Greece vs Scotland Tips: McTominay key to World Cup hopes
Scotland play their penultimate World Cup qualifier in Greece on Saturday night knowing that avoiding defeat will set up a clash with Denmark, where three points would see them head to the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Steve Clarke’s side are second in the group and must better the Danes’ two final results to secure automatic qualification.
Here, we have selected three of the best bets as the Scots head to Piraeus.
Tip 1 – Scott McTominay to score anytime @ 5/2
Scorer of seven goals in Scotland’s successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Scott McTominay has flourished since his move to Napoli.
He registered 12 Serie A goals last season to help them lift the title, and while he has just one in the four qualifiers so far, that turned out to be the crucial winner against Belarus.
McTominay knows where the back of the net is and has an eye for an important goal. His brace against Spain in 2023 set the Scots well on the way to Euro 2024 qualification and there is every chance he pops up with a goal on Saturday in Athens.
The 5/2 for him to score anytime against Greece seems generous given his track record.
He already has a goal on this very stadium for Scotland against Greece this year, in the Nations League back in March. It was the winner then – can he do it again?
Tip 2 – Greece vs Scotland draw @ 23/10
Should Scotland avoid defeat in this one, beating Denmark on Tuesday will see them qualify for their first World Cup since 1998.
The Scots have won three out of the five meetings but a 3-0 defeat at Hampden Park in March consigned them to Nations League relegation.
They can’t afford a similar slip-up here.
There’s never been a draw between the two sides but we’re backing it to end all square in this one.
Though already eliminated, Greece won’t roll over for the visitors here and even the 3-1 win for Scotland in the reverse fixture saw the Greeks play well in defeat.
The 23/10 for the match to end all square does make sense and would suit Clarke.
They have shown they can be resolute with a goalless draw in Denmark already and the same or similar here would mean a straight shootout for the automatic qualification spot and a flight to the 2026 World Cup.
Tip 3 – Over 9.5 corners @ 19/20
They may be seven points apart in the standings, but the two nations aren’t so dissimilar when it comes to cards and corners.
Greece have taken 45 corner kicks so far with Scotland at 42 – and half of each team’s games have contained over 9.5 corners.
The reverse fixture saw eight awarded and, while that fell just short of the over 9.5 corners at 19/20 we need here, there is value in the selection as the Scots head out to the Mediterranean.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
