
Scotland and Iceland prepare themselves for their upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign as they meet at Hampden Park on Friday night in a friendly.
Scotland return to action for the first time since their 0-3 loss at home to Greece in the Nations League in March, a result that saw them relegated to League B.
Scotland will face Greece again, as well as Denmark and Belarus, in their World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins in September.
Steve Clarke, who perhaps is fortunate to still be in a job following a really poor couple of years, will use these upcoming friendlies with Iceland and Lichtenstein to help boost their confidence for their upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.
This is also Iceland's first match since their relegation from the Nations League, as a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Kosovo saw them demoted to League C.
Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s visitors will stay in the UK for back-to-back friendlies against Scotland and Northern Ireland before they battle with France, Ukraine and Azerbaijan in their World Cup qualifying campaign in September.
How the bookies view it: Scotland favourites
Scotland are favourites to win here, with BoyleSports pricing them up at just 8/13.
An Icelandic victory is priced at 15/4 with the same firm, whilst the draw is 13/5.
Head to head: Five in a row for Scotland?
Scotland have won each of their previous four meetings with Iceland, with the last three finishing 2-1.
Players to watch: McFratm to bag again?
Scott McTominay is off the back of a historic season in which he won the Scudetto with Napoli and is generally Scotland’s best bet for goal, and BoyleSports have him at 7/4 to score once again.
With in-form Real Sociedad striker Orri Oskarsson missing, Andri Gudjohnsen – son of legendary forward Eidur – will likely come in and lead the line in Glasgow for Iceland.
Predicted line-ups:
Steve Clarke has brought in the likes of highly-rated Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller and Hibs forward Kieron Bowie into the Scotland squad for the first time.
As already alluded to, Iceland will be without in-form striker Orri Oskarsson, as well as Bjarki Stein Bjarkason and Arnor Sigurdsson.
Scotland: Gunn, Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson, Gilmour, Ferguson, Miller, McGinn, McTominay, Adams
Iceland: Valdimarsson, Palsson, Gunnarsson, Ingasson, Traustason, Thordarson, Johannesson, Helgason, Thorsteinsson, Gudmundsson, Gudjohnsen
Anything else catch the eye?
Iceland’s matches have been fun to follow for the past few years, with goals generally being a feature in their games.
Their last seven have averaged an eye-catching four goals per game, with Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals paying out in six (86%) of them – and despite this being a friendly – I’m keen to back goals here.
Five of Scotland’s eight matches since their embarrassment at The Euros last summer have seen Over 2.5 Goals land, and a repeat here is priced at 20/21 at BoyleSports.