Scotland vs Finland prediction: WORLD: Friendly International betting tips on match 2024-06-06 18:45.
[p]After an uninspiring 2-0 victory over European minnows Gibraltar in their first warm-up game ahead of UEFA Euro 2024, Scotland prepare to face much tougher opposition in the form of #61-ranked Finland. Boss Steve Clarke bemoaned that his side needed to “find the final finish”, after they took almost an hour to breach the defence of the world’s 203rd-best nation, a worrying performance indeed after a seven-match winless run prior (D2, L5). [/p]
[p]With tournament hosts Germany awaiting them in the group, along with tough opponents Switzerland and Hungary, Scotland will hope for a much more convincing display before trying to outperform their underdog tags. An unbeaten record against Finland after eight historical encounters should raise hopes of that (W6, D2), with each of their last three victories in this fixture also being accompanied by a clean sheet. [/p]
[p]Visiting boss Markku Kanerva doesn’t have a summer tournament to prepare for, with Euro 2020 remaining the only finals that Finland have ever qualified for. They did get close to qualifying for this summer’s showpiece event however, but defeat in the play-offs against another British side, Wales, was their undoing. [/p]
[p]As a result, this international window serves as preparation for the start of Finland’s UEFA Nations League B campaign in September. Despite a 4-2 loss to Portugal on Tuesday, the Eagle-Owls have still won three of their last six outings (L3), including a win over Scotland’s UK neighbours, Northern Ireland. Those half-dozen games are part of a run of 15 without contesting a draw (W7, L8), suggesting they may take an all-or-nothing approach once again. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ché Adams scored an emphatic late goal for Scotland during the week, meaning his last six goals for club and country have been either the first or second of the match. After netting against both Wales and Northern Ireland in Finland’s last five games, their all-time top scorer Teemu Pukki (G42) has now made goal contributions in each of his last four encounters against UK nations (G3, A2). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Scotland haven’t won back-to-back friendly internationals since a run of four ending in 2016 (W3, D4, L13 since). [/p]