There was plenty for Scotland to be optimistic about in their 0-0 draw with Slovenia last time out. Sebastien Pocognoli’s side were poor in the first half from an attacking standpoint but really clicked into gear in the second half.

They dominated the underlying numbers and should have really found the back of the net, taking 17 shots and seeing five of these attempts find the target. It took a man of the match performance from Jan Oblak to keep Scotland out, with the away side generating an xG of 2.16.

Switzerland are the main challengers to Scotland in this group, and I think we’ll see that have an impact on the approach Scotland take here. We saw them upset Denmark and Spain at home under Steve Clarke, so they have the ability to get on the scoresheet against a side that’s superior on paper.

There were no goals in Scotland’s Nations League opener against Slovenia on Saturday, but I’m prepared to look beyond that here and side with over 1.5 goals at Hampden.

The Scots passed up a number of gilt-edged chances, having racked up 17 shots and posted an xG of 2.16.

Pocognoli wants Scotland to play on the front foot, and Switzerland should give the hosts more room to do so than Slovenia did on Saturday.

Even before Pocognoli’s arrival, five of Scotland’s six World Cup qualifiers featured over 1.5 goals, as did each of their final two friendlies before the tournament.

As for Switzerland, they comfortably cleared the over 1.5 goals line single-handedly in Saturday’s 3-0 win away at North Macedonia. 

That means over 1.5 goals has landed in 11 of the visitors’ last 13 matches across all competitions, further strengthening the case for a repeat in Glasgow.

I’m expecting a fairly open game at Hampden on Tuesday night, which makes over 8.5 corners worth siding with.

There were exactly 9 corners in Scotland’s stalemate with Slovenia on Saturday. 

Notably, all 4 of Scotland’s flag kicks came in the second half, when the Scots took control and grew into the game.

I would expect them to at least match that return here, if not better it, in front of a passionate Hampden crowd.

Scotland also conceded 5 corners against Slovenia, and they could be forced to defend their fair share here against a Switzerland side that won five away at North Macedonia at the weekend.

The two teams’ World Cup corner figures add to the appeal of this angle.

Scotland’s matches averaged 9.34 corners per game, while Switzerland’s averaged slightly more at 9.67.

It’s also worth pointing out that the pair’s meeting at Euro 2024 produced 13 corners, adding further weight to this selection.

John McGinn looks well placed to attempt at least one shot against Switzerland on Tuesday night. 

The Scotland midfielder played in an attacking midfield role against Slovenia on Saturday and managed 1 attempt.

That means McGinn has had at least 1 shot in eight of his last 10 competitive appearances for Scotland, firing off 2 or more attempts in three of those games.

On the domestic front, McGinn has tried his luck 4 times across Aston Villa’s opening five Premier League games of the season and scored with 1 of his 3 attempts in their Champions League win away at Club Brugge.

McGinn has taken penalties for Scotland in the past, and with Scott McTominay absent, the possibility of him stepping up again adds to the appeal of backing him for a shot on Tuesday night.

The Switzerland forward needs little invitation to try his luck in front of goal, as he showed in Saturday’s 3-0 win over North Macedonia, when he fired off 6 attempts, 4 of which hit the target.

Ndoye was also a reliable source of shots at the World Cup earlier this summer, managing 2 or more attempts in five of his six starts.

His club figures only bolster the case, registering 11 shots in five Premier League appearances for Nottingham Forest this season, racking up 8 efforts across his final two outings before the international break.

That all points to Ndoye getting 2+ shots away against a Scotland side still finding their feet under new manager Pocognoli.