Here you'll find football corners betting tips from our expert football analyst, Liam Johnson. All of the corner predictions published here on WhichBookie are 100% free.
Scotland
SloveniaThere is a proper edge to this one. Scotland and Slovenia are locked level on four points in UEFA Nations League Group B1, and whoever comes out on top at Hampden Park on Tuesday night takes a significant step towards the promotion playoff. It is the kind of fixture that does not need any extra context to get the blood pumping. Two sides who know each other well, a tight group table, and a home crowd desperate to see their side build on something that is starting to feel like genuine momentum. For a neutral, that is exactly the kind of midweek football you stay up for.
Sebastien Pocognoli is still finding his feet as Scotland boss, but Saturday’s win in Skopje lifted the weight off his shoulders and changed the whole feel around the camp. Slovenia meanwhile have their own story to tell, a side that looked capable of running away with this group after beating North Macedonia, only to stumble against Switzerland last time out. Neither team can afford to slip up here. This is a proper six pointer.
The match takes place at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland’s national stadium and one of the most atmospheric grounds in international football when the crowd is behind the team. This is a UEFA Nations League League B Group B1 fixture, with both sides locked together and the promotion playoff very much within reach for the winner.
Scotland have one enforced change at the back, while Slovenia come in relatively settled after their defeat in Switzerland. Here is the latest on both squads heading into Tuesday.
Pocognoli has been working with a three at the back setup and there is no reason to expect that to change here. With McKenna out, Hendry slots back in alongside Stephen Welsh and Luis Binks to form the central defensive trio. Andy Robertson continues at left wing back, where he offers creativity and experience in abundance, and Ben Gannon-Doak gets the nod on the right. John McGinn and Billy Gilmour should anchor the midfield alongside Scott Ferguson, with Oli McBurnie leading the line and Lyndon Dykes or Josh Bowie offering options in behind.
Scotland expected lineup: Gunn; Welsh, Hendry, Binks; Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, Gilmour, Robertson; McGinn, McBurnie; Bowie
Bostjan Cesar is expected to go with a similar shape that Slovenia have used throughout this campaign. Oblak starts in goal behind a back five that includes Jaka Bijol and Vanja Drkusic as the dominant central figures. Sandi Lovric, who scored against North Macedonia, will be key to everything Slovenia try to do going forward through the middle, with Aljosa Matko and Danijel Sturm providing width and energy.
Slovenia expected lineup: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Zec, Janza; Matko, Zabukovnik, Lovric, Sturm; Vipotnik
Scotland’s form under Pocognoli has been a real rollercoaster. His debut ended goalless against Slovenia, then came the 3-0 thumping by Switzerland, though Scotland were reduced to ten men after just eleven minutes when Hendry was dismissed, which makes the scoreline slightly misleading. They then went four games without scoring, a run that had the Tartan Army shifting uncomfortably in their seats, before the 2-0 win in Skopje finally broke the deadlock. Three points against North Macedonia on the road is all well and good, but nobody is going to pretend that was a stern test.
Slovenia’s recent run tells a similar tale of inconsistency. They opened with the goalless draw against Scotland, then produced arguably their best performance of the group stage by beating North Macedonia 2-0, with Lovric and Matko doing the damage in the second half. However, the defeat to Switzerland last time out will have hurt. Vipotnik gave them the lead inside two minutes, only for an Erik Janza own goal to level things before Dan Ndoye finished it off before the break. Conceding twice before half time in a game they were winning early on is exactly the kind of thing that sticks in a squad’s head.
Perhaps the most telling stat heading into Tuesday is Slovenia’s record away from home. They have lost three of their last four on the road, which is a significant concern when you are travelling to Hampden Park for a game this important. Scotland, playing in front of their own supporters with the wind at their backs after a victory, will fancy their chances of pressing that advantage.
The sides met just two weeks ago in this same Nations League group, with that fixture ending goalless in what was a tight and cautious affair. Both managers were clearly sizing each other up, and neither side was willing to take risks that might cost them. The 0-0 draw gave everyone involved a platform to build from, but very little in the way of decisive football.
Historically these two nations have not crossed paths all that frequently in competitive football, so the recent meetings within this group are the most relevant reference points. What we do know is that Slovenia are a disciplined, well organised outfit who are difficult to break down, and Scotland showed in that September fixture that they struggled to create clear cut chances. Whether Pocognoli has found solutions to that problem in the weeks since is one of the most interesting questions Tuesday night will answer.
This is a tight game between two evenly matched sides, and the 0-0 from their earlier meeting tells you everything about how cautious both managers can be when the stakes are high. That said, Scotland have momentum, home advantage and a crowd that will be rocking from the off. I do not see this being another goalless affair, but I am equally not expecting a cricket score. The value is in the low scoring, tactical end of the market rather than chasing goals.
Both sides set up with wing backs and look to use wide areas, which should generate a reasonable volume of corners across the ninety minutes. Scotland will be pushing for the win and Robertson in particular loves to get balls into the box. I would back over 8.5 corners in this one as a solid shout.
Scotland to edge it at home, but this will be tight. The Tartan Army have been waiting for a performance at Hampden and I think they get it, just not in spectacular fashion. A 1-0 win for the hosts feels right given how defensively sound both sides have looked in this group.
Given that their last meeting finished goalless and both defences have looked relatively solid throughout this Nations League campaign, I am leaning towards No on the BTTS front. Oblak is one of the best keepers in the world and Scotland will have to work hard to beat him, while Slovenia’s away form suggests they will be cautious in possession and may struggle to threaten Angus Gunn.
Andy Robertson has the energy, the delivery and the licence to get forward and arrive late into the box. He has been one of Scotland’s most consistent performers for years and with crosses raining in from wide areas, he is worth a look to open the scoring at a decent price. Alternatively, Vipotnik scored against Switzerland and is Slovenia’s most dangerous attacker, so he carries threat if the away side set up to nick something on the counter.
With this much riding on the result and both sides playing intense pressing football, there will be a frictional edge to the game. Scotland have already had two red cards in this Nations League window, which shows there is a short fuse in this squad. Expect at least three or four bookings across the ninety minutes. Over 3.5 cards looks appealing.
Under 2.5 goals is the call here. The 0-0 between these two sides earlier in the campaign set the template, and while I do expect a goal or two on Tuesday, both teams have shown in this group that they are capable of grinding out tight results. The attacking quality is present but so is the defensive organisation, and this fixture feels like it lives under the 2.5 line.
| Market | Selection |
|---|---|
| Result | Scotland to Win |
| Total Goals | Under 2.5 Goals |
| Total Cards | Over 3.5 Cards |
A narrow Scotland win in a feisty, low scoring game with the referee kept busy is exactly the kind of story this fixture is setting up to tell.
Scotland win this one, but do not expect it to be comfortable. Pocognoli’s side have home advantage, a buoyant crowd and the memory of that September stalemate motivating them to be more decisive in front of goal. Robertson and McGinn will be the leaders on the pitch, and if Gannon-Doak can provide the same energy down the right that he has shown in patches this campaign, Scotland should have enough to get the job done.
Slovenia will make it hard. They always do. But three losses from their last four away games is a serious concern and Hampden on a big night is not the easiest place to come and dig out a result. Scotland to win 1-0, with the decisive moment coming from a set piece or a moment of individual quality from one of the experienced heads in the squad.