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Steffen Schmidt - March 26, 2021
Israel vs Scotland
World Cup Qualifications
Date: Sunday, 28 March 2021
Kick-Off at 19.45 UK
Venue: Bloomfield Stadium, Tel-Aviv.
Israel and Scotland will continue their extensive rivalry from the last year this Sunday when they take on each other in the second round of Group G World Cup qualifying tie at Bloomfield Stadium. The two outfits battled it out in the same UEFA Nations League group last year and they’ve also played each other in the semi-final of the EURO 2021 play-offs in between their two regular Nations League affairs.
The draw has put them together to the same qualifying group in the battle for Qatar 2022. There are thus no secrets whatsoever between the two outfits ahead of this super-important match-up in Tel-Aviv. The likes of Denmark and Austria are the main favourites in this group and neither of these two sides can afford the luxury of dropping the points against each other if they want to keep even the slightest chances of topping the group alive.
Scotland have a positive head to head record ahead of the 8th clash against Israel. They picked up three wins, two draws, and two defeats in seven encounters with the Israeli national side.
As mentioned above, the teams played each other three times from September to November last year.
Israel took four points from two Nations League ties, while Scotland advanced from the play-offs semi-final on penalties after a goalless draw in the regular time.
None of the last three head to head outings saw three or more goals scored and there was only one goal scored in the last two H2H meetings.
Israel have generally been playing tight defensive-minded football in their latest matches. Just one of their last eight matches across competitions has seen three or more goals scored.
It is pretty strange to understand if we know they have a couple of deadly predators in the final third in the likes of Eran Zahavi and Munas Dabbur. Both men have been enjoying a fabulous form this season with PSV and Hoffenheim respectively.
Scotland have never had immense talent in the final third. They played six consecutive matches with fewer than two goals scored and we expect them to sit carefully at the back and wait for their opportunities from counter-attacks in Tel-Aviv.
The draw seems to be the most likable of the three outcomes, while the Under 2.5 goals FT is a genuine banker at the odds of 1.53.
