SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 17 hrs 1 min
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Five talking points ahead of Scotland's clash with Israel

:Headline: Five talking points ahead of Scotland's clash with Israel:
Steve Clarke's side travelled to the Middle East on the back of a 2-2 home draw with Austria.
Sports Mole

Scotland face Israel in their second World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

Steve Clarke's side travelled to the Middle East on the back of a 2-2 home draw with Austria.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the key talking points ahead of the game.

Familiar foes

Scotland celebrate a shootout win over Israel (Andrew Milligan/PA)

This is the fourth meeting between the two teams this season and the sixth in the past 30 months. Scotland have lost twice in Israel during that run, the latest a narrow 1-0 defeat in November. Both games at Hampden in the autumn ended in draws with Scotland emerging victorious on penalties in the Euro 2020 play-offs. Expect another tight encounter between two teams who know each other so well.

McGinn role

Aston Villa's John McGinn started off in one of the two deeper midfield roles on Thursday, where he has recently been playing for his club, but showed his goal threat when he was moved forward later in the game. His sublime overhead kick earned Scotland a point and took his international tally to eight goals. Clarke has the likes of Callum McGregor and Kenny McLean available if he wants to push McGinn further forward from the start.

Open doors

Some players will be playing in front of their first crowd for a year with 5,000 supporters set to be present at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv. With Israel leading the way in terms of Covid-19 vaccination numbers, a partial crowd will cheer on the hosts.

Striking dilemma

Lyndon Dykes took well to international football in the autumn but he had a four-month goal drought with QPR before netting against Reading last weekend. The former Livingston forward looked below par against Austria, struggling to retain the ball and lacking his usual spring. Che Adams could get a bigger chance after coming on for his debut midway through the half, while Oli McBurnie and the uncapped Kevin Nisbet are options.

Looking for the win

Both sides are looking for their first victories of the group after Israel lost 2-0 at home to top seeds Denmark on Thursday. Clarke was keen to play down suggestions Scotland were already under pressure to collect their first win but anything less would leave them playing catch-up with Denmark already.

body check tags ::

amp_article__440892 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-03-27 21:41:52:
html db last update - 2021-03-27 21:41:52 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
SM
Read Next:
Steve Clarke "100% convinced" Scotland will keep improving
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Steve Clarke John McGinn Lyndon Dykes Callum McGregor Kenny McLean Kevin Nisbet Oli McBurnie Che Adams Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Steve Clarke "100% convinced" Scotland will keep improving
Man City 'heavily scouting' injured Palace star as January approach readied

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Mbappe, Valverde, Bellingham register as professional Real Madrid overcome Leganes

1

MV

More Estevao wizardry: Chelsea prospect helps send Palmeiras top of Brasileiro

2

ME

Preview: Burton Albion vs. Charlton - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PB

Sergi-go: Spurs outcast to take drastic contract action in January?

4

SS

Triple boost? Real Madrid could have three players back vs. Liverpool

5

TB

Wolff 'lucky' to get Bottas back at Mercedes

6

W'

Sunday's Premier League predictions including Ipswich Town vs. Man United

7

SP

Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal 'learn asking price' for Brighton forward Ferguson

8

MU

Postecoglou 'pushing' for Tottenham 'to beat Man United' to England man

9

P'

Preview: Young Boys vs. Atalanta - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PY


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .