Georgia vs Scotland predictions: Clarke's depleted side could struggle
- Scotland are in the midst of three-game losing streak
- The Scots have never beaten Georgia away from home
- Recommended bet: Georgia to win
Scotland have already qualified for Euro 2024 next summer heading into Thursday's away clash with Georgia, but with a depleted squad and history against them in the fixture, Steve Clarke's side could be in for a tough evening in Tbilisi.
Spain's victory over Norway last month was enough to see Scotland qualify for a second-successive European Championships and they have achieved that feat with two games to spare in Group A.
Clarke's side will round off their qualifying campaign at home to Norway on Sunday, but before then they must visit a Georgia team who also remain in with a chance of reaching the Euros, as they have a play-off place already wrapped up.
Team news
Clarke already knew he would be without several key players for this international break, with goalkeeper Angus Gunn, captain Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey and Kieran Tierney all sidelined through injury.
However, they have been joined in the treatment room by Che Adams, with the Southampton forward having withdrawn after initially being called up due to a groin issue. Hearts frontman Lawrence Shankland has taken his place in the squad.
Georgia have a near fully-fit squad to choose from, although teenage midfielder Gabriel Sigua has returned to his club Basel due to injury.
Head coach Willy Sagnol has all his big hitters to call upon, including Napoli starlet Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ajax forward Georges Mikautadze.
The stats
Scotland won their opening five Euro 2024 qualifiers, including beating Georgia at Hampden in June, before last month's defeat to Spain.
That loss in Seville is one of three Scotland have suffered in a row heading into this game, as they have also been beaten in friendlies by England and France.
Georgia have only lost once in 10 home matches — a 7-1 defeat to Spain during this qualifying campaign — but since then they have recorded an 8-0 win over Thailand and a 4-0 success against Cyprus on their own patch.
The Crusaders have also won both their previous home meetings with Scotland, claiming a 2-0 success in October 2007 that severely dented the visitor's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008, before emerging as 1-0 victors, again in Euro qualifying, back in 2015.
Prediction
Scotland have already achieved their primary objective in qualifying for the Euros and although they can still pip Spain to top spot in the group, realistically their thoughts will be turning to next summer's tournament.
With key players such as Robertson, Tierney and Gunn already missing through injury, this could be an experimental Scotland team that lines up at the Dinamo Arena and Georgia can take advantage.
The hosts have won both their previous meetings with Scotland on home soil and they have also beaten the likes of Sweden and North Macedonia on their own patch in the not too distant past.
Georgia could well be facing Scotland at exactly the right time and, with attacking quality from the likes of Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze, Sagnol's team can win this game.
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