Scotland vs Belarus tips and predictions: Clarke’s men to score big on home soil

Scotland state of play 

In their three World Cup qualification games so far, Steve Clarke’s side are unbeaten. They held Denmark to an impressive 0-0 draw in Copenhagen to kick things off and then claimed a 2-0 win over Belarus in what was an extremely one-sided game. Scotland had 74% possession, 14 shots and generally dominated. 

Love football? Find the best football betting sites and bet with welcome bonuses today.

On Thursday evening, they came from 1-0 down in the second half, scoring three unanswered goals in a 3-1 win over Greece to leave them on seven points from three matches. 

If Greece lose to Denmark on Sunday, Scotland can secure a play-off place with a win over Belarus. 

Belarus state of play

To say that Belarus have had a bit of a nightmare start to this qualification campaign would be an understatement. 

Battered 5-1 by Greece in their opener, they then lost 2-0 to Scotland before being dismantled by Denmark in a 6-0 loss on Thursday night.  

They’re rooted to the bottom of their qualification group, with zero points and just one goal scored across their three outings. They’re now facing a buoyed Scotland team at Hampden Park. 

Key talking point: Can Scotland handle the pressure against Belarus? 

Against Greece, Scotland struggled and deservedly fell behind to a Kostas Tsimikas goal. Steve Clarke’s side can’t afford another slow start on Sunday and with the pressure firmly on them, they have to deliver. 

The Scots form one fourth of our international weekend acca, and there’s not just an expectation of a win. The expectation is that they win well on home soil. 

How they deal with this unfamiliar pressure will be fascinating. 

FIRST’s top tip

Pick: Scotland to win and over 3.5 goals in the match - (5/4 Ladbrokes) 

Scotland hit Greece for three in a memorable turnaround. Belarus, meanwhile, have conceded 13 goals in their three games at an average of 4.33 per game. 

This feels like the perfect storm for the hosts to really run up the score at Hampden Park on Sunday. 

A Scotland win should be a formality and there should be a lot of goals from a side full of confidence. 

Extra tips

Pick: Lyndon Dykes to score anytime - (29/20 Ladbrokes)

The 30-year-old scored off of the bench against Greece and has made a habit of doing that for Birmingham City this season in the Championship. 

Want more? Who’s charting in our top three this weekend? Check out our this week’s Top of the Props

The 6ft2 striker is a real handful and the Belarus defenders won’t really have come up against someone like him before. If he gets minutes, he’s going to want to make the most of the opportunity. 

Team news 

Clarke will have to make changes to his starting XI. Goalscorers Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie are both suspended while Aaron Hickey tweaked his knee and will likely miss the game against Belarus. 

Scotland and Belarus predicted line-ups 

Scotland: Gunn; Ralston, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; Doak, McTominay, McGinn; Adams (4-2-3-1)

Belarus: Lapoukhov; Pigas, Parkhomenko, Zabelin, Pechenin; Korzun, Kapilevich, Kalinin, Ebong; Barkovsky, Melnichenko (4-4-2)

Form guide

Scotland: DWWWLLWDWW

Belarus: DDLDWWLLLL

Responsible gambling with FIRST

You must be 18+ to gamble. Gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Our tips and advice help you enjoy gambling, but there is always a chance a bet or casino game can lose.

Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Stop betting if you are angry, emotional or under the influence of alcohol.

Warning signs of problem gambling: chasing losses, betting money needed for bills, or feeling unable to stop.

Need help? Visit our responsible sports betting page or our responsible casino gambling page, or contact the support organisations listed below if you're struggling to control your gambling:

Gamblers Anonymous UK

BeGambleAware

GAMSTOP

National Gambling Support Network

Gamcare

NHS National Gambling Clinic

Odds correct at the time of writing.