Scotland v Denmark: Back the Danes and take home the bacon

Scotland v Denmark: Back the Danes and take home the bacon

With Scotland and Denmark already through, there's nothing to play for at Hampden but Betfair's Frankie Monkhouse believes he's found a value bet...

Scotland host Denmark in the closing game of the World Cup qualifying group campaign. This fixture pairs the two best teams in the pool, with Denmark and Scotland already through. The visitors cross the line as group winners, booking their place at Qatar 2022 next November. Scotland has taken the runners up slot and a place in the playoffs.

These teams have met 17 times with Scotland on 10 wins against the seven of their opponents. The stats show just one goal has been the difference in five of the last six meetings, and another competitive encounter is likely.

Will we see Denmark complete a perfect 10 wins from 10, or will Scotland put on a show in front of a packed Hampden to score a famous upset?

Scots through with a game to spare

Scotland got off to a slow start, but Clarke's battlers finished with a flurry, winning each of their last five. After more than 20 years of watching from the sidelines, the Tartan Army returned to the big stage at Euro 2020 and are now just two wins away from qualifying for a World Cup for the first time since France 98. Six wins, two draws, and a defeat gives the home team 20 points, seven behind Denmark and seven ahead of Israel.

The most important win in the group was a stunning 3-2 over Israel, with Scott McTominay scoring the winner on 94 minutes. That was their last match at Hampden. Since then, the Scots have beaten the Faroe Islands 1-0, and on Friday, eased to a 2-0 in Moldova. Young right-back Nathan Patterson stole the show with the Rangers wonderkid scoring the first goal and assisting Che Adams for the second.

Scotland is playing the best football seen from them since the late, great Walter Smith reign. They are defending well, scoring goals, and the squad is filled with young, talented, and ambitious players operating at a high level in England and Scotland. In Patterson, Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson and Billy Gilmour, the nation's dreams are in safe hands.

The Danes are flying

Denmark entered this group as the firm favourite to book their place in Qatar next winter as pool winners. They lived up to those high expectations without fuss and start the last match with a chance to record a perfect campaign. Nine wins from nine games, 30 goals scored, and one conceded shows this has been a one-horse race from the start.

Having secured top spot quite some time ago, the Danes have had the luxury of taking their foot off the gas, but they have continued to churn out comfortable wins. They beat Moldova 4-0 and Austria 1-0 last month before recording a 3-1 over the Faroe Islands on Friday. That was the first goal the team has conceded. The fact it was scored by the minnows of European football suggests Denmark already have one eye on 2022.

That's possible, and who could blame them? But the away team also know they are 90 minutes from perfection, and another group win, over a side they beat 2-0 just two months ago, would see them achieve that.

Back the form team at a great price

The hosts will be roared on by a huge crowd who are excited about the national team for the first time in years. Scotland to sign off with another confidence-boosting win is priced at 3.3 on the Betfair Exchange. A draw wouldn't be the worst result for either and that's 3.2.

They may have little to aim at here, but we can't ignore Denmark's form and the odds available on them to continue their winning ways. For your stake money, you'll have a bet on the top-ranked team in the pool, one with a chance of challenging for the World Cup next year. A side with a 100% record, scoring goals for fun and a near-perfect in defence. All that, and you'll get them at 2.3.

Add under 2.5 goals to your Acca

The fact neither team needs the win and are likely to mix things a little in terms of their starting line-up, a high-scoring match isn't expected. Backing under 2.5 goals would have landed you a winner in all but one of the last eight games involving these nations. Under 2.5 goals again on Monday evening is 1.67, which is judged to be more likely than over 2.5 goals at 2.3.

Denmark has conceded just one goal in their previous nine qualifiers. Scotland has kept a clean sheet in four of their last five. Take no both teams to score at 1.93. Again, that's a bet backed up by the stats and would have been a winner in seven of the last eight.