Holland vs Scotland: Predictions, Previews and Team News

Amsterdam Arena, Saturday, 28 March

The New Football Pools Pundits' Predictions:
John Barnes: Home
Tony Cascarino: Home
Graham Poll: Home

OPTA Facts

The two sides have identical records in all their meetings – Scotland have won six of their 16 meetings and Holland also six.

In 2003 the two sides met in the play-offs to qualify for Euro 2004. The Scots beat the Dutch 1-0 at home before losing 6-0 in Amsterdam and seeing their qualification dreams shattered.

Scotland have failed to score in four of their last five matches.

In Holland the sides have played out nine games – with three wins for each side and three draws. However Scotland’s three wins all came in their first three encounters – friendlies before 1960.

Aside from their 3-1 loss to Russia in the Quarterfinal of last year’s European Championships, Holland have won their last six competitive internationals in a row.

10 of the 12 goals scored in Holland’s matches since Euro 2008 have come in the second half.

Scotland team news

Celtic captain Stephen McManus has been ruled out of Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Holland tomorrow with ankle trouble.

Defender McManus will receive treatment from Celtic in a bid to get fit for Scotland's game against Iceland at Hampden on Wednesday.

Wolves defender Christophe Berra is likely to replace him.

Scotland boss George Burley will be travelling to Amsterdam with a heavily depleted squad.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Alan Hutton,nearing his comeback from long-term injury, will not be risked in the match in Amsterdam, while Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley has pulled out of the squad with a hamstring injury.

Defenders David Weir and Kirk Broadfoot, winger Kris Commons and the versatile Steven Whittaker have all been ruled out as well.

Injuries had already denied Burley the services of James McFadden, Shaun Maloney, Barry Robson, Kevin Thomson, Lee Miller and Garry O'Connor when he named his original 26-man squad.

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The news on captain Barry Ferguson is more positive with the Rangers midfielder fully recovered from a rib injury.

Meanwhile, Allan McGregor will start ahead of regular goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who has fallen out of favour at Sunderland.

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Sunderland), Allan McGregor (Rangers), David Marshall (Norwich City).

Defenders: Graham Alexander (Burnley), Darren Barr (Falkirk), Christophe Berra (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United), Steven Whittaker (Rangers).

Midfield: Scott Brown (Celtic), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Gavin Rae (Cardiff City), Gary Teale (Derby County).

Forwards: David Clarkson (Motherwell), Steven Fletcher (Hibernian), Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ross McCormack (Cardiff City), Kenny Miller (Rangers).

Holland team news

Atletico Madrid defender John Heitinga will not play because of a head injury he picked up in the Spanish side's weekend defeat at Real Mallorca.

But Andre Ooijer, who announced he will be quitting Blackburn for PSV Eindhoven next season, is expected to overcome a groin strain to start in defence.

Out-of-form Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, meanwhile, has been left out of coach Bert van Marwijk's 23-man line-up.

Netherlands squad:

Goalkeepers: Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax).

Defenders: Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (FC Twente), Dirk Marcellis (PSV Eindhoven), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax).

Midfield: Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar).

Forwards: Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid), Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel (both Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal).

Betting odds (William Hill)

Holland win: 1.33
Draw: 5.5
Scotland win: 14

Asian Handicap

Holland vs Scotland

0 : 1 1/2

Over / Under 2 1/2

( Mirror )