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Scotland and the Ivory Coast will continue their preparations for this summer's FIFA World Cup when they meet in an international friendly on Tuesday, 31 March.
Both nations will go into their respective groups at the World Cup as underdogs, so this will be a good measuring stick to see how they are faring in comparison to a side of a similar level.
Bizarrely, the match is set to take place at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, so neither side will have the home advantage on the night.
Before taking a look at the rest of today's betting tips, check out our Scotland vs Ivory Coast prediction below.
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Scotland vs Ivory Coast key stats
- Scotland have won just one of their last three matches away from Hampden Park.
- The Ivory Coast have won five of their last seven matches in all competitions.
- Both teams have scored in four of Scotland's last five matches.
Scotland vs Ivory Coast preview: More disappointment for the Scots
| Scotland | vs | Ivory Coast |
|---|---|---|
| 40th | FIFA ranking | 35th |
| Andy Robertson (91) | Most caps | Franck Kessie (101) |
| John McGinn (20) | Most goals | Franck Kessie (15) |
| 845 | Total caps | 631 |
| 87 | Total goals | 72 |
| 0 | Uncapped players | 2 |
Scotland were booed off the pitch after their 1-0 defeat to Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday, and Steve Clarke has come out to say that the response of the fans was "disappointing" in what was their first match at the national stadium since qualifying for the World Cup.
The fans' reaction and Clarke's subsequent response mean that it is perhaps for the best that this clash with the Ivory Coast is taking place away from Hampden Park, as it will allow the former West Bromwich Albion manager to experiment with his side without fear of backlash from the stands.
On the flip side, Scotland's form away from Hampden Park hasn't been great, particularly at neutral venues. They went winless at the most recent Euros, and they will need to get used to these sorts of matches if they are to perform better at the World Cup.
Scotland and the Ivory Coast have never previously faced each other.
For the match against the Ivory Coast, Clarke has said that this team selection may 'raise eyebrows', which suggests there could be an opportunity for fringe players to stake their claim for a place in Scotland's World Cup squad.
As for the Ivory Coast, they should come into this match full of confidence after defeating South Korea 4-0 on Saturday.
Like the upcoming clash with Scotland, that match was played at a neutral venue, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, and the conditions seemed to suit the Elephants perfectly as they romped home with four different goalscorers.
Scotland have lost four of their last seven matches against African nations.
Manager Emerse Fae has warned his team that Scotland will provide more of a challenge than South Korea did, and admitted that performances against the Scots will have an impact on who he selects in his final World Cup squad.
There are three Premier League-based players in the Ivory Coast squad - Amad, Evan Guessand, and Ibrahim Sangare - and all three are expected to start the match on Tuesday night.
Scotland vs Ivory Coast form guide & betting tips
| Germany | vs | Ghana |
|---|---|---|
| W-W-L-W-L | Form | D-W-W-L-W |
| 11 | Goals For | 13 |
| 8 | Goals Against | 6 |
| W-L-W | World Cup qualifying form | D-W-W |
Whispers predicts: Scotland 1-2 Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast are ranked higher in the world than Scotland, and for good reason. The extra quality they possess in their squad was evident in their 4-0 win over South Korea, and that should see them sneak the win here. Ivory Coast to win has been priced at 6/5.
From the last 10 matches played involving either one of these two sides, seven have featured goals at both ends. BTTS has been priced at 10/11.
Evann Guessand scored the opener for the Ivory Coast in their 4-0 win over South Korea. Guessand is priced at 23/10 to score anytime against Scotland.
> Anytime goalscorer - Evann Guessand at 23/10 | Likelihood: Possible
> Result - Ivory Coast to win at 6/5 | Likelihood: Probable
> Both teams to score - Yes at 10/11 | Likelihood: Probable