Moldova v Scotland Match Preview, 12/11/2021

Match Facts

1. Scotland have won two of their three internationals against Moldova (D1), winning 1-0 earlier this World Cup qualifying campaign with a goal from Lyndon Dykes.
2. In the only previous meeting between Moldova and Scotland hosted by the Moldovans, the sides played out a 1-1 draw in Chișinău in October 2004, with Steven Thompson cancelling out a Sergiu Dadu goal.
3. Victory for Scotland would ensure them a play-off spot – the Tartan Army haven’t qualified for the World Cup since 1998.
4. Moldova are winless in their last 18 World Cup qualifiers (D3 L15), losing their last seven in a row by an aggregate score of 23-3. Their last win was in October 2013 away at Montenegro, a 5-2 win.
5. Scotland have won their last four matches, all in World Cup qualifiers – the Scots last won five games in a row between May and October 2007 under Alex McLeish, winning six consecutively.
6. Moldova have won one of their last 38 qualifying matches for major tournaments (D5 L32), a 1-0 home win over Andorra in June 2019 in what was a EUROs qualifier.
7. Scotland have won nine of their last 14 World Cup qualifiers (D4 L1), with their previous nine World Cup qualifying wins coming over a period of 27 matches (W9 D6 L12).
8. No player has scored more goals in World Cup 2022 qualification for Scotland than John McGinn (4 – level with Lyndon Dykes), although all four of his goals so far have come in home matches.