Gibraltar vs Scotland Prediction: The Scots to run riot

Scotland get their final Euro 2024 preparations underway on Monday (17:00) as they travel to face Gibraltar at Estadio Algarve. This will be nothing more than an exercise for Steve Clarke's side, but it will give his players a chance to raise their confidence before their Euros opener against hosts Germany in less than two weeks' time.

Read on for my Gibraltar vs Scotland prediction, including match odds and team news.

What is also important about this friendly, as well as the meeting with Finland later in the week, is that it will give each member of the provisional 28-man squad the chance to show Clarke why they deserve to make the final cut and head to Germany. Unfortunately, two of the current crop will miss out and that is the ruthlessness of international football.

Team News

There are two uncapped players in the fold in Ross McCrorie and Ben Doak. McCrorie has been selected before, while Doak earns his first senior call-up after impressing in the Scotland Under-21s. Both will be looking to seize their opportunity in the next few games to make the final cut.

Celtic winger has been rewarded with his first call-up in over three years after a stunning campaign with the Hoops. Many had been calling for him t return to the Tartan Army and it looks likely that he will be representing his country at the Euros.

Gibraltar vs Scotland Odds

Gibraltar are 40/1 to win this friendly, giving them an implied probability of just 2.4%. Scotland are valued at 1/40, which gives them a 97.6% chance of victory. The draw can be backed at 16/1 (5.9%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 13/8 and over 3.5 goals is 4/9.

Over 5.5 Scotland goals @ 3/1

Seeing as there is little value to be had in backing Scotland to win this match, I've had to seek value elsewhere. I have gone for them to score over 5.5 goals because at 3/1, it offers an enticing price, but also because they have scored at least six goals in their previous two encounters with Gibraltar.

They were both European Championship qualifiers in 2015. The Scots won the home clash 6-1 and the away fixture 6-0. I am confident in this selection coming in to keep the trend going because I see this group of Scotland players far stronger than the one of nine years ago.

The attacking options of Lawrence Shankland, Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, Forrest, Scott McTominay and Stuart Armstrong gives Clarke plenty to work with and there is a lot of quality on show.

Shankland finished as the Scottish Premiership top scorer with 24 goals for Hearts this season, which matched his total from the season before. He was also crowned Player of the Season, so he heads into this international camp full of confidence.

We've come to know Manchester United midfielder McTominay as a regular source of goals for the Tartan Army of late, so he will also pose a huge threat to Gibraltar.

There is no doubting that Scotland should win this match, but it is a case of how much do they go for it, as they can put Gibraltar to the sword.

First goal time - 11-20 @ 13/5

I have gone for an unconventional market for my second tip because there isn't a great deal of value in the more common markets. I have gone for the first goal to be scored between the 11th and 20th minute.

This is because when the two teams last met the opening goal came in the 24th minute, and in the time before that it was scored in the 18th. I have already said that I believe that this Scotland squad has more quality in depth than the one of 2015, but I don't think the first goal will come as quick as you may think.

As a friendly, this game might take a while to warm up, and to begin with, Gibraltar will want to remain as competitive as possible. As Scotland begin to crank up the gears, I expect them to start blowing Gibraltar away.

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