresheet only once in nine games, back in 1982.

Scotland Team News

Steve Clarke will see Andy Robertson back in the squad after a long time out injured and the usual suspects in the midfield - Billy Gilmour, John McGinn and Scott McTominay. Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes will continue their service upfront.

Northern Ireland Team News

O’Neill will rely on the likes of Josh Magennis, Dion Charles and Jamie Reid up top and Eoin Toal and Conor Bradley, who has impressed at Liverpool this season, in defence.

In their last five games in all competitions, Scotland have two draws and three losses.

The visit from the Auld Enemy saw Scotland 2 - 0 down at halftime as Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham were on the scoresheet for England. Scotland did get on the scoresheet through a Harry Maguire own goal but a late goal from Harry Kane grabbed a 3 - 1 win for England.

Back in the European Qualifiers, Scotland took on Spain. The Tartan Army could only manage one shot on target in 25% of the possession as both Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet scored to give Spain the 2 - 0 win.

Another friendly saw Scotland take on France. Billy Gilmour gave Scotland the shock the lead in the 11th minute but a brace from Benjamin Pavard and a penalty from Kylian Mbappe gave France the 3 - 1 lead at halftime. A goal from Kingsley Coman in the second half then secured the 4 - 1 win for France.

The trip to Georgia saw Kvicha Kvaratskhelia open the scoring to give Georgia the 1 - 0 lead at halftime. McTominay drew Scotland level just after halftime but another goal from Kvaratskhelia regained the lead for Georgia. However, a 93rd minute goal from Lawrence Shankland rescued a 2 - 2 draw for Scotland.

The last week of Qualifiers had Scotland host Norway. Aron Donnum opened the scoring in the third minute for Norway but a penalty from McGinn equalised for Scotland. Jorgen Strand Larsen regained the lead for Norway but an own goal from Leo Skiri Ostigard levelled the game again. Stuart Armstrong gave Scotland the lead but a late Mohamed Elyounoussi goal forced a 3 - 3 draw.

Scotland also take on the Netherlands in a friendly on Friday.

In their last five games in all competitions, Northern Ireland have two wins and three losses.

The trip to Kazakhstan saw Maksim Samorodov score the only goal of the game in the 27th minute to give Kazakhstan the win, despite Northern Ireland having more of the possession and nine more shots.

Northern Ireland bounced back against San Marino. Paul Smyth opened the scoring in the fifth minute and Magennis doubled the lead just after the ten minute mark. Conor McMenamin added another in the second half to grab a 3 - 0 win for Northern Ireland.

The visit from Slovenia saw Adam Gnezda Cerin on the scoresheet within five minutes. Northern Ireland had just two shots on target and after the red card to Shea Charles, Ireland slumped to a 1 - 0 loss.

It was even more misery for Northern Ireland in Finland. Joel Pohjanpalo, Daniel Hakans, Teemu Pukki and Robin Lod all scored in the 4 - 0 win for Finland, Northern Ireland once again only managing three shots on target.

However, Northern Ireland bounced back against Denmark in a shock win. Second-half goals from Isaac Price and Charles was enough to secure the big 2 - 0 win for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland also host Romania in a friendly on Friday.

Scotland have been in a much better position since the last European Championships and are likely to brush Northern Ireland aside easily, most likely without conceding. Scotland 2-0 Northern Ireland

Scotland vs Northern Ireland will be available to watch on the Peacock Network (An NBC live-streaming Platform)