Scotland host England within the 116th version of worldwide soccer’s oldest fixture on Tuesday.
Forward of the outdated foes going toe-to-toe at Hampden Park, the PA information company picks out a number of the speaking factors.
The sport has been billed because the one hundred and fiftieth Anniversary Heritage Match, to commemorate the arrival of worldwide soccer on November 30, 1872. On the West of Scotland Cricket Floor in Partick, a Scotland staff solely made up of Queen’s Park gamers drew 0-0 with England, whose greatest contingent got here from Oxford College. Different golf equipment represented have been Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Cambridge College, the first Surrey Rifles and the now defunct Hertfordshire Rangers, Barnes and Harrow Chequers. Scotland’s passing recreation and the English tactic of working with the ball cancelled one another out in entrance of a number of thousand supporters.
Scotland bid to shut the hole
England solely lead 48-41 within the 116 conferences between the nations however Scottish wins, in addition to the encounters themselves, have develop into scarcer lately. Scotland’s final dwelling win got here within the 1985 Rous Cup when Richard Gough headed the one purpose, and their most up-to-date victory was a bitter-sweet victory in 1999 when Don Hutchison headed a Wembley winner however England went by means of to Euro 2000 with a 2-1 play-off combination win. England haven’t misplaced up to now 5 conferences however the latest two video games have been attracts.
Consideration elsewhere for Scotland followers
For in all probability the primary time within the century-and-a-half of the fixture, many Scotland followers will likely be extra involved with a end result elsewhere than what occurs at Hampden. Scotland will develop into the primary staff to qualify for Euro 2024 if Norway and Georgia attract Oslo. Whereas the Scotland gamers will likely be centered on the duty at hand, there is likely to be some roars and celebrations from the house followers whatever the scenario in entrance of them.
Southgate balances progress with efficiency
England head to Hampden Park on the again of a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Ukraine in entrance of a partisan crowd in Poland. Gareth Southgate referred to as it a superb take a look at in a hostile atmosphere, simply as he expects in Mount Florida on Tuesday night time. That is England’s first pleasant match since March 2022, after a run of 16 aggressive matches taking in final 12 months’s Nations League and World Cup earlier than Euro 2024 qualification received below approach. However don’t anticipate too many modifications as Southgate says it will be “ridiculous” to overly experiment towards high-flying Scotland. “We’ve received to search out the precise stability of bodily freshness – we’ve had a day much less preparation – expertise, discovering out about some gamers, profitable, enjoying properly,” he stated.
Southgate to present Colwill debut?
England’s growth below Southgate has been spectacular since he took cost in difficult circumstances in 2016, however there are many inquiries to reply as subsequent summer season’s Euros become visible. Key amongst them is what to do at centre-back, given trusted lieutenant Harry Maguire’s lack of type and recreation time at Manchester United. Saturday’s match towards Ukraine was his first begin for membership or nation of the season, with Southgate seeing his expertise as very important alongside Marc Guehi given John Stones and Tyrone Mings are out injured. Fikayo Tomori and Lewis Dunk are different centre-back choices within the squad if Southgate desires to alter issues up towards Scotland, as is uncapped Levi Colwill. The 20-year-old flourished on mortgage at Brighton and impressed since getting his probability at Chelsea this time period. This is able to be a giant event to make his debut however an ideal take a look at for a participant some have tipped to be a starter come Germany.
