World Cup Qualifying: Belarus vs. Scotland Preview
World Cup Qualifying: Belarus vs. Scotland
Venue: ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg Date: Monday, 8 September Time: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Scotland and the BBC iPlayer; listen live on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland; follow live updates, goal clips, and join the conversation on the BBC Sport website and app.
As Scotland fought hard to secure a point in Copenhagen on Friday, Belarus faced a challenging match against Greece, conceding several goals in the first 21 minutes. The only silver lining for Belarus was a consolation goal from the penalty spot by German Barkovskiy in the second half.
As the teams prepare for their fifth encounter in Zalaegerszeg, the pressing question is: how significant a threat do the Belarusians pose to Scotland's World Cup qualification hopes?
Quality of Hleb a Distant Memory
On paper, the answer should be 'not much,' given the disparity in squad strength and the leagues where the players compete. Belarus lacks a standout player like Aleksandr Hleb, who famously troubled Scotland during their unexpected defeat in 2005, or a striker of the caliber of Vitaly Kutusov, who scored the decisive goal in that match.
Nevertheless, Belarus still boasts competent players, including Valeriy Gromyko, who, alongside teammate Aleksandr Martynovich, helped Kairat Almaty eliminate Celtic in a Champions League playoff.
As Scotland's manager Steve Clarke emphasized after the draw in Denmark, the team will treat Belarus with the utmost respect.
Lack of Home Comforts Proves Problematic
However, Belarus has struggled to maintain a strong 'home' record since being forced by FIFA to play at neutral venues behind closed doors due to the country’s support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In 11 competitive matches under these conditions, they have only managed to defeat Andorra and Kosovo, drawing three matches in Zalaegerszeg during the recent Nations League campaign against Bulgaria, Luxembourg, and Northern Ireland.
Belarus has grown accustomed to facing adversity. Visa issues delayed their travel from Athens to Hungary, their current base, but the ongoing challenge of playing away from home without fan support has been particularly taxing, according to head coach Carlos Alos.
“When you don’t buy a home, you rent a home; it is not the same, it is not your home,” he stated. “We always face difficulties, never play at home, and have little time to prepare. We spend almost no time in Belarus. Ask Scotland's coach if he prefers to play at home or away; he will say he prefers to play at home.”
While they appreciate the support they receive in Hungary, Alos insists it is not the same as playing in their own country. The players continue to face challenges beyond their control, and it remains uncertain when they will be allowed to compete on home soil again.