CHRIS Graham (@chrisgraham79) takes a look at Scotland’s match with Slovenia on Sunday night.
Scotland v Slovenia | Sunday 19:45 | Sky Sports 1
Life outside of personal concerns is pretty shit at the moment. First there was Brexit, then Donald Trump becoming President and now the new Gorillaz album isn’t hitting the sweet spot yet.
On top of all this, the Scotland team is in a complete mess. I think you could make a valid claim that 2016 may have been the worst year for the national team in a while, perhaps ever.
Gordon Strachan’s side were not involved at the expanded Euros and their World Cup 2018 campaign was pretty much destroyed before 2017 was birthed.
Long dip in Scots form
For whatever reason, there’s been a dip in Scotland’s form over the last couple of years and it seems to be getting worse. A home draw with Lithuania in October has been followed by convincing defeats to Slovakia and England and a home friendly draw with Canada. Appalling form!
In some ways it’s remarkable that Strachan is still at the helm, but that may come to a close here if a victory is not achieved. Seems a waste of four months really if he goes here. Maybe it should have been done after the English loss in November?
Anyway, it’s very hard to make a case for Scotland at odds of 7/5 here. You have to go all the way back to November 2014 to find the last time the Scots beat a side of this ilk (Ireland at Hampden). Why should that change here?
It’s one home win in five for Strachan’s side and as mentioned they’ve failed to put away Lithuania and Canada in that period. There’s simply nothing in the form book to make you want to back Scotland.
Slovenia started well
Slovenia, by contrast, have started the campaign well and have clear eyes on second prize in the group. They got a draw in Lithuania in their opening match and have beaten Slovakia and Malta since as well as drawing with England at home.
Their squad includes players from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Fiorentina and Bayer Leverkusen and they’ll come to Hampden looking to finish the Scots off. Srečko Katanec’s are unbeaten in seven and drew in Poland in a friendly at the end of last year.
Under 2.5 Goals is chalked up at around 8/15 and that looks bang on. Slovenia have scored just four goals in this group while the Scots look limp up front with in-the-shadows Leigh Griffiths due to start.
Expect a tense, perhaps torrid match at Hampden as Strachan’s reign may come to an end. A disinterested home crowd amidst disinterested home players, it’s Slovenia DNB for me. Prove me wrong!
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Scotland v Slovenia – Slovenia Draw No Bet (13/10 Boylesports)
