Final match for direct World Cup ticket!
In Group C of the European World Cup qualifiers, a real final match will take place on Tuesday evening. The winner of the match between Scotland and Denmark will secure a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup next year, while the losing team will definitely secure their playoff spot. If the tip for a draw in the Scotland vs. Denmark match proves to be correct, the Scots will have to take the unpopular detour via one of the four four-team tournaments in March.
There is a curious backstory to this decisive match at Hampden Park in Glasgow. The Danes could have secured the group victory on Saturday evening. Due to Scotland’s defeat in Greece (2-3), coach Brian Riemer’s team would have only needed three points in their home game against Belarus to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup. However, after a 6-0 win in the first leg, “Danish Dynamite” had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home. This means that the “Bravehearts” will have their final match in front of a home crowd!
In my opinion, coach Steve Clarke’s proud national team will not be without a chance. Especially with the Tartan Army behind them, the world number 38 is a difficult opponent. Greece and Belarus also had to learn this lesson in the current World Cup qualifiers, losing their away games in the United Kingdom. In the last Nations League, Scotland beat World Cup third-place finishers Croatia and scored points against Portugal.
In light of this, it could be a good option to bet on the home team before the Scotland vs. Denmark match. The double chance 1X pays out 1.70 at the top. For DNB 1, which can be equated with the Asian handicap Scotland +0, you can even get a whopping 2.42 in the Bet365 app.
Those who, for understandable reasons, do not want to commit to a winner in this immensely important “do-or-die” match for both nations, will probably do quite well with an under bet. On the one hand, because the Danes have won their two away games so far without conceding a goal. On the other hand, because of the impressions from the first leg, which ended 0-0 at the beginning of September.
Although the starting position suggests that the “Bravehearts” will have to play for a win, which could lead to a tough and relatively uneventful 90 minutes, I believe that Clarke’s team will not be playing defensively and will be looking to attack from the start. An early goal, for example from a Danish counterattack, could dash their dreams of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
A hard-fought match that guarantees excitement until the end seems more likely. Consequently, the Scotland vs. Denmark odds for under 2.5 are extremely interesting, especially since the visitors from the land of pioneers only need a draw to defend their first place in Group C.
Scotland – Denmark Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
The national teams of Scotland and Denmark have met 14 times so far. With eight wins, the Scots have a slight edge in the head-to-head record. The Danish soccer players have celebrated victory five times. Three other encounters ended in a draw. Looking at the recent past, the pendulum also swings in favor of the “Bravehearts.” The second oldest national team in the world has won three of the last five matches since 2011. There were no goals in the first leg two months ago. It was also the fourth consecutive match in which a bet on under 2.5 would have paid off.
Scotland – Denmark Tip
“The winner takes it all.” With this statement, Scotland captain Andy Robertson succinctly summed up the situation ahead of the upcoming final match in Group C. The winner will go straight to the World Cup as group winners, while the loser will have to go through the playoffs. A draw will keep Denmark at the top of the table.
Despite this seemingly slightly better situation for Riemer’s team, I would refrain from betting on “Danish Dynamite.” After the 2-2 draw with Belarus, the Northern Europeans suddenly have something to lose. The mental aspect should not be neglected in the Scotland vs. Denmark betting odds, nor should the fact that two key players, Andersen and Hojlund, are injured. Their availability will only be decided at short notice.
With home advantage behind them and the dream of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in almost 30 (!) years, I don’t think Clarke’s team is without a chance. In addition to a potential bet on an upset by the home team, I also recommend betting on under 2.5 goals before the Scotland vs. Denmark match. Due to the importance of the game, the early stages in particular are likely to be characterized by restraint and caution. Furthermore, a draw is enough for the Danes. Two goals after 90 minutes is therefore the maximum I (subjectively) expect.
