Football Tips: Friday's 5/1 Cyprus v Scotland Bet Builder Punt

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08 September 2023

Football Tips: Friday's 5/1 Cyprus v Scotland Bet Builder Punt

Scotland -1
Both Teams to Score, No
Over 2.5 Goals
Che Adams to Score

A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 5/1 with Paddy Power. .

Cyprus v Scotland

Euro 2024 Qualifiers
AEK Arena, Cyprus, Friday, 7:45pm
TV: Viaplay Sports 1

Scotland -1

They might be the away team but it’s hard to look at this result as being anything but a Scottish win. They won the reverse fixture 3-0 earlier in the year and have really performed well so far this campaign.

This is a group that features the heavyweights Spain, plus a Norway team featuring both Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland, in addition to a useful Georgian team, yet it’s Scotland who are top, eight points clear of anyone else.

Even if Spain win their two games in hand over Scotland they will still be three points behind Steve Clarke’s team, who now just need five points from their next four games to seal a spot in Germany next summer. They will pick up three of those points here against a Cyprus team who are yet to pick up a point and who’ve allowed more than two goals on average per match. Let’s take Scotland -1 on the handicap.

Both Teams to Score, No

With the greatest of respect to Cyprus their team isn’t packed with great players, especially in forward positions. They called up five forwards to their squad for this international break, who have a combined 16 goals in 164 games for their country.

They’ve scored just two goals in qualifying so far this season and despite the youth of Omonia’s Loizos Louizou and Sporting Kansas City’s Marinos Tzionis, both 22 or under, we can’t expect them to score in this game.

It’s a tough ask for anybody to score against a Scotland team who have given up just one goal in all four games so far, and even that was an Erling Haaland penalty. Steve Clarke has created a formidable defensive unit and I can’t see Cyprus bagging a goal.

Over 2.5 Goals

While I don’t think we’re going to see the hosts on the scoresheet I am expecting goals from the Scots. They suffered heartbreak missing out on a place in Qatar and now they are so close to a spot at the Euros. Win here and they’ll only need two more points to qualify, regardless of other results.

They have huge motivation to win this, especially as it’s their most comfortable remaining game, at least on paper. They’ve scored nine goals so far in this group, notching against every team including a decent Spanish side, and should be able to continue here.

If Scotland score early then we can expect them to steamroll Cyprus. Fail to score early and it’s more difficult but I still see Over 2.5 Goals landing.

Che Adams to Score

Finally we’ll be backing Che Adams to be amongst those scoring against Cyprus. The Southampton man might not have gotten his Premier League move but he’s started the season pretty decently in the Championship.

In four Premier League seasons he managed 25 goals and at times didn’t look quite at the level required but he’s been rejuvenated at Southampton, with the team amongst the best in the division. Over four games he’s found the back of the net on three occasions and more importantly he’s looked good doing it. He’s been lively, quick and lethal, getting into dangerous positions and scoring.

Given the importance of this game it’s likely he starts but even if he were to come from the bench I’d be confident of him scoring. He’s a player who thrives on form and will come into this fixture full of confidence and ready to fire his nation to next summer’s Euros.

Scotland -1
Both Teams to Score, No
Over 2.5 Goals
Che Adams to Score

A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 5/1 with Paddy Power. .

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.