Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker:
Knowing that they must pounce on a golden chance this weekend, Scotland will welcome Moldova to Hampden on Saturday night.
Scotland
Starting with the hosts, while Scotland might have managed to end their major tournament exile over the summer, the Tartan Army do have the feel of a side seeking a boost. Failing to make much of a mark at this year s delayed European Championships, Head Coach Steve Clarke saw his side only snatch a single point from their three summer contests. Signing off their run with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Croatia at Hampden, a 0-0 stalemate against British rivals England was the only impact they managed to make. Largely failing to build off of their eye-catching purple patch when ending 2020, Scotland once again failed to impress when returning to World Cup qualifying duties in midweek. Heavily outplayed away in Denmark and hit with a deserved 2-0 loss on foreign soil, Saturday s hosts have now failed to win any of their last four competitive matchups across all formats, a run that has seen them bag themselves just a single goal.
Team News
Missing Scotland s 2-0 defeat away in Denmark earlier in the week, the Tartan Army will once again be without the likes of James Forrest, Greg Taylor, Scott McTominay, Stuart Armstrong and Kevin Nisbet.
However, in a boost for Steve Clarke s side Aston Villa ace John McGinn could make his return on Saturday.
Moldova
As for the visitors, while Moldova might have managed to land a welcomed 1-0 friendly win against Azerbaijan back on June 6th, it appears that might have just been a minor boost for the European strugglers. Making an immediate return to losing ways earlier in the week when they welcomed Austria to the Stadionul Zimbru, the Blues were hit with a deserved 2-0 defeat on home soil. Knowing that they need a minor miracle if they re to somehow find a shock route out of Group F, Roberto Bordin s side have remarkably managed to win just one of their last 22 straight matchups across all formats, a run that stems all the way back to a 1-0 win against Andorra back in June 2019. With just a single point to their name from any of their four World Cup qualifying contests so far this year, it s also worth highlighting that Moldova have collected just a single point from any of their previous six qualifying contests on foreign soil.
Team News
Moldova will welcome back the duo of Igor Armas and midfielder Vadim Rata at Hampden this weekend as both return from suspension.
Making his international debut in midweek, keeper Cristian Avram should retain his spot between the sticks.
Key Factors to Consider