World Cup Qualification: Scotland vs Denmark Pick & Prediction – November 18, 2025
A high-stakes World Cup qualifier takes centre stage in Glasgow on Tuesday night, November 18th, as Scotland and Denmark meet in a decisive Group C showdown. The equation is brutally simple: Scotland must win to qualify automatically, while Denmark need only a draw to secure their place at the 2026 finals.
The Danes squandered a golden chance to wrap up qualification on Saturday, while Scotland’s dramatic, yet insufficient late surge in Greece kept their dreams alive. Now, with Hampden set to erupt under the Tartan Army noise, both nations enter a winner-takes-all battle that will determine the fate of Group C.
Head-to-Head Record (H2H: Scotland vs Denmark)
Scotland and Denmark share a competitive recent history, and while the Scots hold the overall advantage with 11 wins from 20 meetings, the dynamic has shifted over the past few decades since Denmark’s 1-0 win at the 1986 World Cup.
The Danish Dynamite have taken six of the last 10 encounters, though it’s worth noting that most of those victories came in friendlies rather than high-stakes qualifiers. Their most recent meeting was a goalless draw in Copenhagen in September.
Crucially, Scotland have performed far better when backed by the Hampden crowd. The sides also exchanged 2-0 home victories during the Qatar 2022 qualification cycle, reinforcing the pattern that home advantage has often proven decisive between these two European rivals.
Scotland have won three of the last five meetings, including a memorable 2-0 victory in November 2021 when goals from John Souttar and Che Adams ended Denmark’s nine-match winning streak in the World Cup qualifications. The Danes had already secured top spot at the time, but the result still snapped their perfect campaign on the final matchday.
Scotland: Current Form and Team News
Scotland arrive at their final group match after a chaotic yet oddly encouraging 3-2 defeat to Greece on Saturday. Steve Clarke’s men were 3-0 down and seemingly out of the race, only for Ryan Christie and Ben Doak to produce a rousing comeback that nearly rescued a point. Their hopes were revived not in Piraeus but in Copenhagen, where Denmark’s collapse against Belarus kept Group C wide open.
Clarke’s squad, however, is strained. Injuries to Ross McCrorie, Lennon Miller, Billy Gilmour, and first-choice goalkeeper Angus Gunn have forced reshuffling. In Gunn’s absence, 42-year-old Craig Gordon produced a number of saves in Greece and the veteran is expected to continue between the posts.
While Billy Gilmour remains a doubt for Tuesday’s showdown, Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson should anchor the midfield, with Scott McTominay contributing in a more advanced role, while Doak and John McGinn (both in fine attacking form) are likely to feature out wide.
Up front, Clarke will have to make a big decision. Che Adams missed several chances in Athens and could be rotated out for Lyndon Dykes or Lawrence Shankland. Still, Adams’ pressing qualities and link-up play may tempt Clarke to give the Torino striker one more chance on what could be the most consequential night of his Scotland career. The equation is clear: a victory sends Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998.
Denmark: Current Form and Team News
Denmark travel to Glasgow knowing that a single point will book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup, but their composure has been shaken. Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Belarus marked one of the biggest shocks of the entire qualifying campaign. After Mikkel Damsgaard put the Danes ahead, two defensive lapses saw Belarus turn the match on its head, and although Gustav Isaksen equalised, Denmark failed to find the winner that would have sealed top spot.
Brian Riemer’s squad remains strong but not without concerns. Rasmus Højlund missed the Belarus match through illness, and his availability for Hampden remains uncertain. Fulham defender Joachim Andersen is also battling a virus. Elsewhere, Morten Hjulmand, who returned from injury as a substitute on Saturday, is expected to reinforce midfield at the expense of Christian Nørgaard, while Christian Eriksen, Gustav Isaksen and Damsgaard will operate as Denmark’s main creators in advanced positions.
Even with their recent wobble, Denmark’s blend of technical midfield play, wide attacking quality and disciplined defensive structure makes them a formidable opposition. Their ability to control tempo and punish mistakes, particularly in transition, will be pivotal to their game plan at Hampden Park.
With Rasmus Højlund sidelined on Saturday, Jonas Wind led the line against Belarus, but the Wolfsburg forward struggled to make an impact. As a result, Mika Biereth or Anders Dreyer could be handed an opportunity if Brian Riemer chooses to refresh his attacking options for the decisive trip to Glasgow.
Tactical Battle: Steve Clarke vs Brian Riemer
Scotland will need to play on the front foot, using the energy of Hampden Park to apply pressure, stretch Denmark’s defensive block and force transitions. Expect Aaron Hickey and Andy Robertson to push aggressively down the flanks, with McGinn and McTominay tasked with making disruptive late runs into the box. The Scots, however, must balance urgency with discipline as Denmark thrive on exploiting space when opponents overcommit.
For the Danes, the approach is likely to revolve around structured control and controlled counterattacks. Eriksen’s passing range and Damsgaard’s movement between the lines will be critical to unlocking spaces behind Scotland’s well-packed middle. If Højlund is fit, his pace and physical presence provide an outlet for vertical transitions; if not, Jonas Wind or any other attacker will offer a more link-up-oriented alternative.
After all, Denmark may not need to dominate possession to dictate the match, only to manage Scotland’s momentum and pick the right moments to eventually strike.
Possible Starting Lineups of Scotland and Denmark
Scotland: Craig Gordon – Aaron Hickey, John Souttar, Scott McKenna, Andy Robertson – Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson – Ben Doak, Scott McTominay, John McGinn – Che Adams. (4-2-3-1)
Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel – Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Patrick Dorgu – Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Morten Hjulmand – Gustav Isaksen, Christian Eriksen, Mikkel Damsgaard – Rasmus Højlund. (4-2-3-1)
Scotland vs Denmark Betting Odds and Prediction
The betting odds on EveryGame list Denmark as slight favorites at +110, while Scotland sit at +230 and the draw, which is enough for Denmark to qualify, comes in at +205. With Scotland needing to attack and Denmark dangerous in moments of transition, the match sets up perfectly for chances at both ends.
Our preferred play is Both Teams to Score – Yes (-118), a selection supported by Scotland’s need to commit forward and Denmark’s efficiency in punishing defensive gaps. When it comes to individuality and players markets, Scott McTominay at +333 stands out as a strong anytime goalscorer option, given his late surging runs and big-game scoring record for Scotland (we all remember his heroics in the 2-0 win over Spain in Euro 2024 qualifying, don’t we?)..