Let the battle commence: England face bitter rivals Scotland at Wembley Stadium

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Scotland are poised with the monumental task of overcoming rivals England if they are to have any chance of progressing through to the last 16 at Euro 2020.

Both sides endured a polar opposite start to the European Championships as England find themselves second in the group behind the Czech Republic. They got revenge on Croatia after the 2016 World Cup as Raheem Sterling ensured three points were coming home.

As for the north side of the border, it was a horror start for Steve Clarke’s men as they delivered an under-par performance against the lacklustre Czech Republic as they currently sit bottom of the group.

Patrik Schick inflicted the damage as he scored a brace to hand Scotland a 2-0 defeat at Hampden Park. It was a game that showcased the difference of quality at the top of the pitch as the Tartan Army created their fair share of chances but both Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams and a whole host of names were unable to convert their effort into the back of the net.

Entering Friday’s game, it’s for sure a fixture both sides will look forward to as their rivalry and pride are on the line. With it being a one-off fixture, there will be no script to follow and after a poor start to the tournament, Scotland know that they need to come away with something from the game.

England will be relaxed and quietly confident after their recent result, many players impressed as it looks like Gareth Southgate could make minimal adjustments entering the game.

As for the Tartan Army, Steve Clarke is expected to make a whole host of changes after a disappointing opening match. Che Adams is expected to start after he was introduced at half-time against the Czech Republic, while Billy Gilmour is knocking on the door as he looks to play against some of his club teammates. Kieran Tierney will be ‘touch and go’ after a small knock in training.

One’s To Watch

Raheem Sterling

The Manchester City winger opened his account at Euro 2020 last week as he scored the sole goal of the game. While he claimed the headlines, his movement off the ball was a constant threat all afternoon and he could well be England’s main vocal point on Friday.

Southgate has put his trust in Sterling, and when Harry Kane is often being isolated in games, he has the ability to step up on the biggest of stages. He will be up against Stephen O’Donnell or Liam Palmer, both are not gifted with Sterling’s electric pace and he’ll be a massive threat for England.

Billy Gilmour

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If Gilmour starts on Friday, it’s safe to say he will have a lot of eyes watching his performance and especially Steve Clarke. The Chelsea midfielder will be keen to cement his name on the team sheet as he has coped with bigger pressures having made his debut against Liverpool.

Knowing a large amount of the England camp will only be a positive for Gilmour. He will have to task risks on the ball to dominate and secure possession as much as possible as it won’t be an easy night for Scotland.

The quicker the young midfielder settles into the game the better and it will be key for the outcome on the night. It is not only a big night for Gilmour but also the future of Scotland.

Kieran Tierney/Andy Robertson

Everyone knows that Scotland are poised with two world-class left-backs within their squad. The link-up between the two players is incredible causing numerous issues for the opposition in the attacking third. With Roberston at centre-back and Tierney left wing-back, the two rotate simultaneously throughout the game making bursting and dynamic runs.

When watching the game against the Czech Republic, you could see how important the left-hand side of the pitch is for Scotland when orchestrating attacking opportunities and it will be a big task for Kyle Walker to stop this on Friday as he may also need help from Phil Foden defensively which the 21-year-old may be reluctant to do.

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