In this article…
Cyprus v Scotland
📅
Date: Friday 8th September
🏆
Competition: Euro 2024 Qualifiers
⏰
Kick off: 19:45
📺
Watch live: Viaplay Sports 1
Scotland could all but secure their place at Euro 2024 on Friday with victory in Cyprus. Steve Clarke’s side have enjoyed a remarkable start to their qualifying campaign, with four wins from four matches, including a terrific home win over Spain and a dramatic come-from-behind success against Norway.
Three more points at the AEK Arena would make it virtually impossible for Clarke’s side not to finish in the top two, and they will be up against an opponent that has failed to pick up a point so far in the competition. Cyprus were blown away 3-0 at Hampden in March, albeit it took two late Scott McTominay goals to add some polish to the scoreline, while they have also lost at home to Georgia and away to Norway.
This could be a historic encounter for the visitors, and these Cyprus v Scotland stats are designed to cut through the noise and give an insight into what to expect in what promises to be a pivotal encounter.
We’ve got over £300 of free bets and offers available here but if you’re thinking of having a bet on Cyprus v Scotland then you should consider joining Sky Bet. They are currently offering £30 in free bets to new customers, and all you have to do to claim them is create an account and place any bet of 5p or more. Claiming it couldn’t be simpler:
1️⃣ Sign up to Sky Bet using one of our links or the banner below
2️⃣ Deposit and place a bet of at least 5p on any bet of your choosing
✅ You’ll get cash in hand if it wins
🔄 And £30 in free bets no matter what the result!
Cyprus v Scotland Cheat Sheet
Here is our Cyprus v Scotland cheat sheet. This has all the stats that directly link to the bet builder markets offered by Sky Bet, from shots on target to fouls to team cards.
More than this, it goes into depth on individual players. The Scotland stats, for example, show that John McGinn is heavily involved in the action, with a high foul count both in terms of won and conceded. This is useful to know for your Cyprus v Scotland bet builder, making the Aston Villa man a tempting pick.
In this next section, we will be breaking down some of the key elements and sharing some of our potential picks. If you’re thinking of having a Cyprus v Scotland bet builder then why not join Sky Bet? They are currently offering £30 in free bets to new customers, and claiming it couldn’t be simpler:
1️⃣ Sign up to Sky Bet using one of our links or the banner below
2️⃣ Deposit and place a bet of at least 5p on any bet of your choosing
✅ You’ll get cash in hand if it wins
🔄 And £30 in free bet bets no matter what the result!
Cyprus stats: Hosts clear underdogs
Cyprus’ stats show that they are a team that typically play on the back foot. Indeed, the hosts have had just 39.7% of possession in their qualifying matches to date and are nearly four corners and three shots on target worse off than their opponents.
Of course, there is a relatively small sample size at play, with Cyprus having tackled two of the group’s stronger sides in Scotland and Norway away from home. Yet even against Georgia, a side they would hope to match, they managed only 45% possession in their home encounter and were outshot 11-19.
In the previous fixture between these nations, Cyprus may have been limited offensively, managing just 38% of the ball and two shots on target, but they did stifle Scotland to some extent, with Clarke’s men only managing six efforts on goal. If this were to be replicated on Friday, the Cyprus v Scotland stats would not show a lop-sided game come full time, so the hosts will draw confidence from their previous exploits.
Scotland stats: Clarke’s men a picture of efficiency
Scotland may be four out of four in terms of Euro 2024 qualifying, posting an impressive record of nine goals scored and just one against, but they have not blown teams away.
The Scotland stats show that they have averaged only 3.75 shots on target during this campaign, meaning that they have found the net once every 1.67 shots on target – a remarkable ratio and one that they cannot hope to continue in the long term.
Even in terms of possession, Clarke’s side have not excelled, with under 45% of the ball in their four matches to date. This figure is, however, dramatically skewed by their home encounter against Spain, when they boasted just 25% possession. That match against La Roja, though, shows why the Scots have thrived so far. They have given up few chances and when their own opportunities have come along, they have taken them.
🎯 Cyprus offensive stats: Kastanos the standout
Cyprus have several players in their squad who play at leading clubs, including Grigoris Kastanos of Salernitana. He was clearly their best player at Hampden and will be one to keep an eye on here, with four fouls won the last time the sides met. This was not atypical; he posts 3.1 fouls won per game.
