World Cup
2012-09-08 - Scotland vs Serbia
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier
Saturday 8 September 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Scotland
It was 1998 the last time Scotland played in a major international tournament and they will be wondering if things are going to change any time soon. However, they were a bad refereeing decision away from making the Play Offs for the Euro 2012 tournament so confidence should be in the squad that they are capable, although they haven't been given the easiest of Groups to negotiate.
Scotland will meet Serbia in their opening game, but also have Croatia and Belgium in this section so finishing in the top two of the Group will be down to their form at Hampden Park. With both Croatia and Belgium getting off to winning starts in the Group, Scotland know they need to keep tabs from their games with the Serbs and Macedonia in the coming days.
The team have been solid at home for the most part in qualifiers, going 4-2-2 over the last two campaigns for South Africa and Poland/Ukraine. Only Spain and Holland have picked up maximum points here, although Scotland haven't beaten one of the 'bigger' nations in the Groups in that time.
Darren Fletcher, Scott Brown and James McArthur are all expected to sit out this game, while Paul Dixon will be given his debut at left-back.
Serbia
Serbia failed to make it to the Euro 2012 tournament this Summer, but there are plenty of big names in this squad to think they will get closer to the World Cup after participating in the last two tournaments on the World stage.
Their biggest rivals for top spot in this section are Croatia and those matches will be emotional and physical, something that may allow a Belgium or perhaps a Scotland to sneak in between them. Serbia will host Wales during the week and have already made noises about picking up maximum points from these two opening qualifiers.
They do have a decent away record in the last two qualifying campaigns as they have finished 5-1-4 on their travels. Only one of those losses would be considered a surprise when Serbia were beaten in Lithuania, but they have managed wins in Austria, Romania and Estonia and will feel they can beat Scotland on their patch.
Nemanja Vidic has retired from international football, while Adam Ljajic has not been called up for failing to sing the national anthem in the last game.
Head to Head
Scotland have not played Serbia under their current guise.
Prediction
It is clear that the layers are expecting a tight, low-scoring game, but that has not been the case when Scotland believe they can get something out of the game and I have a feeling the 2.50 being offered on at least 3 goals has to be chanced in this one.
Scotland had high-scoring games against Spain and the Czech Republic in their last qualifying campaign here and I expect they will go looking for goals, even if Craig Levein says that points are more valuable than performances.
If Scotland are coming forward, there will also be chances for Serbia who can be vulnerable on their travels. They did beat Northern Ireland 0-1 in the last qualifiers, but the likes of Austria and Romania have scored goals in high-scoring losses to the Serbs and only the Faroe Islands (twice) and Northern Ireland have failed to score against them at home in Serbia's last 10 away qualifiers.
After some of the comments coming out of the Serbia camp, I wouldn't be surprised if a fired up Scotland manage to win the game, but I'll take the Overs which looks a far better chance than the 2.50 would suggest.
The Pick :
Scotland 2-1 Serbia
