Football Tips: Scotland to see off Finland in this 22/1 Bet Builder

Scotland to Win
Both Teams to Score
Finland to have 4 or more Shots on Target
Ryan Christie to have 1 or more Shots on Target
John McGinn to commit 2 or more Fouls

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.

Scotland v Finland
International Friendly match at Hampden Park, Glasgow
TV: BBC Sport Scotland, Premier Sports, Friday, 7:45pm

Scotland to Win

Scotland laboured to an unconvincing 2-0 win over Gibraltar in Faro earlier in the week, scoring twice in the second half to overcome the European minnows who have lost every game since November 2022.

However, the results was more important than the performance for Scotland, who had failed to win any of their previous seven games and were in need of a pick-me-up ahead of their Euros campaign next week.

Finland will provide a much tougher test for the Scots on Friday night, but Steve Clarke’s side will take heart from the fact that Wales cruised to a 4-1 win over Friday night’s opponents in the Euro Play-Offs back in March.

Scotland have stopped the rot and will now hope to finish their Euros warm-up campaign with a flourish over a far higher level of opposition than Gibraltar. They should have just about enough to get over the line.

Both Teams to Score

Finland’s games have been enjoyably high-scoring of late, which will hopefully make for an exciting spectacle for the neutral on Friday.The Finns went down to a 4-2 defeat against Portugal on Monday, making it five out of their last six games where both teams have found the back of the net. They even conceded against minnows San Marino in a 2-1 win in European qualifying at the end of last year.

Scotland, meanwhile, had failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous seven games prior to Monday’s win over Gibraltar, conceding a whopping 19 goals in the process. Neither side can be relied upon to keep a clean sheet on Friday, which should make for an entertaining game.

Finland to have 4 or more Shots on Target

Their win over Gibraltar aside, Scotland have faced 38 shots on target over their last seven games against genuine opposition. There is a good chance that they will face a fair number at Hampden against a Finnish side that has averaged close to four shots on target per game in recent months.

Markku Kanerva’s team have recorded 22 shots on target in their last six games, an average just shy of four shots on target per game. However, that average should shoot up playing against a demonstrably shaky Scottish defence in what is a meaningless friendly at the end of the day.

Ryan Christie to have 1 or more Shots on Target

Ryan Christie got Scotland off the mark close to the hour mark in their unconvincing win over Gibraltar on Monday and the Bournemouth midfielder is good value to at least record one shot on target against Finland this Friday.

Christie is coming off the back of an impressive campaign with Bournemouth that saw him average 1.2 shots per game for the Cherries. That average rises significantly with the national team.

He has averaged 1.8 shots per game for Scotland in recent internationals and there is every chance that he will try his luck at least twice on Friday night against a Finnish side that has leaked goals for the best part of a year. He is good value to land one of those efforts on target.

John McGinn to commit 2 or more Fouls

John McGinn did not start in Faro as Steve Clarke looked to give some of his fringe players a run out in a game Scotland were always going to win, but he may start on Friday now that the quality of opposition has improved.

McGinn is coming into the Euros off the back of an excellent campaign with Aston Villa and will be crucial to Scotland’s success at the Euros. However, he is also prone to committing a foul or two.

The Scottish midfielder averaged 1.1 fouls per game for Aston Villa in the Premier League last season and has averaged 1.5 fouls per game for Scotland in recent internationals. He is one of the most likely Scottish players to commit multiple fouls on Friday and is decent value to do so.

Scotland to Win
Both Teams to Score
Finland to have 4 or more Shots on Target
Ryan Christie to have 1 or more Shots on Target
John McGinn to commit 2 or more Fouls

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.

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