Scotland vs Iceland predictions: Scots should ease past leaky visitors
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- Scotland manager Steve Clarke has named seven uncapped players in his squad
- Iceland suffered a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Kosovo in March's Nations League play-offs
- Recommended bet: Scotland to win 3-1
Scotland's last match at Hampden Park ended in a hugely disappointing 3-0 defeat to Greece in March's Nations League promotion/relegation play-off second leg.
Steve Clarke's men had claimed a valuable 1-0 away victory in the first leg but the Greeks roared back to complete a 3-1 aggregate win in Glasgow, sealing Scotland's relegation to League B.
The Scots are expected to get back to winning ways in Friday's friendly against Iceland, who were also relegated in March's play-offs after a surprise 5-2 loss to Kosovo.
Team news
Veteran Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is injured while midfielders Ryan Christie and Kenny McLean are also missing. Bologna's Lewis Ferguson could partner Billy Gilmour in central midfield and youngsters Lennon Miller and Kieron Bowie are hoping to make their senior debuts.
Iceland captain Orri Steinn Oskarsson is injured so Andrij Gudjohnsen and Albert Gudmundsson are likely to start in attack.
The stats
Both teams have scored in only one of Scotland's last five matches.
Scotland have opened the scoring in five of their last seven games.
Two of the Scots' last three wins were by a 1-0 scoreline.
Five of Iceland's last seven matches have produced over 3.5 goals.
Both teams have scored in the first half of Iceland's last three matches.
Five of Iceland's last seven results were defeats in which both teams scored.
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Prediction
Scotland manager Steve Clarke will use this month's friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein as an opportunity to assess some younger players.
However, his squad also includes stalwarts Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney and John McGinn as well as Serie A-based midfielders Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson.
McTominay played a key role in Napoli's title triumph while Ferguson won the Coppa Italia with Bologna and Scotland will be looking to turn on the style against Iceland.
Their Nations League play-off loss at home to Greece was a shock given that they finished the group stage by drawing with Portugal and beating Croatia and Poland.
Scotland had lost their first three games, despite finding the net in all three, and their attacking players should get chances against a leaky Iceland defence.
Like their hosts, Iceland suffered Nations League relegation in the play-offs in March, when they conceded five goals over the two legs of their tie against Kosovo.
They had shipped 13 goals in six group games against Wales, Turkey and Montenegro and could be set for a high-scoring defeat in Glasgow.
The 3-1 Scotland win appeals in the correct-score market as Clarke will demand a committed display from his side as they build towards September's World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Belarus.
Iceland carry a goal threat, drawing 2-2 at home to Wales and scoring twice in a defeat to Turkey last October.
However, they have lost their last three games by 4-1, 2-1 and 3-1 scorelines and it could be a similar story at Hampden.
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