Scotland start their preparations for their first World Cup since 1998 this summer when they welcome Japan to Hampden Park in an international friendly on Saturday evening.
The Scots beat Denmark to top spot in their qualifying group, ensuring that they qualified for the finals automatically and do not have to go through the play-offs.
Japan also qualified for the World Cup with relative ease, making it an eighth successive appearance at the tournament, and they are not expected to be easy opponents for Scotland.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our free expert international friendly predictions!
Contents
Scotland vs Japan key stats
- Scotland have won their last three home games.
- Japan have won just once in four away matches in all competitions (D1, L2).
- BTTS has come through in Scotland's previous four games.
Scotland vs. Japan preview: Scots to seal another victory?
| Scotland | vs | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 38th | FIFA ranking | 19th |
| Andy Robertson (90) | Most caps | Junya Ito (66) |
| John McGinn (20) | Most goals | Ayase Ueda (16) |
| 828 | Total caps | 522 |
| 87 | Total goals | 102 |
| 1 | Uncapped players | 1 |
Scotland will look forward to a first World Cup since the turn of the century this summer, after coming top of a qualifying group that also featured the higher-ranked Denmark (21st) in terms of FIFA rankings.
In preparation for the tournament in North America, they will face Japan in the first of their friendlies, with their opponents also set to play old foes England.
Scotland have won four of their last five games (L1).
The Scots have been drawn in a tough group which also includes five-times World Cup winners Brazil and newly-crowned AFCON winners Morocco, so will be aiming to enter the tournament with some winning momentum on their side.
Japan are the first to visit Hampden Park, where Steve Clarke's men have won their last three games at.
The visitors are the strongest nation in Asia according to their world ranking (19th), and actually rank 19 places higher than Scotland (38th).
Japan have scored in their last four friendlies.
That showed during Asian qualifiers where Japan won seven of their 10 matches (D2, L1) to qualify for an eighth successive World Cup.
As such, they should not be underestimated, and Scotland will do well to beat them in this friendly.
Scotland vs Japan form guide & betting tips
| Scotland | vs | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| W-W-W-L-W | Form | L-D-W-W-W |
| 13 | Goals For | 10 |
| 7 | Goals Against | 6 |
| D-L-W | Int'l friendly form | W-W-W |
Whispers predict: Scotland 2-1 Japan
Given their higher FIFA rank, Japan are 5/4 favourites with bookmakers to win this one.
They are also unbeaten in two previous H2Hs (W1, D1), but both were on home soil, and Scotland have been formidable at Hampden Park rceently.
Thus, we are backing Scotland to win at 9/4, while BTTS - Yes at 17/20 also appeals to us as Japan are still a dangerous side in fine form themselves.
Over 2.5 goals at 11/10 is also worth backing, as that combination with BTTS has come through in Scotland's previous four matches.
Overall, we are backing a narrow Scotland victory, and our 2-1 scoreline prediction is available at 11/1.
> BTTS - Yes at 17/20 | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 2.5 goals at 11/10 | Likelihood: Possible
> Scotland to win at 9/4 | Likelihood: Outsider