Scotland vs Austria Predictions

• Scotland have scored at least once in ten of their last 12 home games.
• Austria have notched at least once in 15 of their last 17 assignments.
• Austria have avoided defeat in 13 of their last 15 matches.
• Scotland were unbeaten in their last six games on home soil.

Scotland’s tough Group F opener

Scotland start their World Cup qualification campaign with an encounter with one of their biggest rivals in Group F when Austria travel to Hampden Park for what promises to be a keenly contested tussle on Thursday evening.

Manager Steve Clarke will feel his side have a decent chance of successfully qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998, especially having made the cut for the Euros, and with a strong squad that includes John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Andrew Robertson, Kieran Tierney and the newly declared Ché Adam, spirits are understandably high in the Scottish camp

However, a date with group favourites Austria will be a thorough test of Scotland’s aspirations, and the hosts could find it tough to start their latest qualification adventure with a victory.

Austria strong under Franco Foda

Like Scotland, Austria have missed out on every World Cup since 1998, however, having been led to the Euros in impressive style by head coach Franco Foda, they look ready to make a big push for Qatar.

With a heavy Bundesliga presence in his squad, Foda will take a strong Austrian outfit to Scotland this week, and Das Burschen’s record of just two defeats in their last 15 matches suggests they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Goals at both ends at Hampden Park?

Austria rarely fail to get on the scoresheet, and Franco Foda’s charges have notched at least once in 15 of their last 17 internationals.

In Marcel Sabitzer Christoph Baumgartner, Saša Kalajdžić and Adrian Grbić, the Austrians have a number of players capable of opening defences, and Scotland shouldn’t be expected to keep a clean sheet on Thursday as a result.

The Scots have impacted the scoresheet in ten of their last 12 matches on home soil however, and they should be able to make inroads again against an Austrian team that have shut-out their opponents just three times in their last ten attempts.

Backing both teams to register looks a smart move for Thursday’s Group F clash then, while our 1-1 correct score prediction forecasts a share of the spoils at Hampden Park.

Austria have avoided defeat in 13 of their last 15 games, and they should be able to start their campaign with a useful point in Glasgow.