Scotland vs Cyprus

The Group A meeting is seen a must-win for Steve Clarke's side with Spain and Norway up next in their bid to make next summer's tournament in Germany.

Scotland vs Cyprus match odds Scotland vs Cyprus prediction Scotland vs Cyprus team news

Minute-by-minute report: Will Scotland get their campaign off to a winning start against Cyprus? Join Scott Murray to find out.

5 min: Porteous sticks his elbow into Ioannou’s lug and it’s a free kick out for Cyprus out on the left. Demetriou comes to the edge of his box to gather. [Scotland](https://www.theguardian.com/football/scotland) cause more bother down the left, with Armstrong, Tierney and Robertson relentless. 13 min: Hickey garrinchas his way into the box from the right. Armstrong slides in on Kastanos and the counter is nixed at source. 20 min: Kyriakou’s fresh-air kick affords Armstrong the opportunity to make good down the left and cross. And there’s another roar as Adams plays Tierney into space down the left, but the cross doesn’t find a dark-blue retro shirt in the box. 27 min: The ball bounces loosely in the midfield. [Cyprus](https://www.theguardian.com/football/cyprus) inside-left channel nearly embarrasses Gunn, who comes to the edge of his box to collect only to slip just before he reaches it. As he falls, he straddles the ball, which clanks back off his boot and nestles in his special place. And you mail [Scott any match thoughts](mailto:[email protected]) McGinn nearly gets on the end of it, but clanks into Demetriou and the whistle is Cyprus’s friend.

The road to Germany kicks off in front of a packed National Stadium with the team ranked 110 in the world the visitors.

1 jersey but it appears to be the case that he will win the battle to fill in for the crocked Craig Gordon. It could barely have been a more dramatic end the last time Cyprus came to Hampden for Steve Clarke's first game in charge. Andy Robertson looked to have won it only for Cyprus to level late on. Let's just put it down to a bit of shock. Andy Robertson and John McGinn spot something in the stand. Ryan Porteous starts on his 24th birthday so he'll be hoping to blow Cyprus away before blowing out the candles on his cake. I think it is always good to get off to a fast start. He was apprehensive about the chance to play. It has been a while since we had a good start in a European qualifying campaign. Fingers crossed it holds up for the 90 minutes. His high shot went out for a corner which came to nothing. It's not often you catch the national team boss smiling and hopefully that grin is still there at full time.

Get a report of the Scotland vs. Cyprus 2024 European Championship Qualifying, Group Stage football match.

The second half was a far less entertaining affair, however, as Scotland failed to build on their advantage. [Lyndon Dykes](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/207538/Lyndon-Dykes) headed a high ball into the box and into the path of the [Manchester United](/football/team?id=360) midfielder, who controlled it before firing it into the roof of the net from close range. [John McGinn](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/162843/John-McGinn) fired home at the far post after skipper [Andy Robertson](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/104943/Andy-Robertson)'s cross was deflected into his path.

Get a report of the Scotland vs. Cyprus 2024 European Championship Qualifying, Group Stage football match.

The second half was a far less entertaining affair, however, as Scotland failed to build on their advantage. [Lyndon Dykes](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/207538/Lyndon-Dykes) headed a high ball into the box and into the path of the [Manchester United](/football/team?id=360) midfielder, who controlled it before firing it into the roof of the net from close range. [John McGinn](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/162843/John-McGinn) fired home at the far post after skipper [Andy Robertson](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/104943/Andy-Robertson)'s cross was deflected into his path.