Similarly, the Cyprus v Scotland Cheat Sheet shows that Nikolas Ioannou of Como won four fouls in Glasgow and is back in the squad after being subsequently banned. He will hope for similar success against Aaron Hickey, who was also his direct opponent in Glasgow.
The limited attacking impact of Cyprus is underlined by the fact that centre-back Ioannis Kousoulos is the player who has their most efforts on target per 90 so far in the competition with 1.21. Indeed, he has 2.01 efforts on goal on average, highlighting that there is a threat from set pieces. Grigoris Kastanos, meanwhile, has 0.7 shots on target per 90 and 1.4 efforts in total, showing that he can pose a meaningful threat from the midfield. He was one of only two players to register a shot on target for Cyprus at Hampden, the other being substitute Andronikos Kakoulis, who will probably be a replacement again.
Ioannis Pittas is the penalty-taker but failed to make an impact on the Cyprus v Scotland stats in the last meeting.
🎯 Scotland offensive stats: McGinn to be all action
So much of Scotland’s play revolves around John McGinn and his ability to be perpetually active just behind a central striker, so it is little surprise he chalks up a high foul count. He averages 2.31 fouls per game in this campaign and posted four the last time Clarke’s side faced Cyprus.
Grant Hanley drew a joint team-high four fouls against Cyprus last time out but isn’t even in the squad here, while Billy Gilmour, who posts 1.82 fouls drawn per 90, should not be considered a certain starter, despite his fine Brighton form. He is likely to get the nod, however, which should increase the foul count of the visitors in the Cyprus v Scotland stats.
Who would have thought when qualification began in June that Scott McTominay would be joint third-top scorer across all groups at this point in the campaign? Here we are, though, with the Manchester United man posting five goals in four games, including two last time out against Cyprus. McTominay also leads Scotland’s shots on target per 90 with 1.84, and having offered 2.45 shots per 90, he is also top of that statistic, too. Although this goes against his career averages in a wild fashion, he has been given freedom by Clarke. Gilmour’s presence in the starting XI may temper that on this occasion, though.
McGinn, of course, ranks well here, too. A talisman for Clarke, he is their leading marksman in the squad with 16 goals, and his 0.51 shots on target are down on his usual average. Che Adams, who is likely to play the No. 9 role, only has five goals and has not been a major factor statistically in this campaign, with his role largely to disrupt opponents and link play. He is unlikely to feature on a Cyprus v Scotland bet builder.
🛑 Cyprus defensive stats: Gogic eager to make his mark
The Cyprus stats show they have a relatively low foul count given their lack of possession, with Ioannou their leading sinner with 1.5 fouls per game.
Look out for Alex Gogic here, though. The midfielder plays in Scotland with St Mirren and will be eager to make his mark in this game, especially after a disappointing outing at Hampden. He only committed one foul in that game but posts 1.38 per 90 for the campaign as a whole.
In terms of tackling, Milas Antoniou could have a busy game. Scotland’s attacks are liable to be focused down his right wing, where he will face Andy Robertson and overlapping centre-back Kieran Tierney. He already makes 2.59 tackles per game, which is nearly one more than any other team-mate. Much of this is skewed by his last match against Scotland, when he made six.
🛑 Scotland defensive stats: Ex-Hibs pair the biggest sinners
The defensive Scotland stats are dominated by former Hibs pair John McGinn and Ryan Porteous, who are the top two players in the foul count, with 2.31 and 1.79 respectively. Given Porteous is sitting on two yellow cards and one booking away from a ban, there is a chance he treads carefully here, though that is not his playing style.
McGinn actually commits more fouls than tackles won, yet he still ranks second in that statistic, with 1.79. Billy Gilmour again is a standout here for Clarke’s side, posting 2.73 tackles.
Don’t expect a high tackle count from any individual, with no Scot higher than two in the previous meeting, vital knowledge for a Cyprus v Scotland bet builder.
Haven’t got a Sky Bet account? You’re in luck…
Sign up to Sky Bet and get £30 in free bets to use on a bet of your choice. Grab an account through the offer below and place a minimum of just 5p on any bet of your liking based on our Cyprus v Scotland stats. Here are the two possible outcomes:
✅
Cash in hand if it wins
🔄
AND you get £30 in free bets
Written by an Andy verified content writer
18+ please gamble responsibly.
