Scotland get their UEFA Nations League campaign started on Monday when they host Albania at Hampden Park.
It will be Alex McLeish's first competitive game since taking the reins in February for his second spell as manager of the team and he will be hoping to kick things off with a victory.
The former Rangers and Aston Villa boss has won just once in five friendly matches thus far - a 1-0 win over Hungary - and suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Belgium last time out.
He will pit his wits against Christian Panucci, who has already put three points on the board for Albania after they beat Israel 1-0 in their Group 1 opener.
| Game | Scotland vs Albania |
| Date | Monday, September 10 |
| Time | 7:45pm BST / 2:45pm ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US) the game will not be available to watch on television, but it can be streamed live online using ESPN+. Live updates will be available on Goal here.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| N/A | ESPN+ |
The game can be watched live on television in the United Kingdom (UK) via Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Red Button and it can be streamed live online using Sky Go.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Red Button | Sky Go |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Scotland squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Archer, Gordon, A. McGregor |
| Defenders | Mulgrew, Robertson, O'Donnell, Shinnie, Souttar, Tierney |
| Midfielders | Armstrong, Forrest, Fraser, Jack, McDonald, McGinn, C. McGregor, McTominay, Patterson, Snodgrass |
| Forwards | Griffiths, Naismith, Russell |
Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson was recently appointed captain of the team and should lead them out on Monday. Tom Cairney, Jack Hendry, Oliver McBurnie and Matt Phillips are ruled out due to injury.
Potential Scotland XI: Gordon; Tierney, Mulgrew, Souttar; Robertson, McDonald, McGinn, Fraser, C. McGregor, Armstrong; Griffiths.
| Position | Albania squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Berisha, Strakosha, Hoxha |
| Defenders | Agolli, Mavraj, Hysaj, Gjimsiti, Veseli, Prenga, Binaku, Demiri, Mihaj |
| Midfielders | Lila, Hyka, Basha, Memushaj, Xhaka, Lilaj, Ndoj, Lika, Gavazaj |
| Forwards | Balaj, Manaj, Guri |
Albania will be without a number of players, including Odise Roshi, Akhmat Grozny, Armando Sadiku and Eros Grezda, but they will be able to call upon a number of Serie A regulars, such as Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, Napoli full-back Elseid Hysaj and Atalanta centre-back Berat Djimsiti. Basel star Taulant Xhaka, brother of Arsenal midfielder Granit, is also a key member of the squad.
Potential Albania XI: Strakosha; Binaku, Gjimsiti, Veseli, Hysaj; Basha, Xhaka, Hyka, Memushaj, Gavazaj; Balaj.
Betting & Match Odds
Hosts Scotland are strong favourites to win the game according to bet365, who give odds of 3/4 for McLeish's side to prevail. Albania are priced at 5/1 to win and a draw is available at 5/2.
Match Preview
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Negativity has surrounded the Scottish national team for quite some time now and things have not really picked up much in that regard since McLeish succeeded Gordon Strachan earlier this year.
Defeats to Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico and Belgium - albeit in friendly games - have done little to encourage supporters that things are going to be radically different under the 59-year-old, but the game against Albania is an opportunity to get off on the right foot.
“This is it for real now," McLeish told reporters ahead of the game. "I can feel it already. I woke up on Sunday morning and said to myself: ‘This is where it really begins.’ We have done some experimenting, looking at different players and we have a big roster now should we need to call people up.
"But this is it. The guys have got to bring their best performance level on Monday night."
The Scotland team is relatively young in profile, with just three outfield players over the age of 30, and with Liverpool star Robertson handed the captain's armband it is clear that McLeish is putting faith in youth to step up to the challenge.
However, Albania will be no pushovers and their recent record has actually been better than that of the hosts, given that they qualified for Euro 2016. Like Scotland, they finished third in their World Cup 2018 qualification group, but it is worth noting that they finished behind Spain and Italy in contrast to Scotland's rivals England and Slovakia.
With highly decorated Italy star Panucci in the dugout and a host of experienced Serie A stars in their panel, they will have no fear heading to Hampden as they look to upset the odds.
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