If you are searching for Scotland National Football Team vs England National Football Team Lineups, the first thing worth knowing is that the oldest fixture in world football is not currently on the calendar. The two nations last met at Hampden Park in September 2023, and neither side’s schedule for the rest of 2026 includes the other. That does not make the question any less interesting. Both squads have been rebuilt, refreshed and tested on the biggest stage since then, and fans want to know who would line up if the Auld Enemy were drawn together again. This guide covers the managers, the full player pools, the likely starting elevens, the tactical contrast and the last ten meetings in detail.
Why Scotland vs England Still Matters
No fixture in international football carries the same weight of history. The first official international match in the sport’s history was played between these two sides in Glasgow in 1872, and the rivalry has produced more than 110 games since. For decades it was an annual event in the British Home Championship, and when that tournament collapsed in 1984, the Rous Cup was created largely to keep the fixture alive. When the Rous Cup ended in 1989, the two nations barely met for years. They have only played each other seven times since the turn of the century, which makes each meeting feel like an occasion rather than a routine.
Across all matches, England hold a narrow lead in the all-time record, with roughly 48 wins to Scotland’s 41 and around 26 draws. That balance hides how one-sided the modern era has been. In the ten most recent meetings, England have won seven, Scotland one and two have been drawn. Scotland’s only win in that stretch came more than a quarter of a century ago.
Where Both Teams Stand in Late 2026
England under Thomas Tuchel
England are managed by Thomas Tuchel, the German coach appointed in January 2025. His first full cycle was nearly flawless in qualifying: eight wins from eight, 22 goals scored and none conceded. England then went to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico as one of the favourites. They beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening group game, were held 0-0 by Ghana, progressed to the knockout rounds and reached the quarter-finals, where they met Norway in Miami. Since the summer, England have returned to UEFA Nations League duty in League A, with fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia.
Tuchel’s England are built around a settled spine and a ruthless approach to selection. Several famous names, including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold, were left out of the World Cup squad, a clear signal that form, fitness and fit with his system matter more than reputation. Harry Kane, now a Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich and the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, remains captain and the focal point of everything England do.
Scotland under Steve Clarke
Scotland are managed by Steve Clarke, who has now taken charge of more games than any manager in the country’s history. Under Clarke, Scotland reached Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and then the 2026 World Cup, their first since 1998. They qualified in dramatic fashion, beating Denmark 4-2 at Hampden Park in November 2025 after Scott McTominay’s early overhead kick and Kenny McLean’s stoppage-time strike from his own half. At the finals they were drawn in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. In the Nations League, Scotland compete in League B, Group 1, alongside Slovenia, North Macedonia and Switzerland.
Where England have depth and star power, Scotland have organisation and character. Clarke’s teams are compact, difficult to break down and dangerous from set pieces and late runs into the box. The squad has a strong Premier League and Serie A core and a handful of home-based players who have earned their places.
England Squad: The Players Tuchel Relies On
The table below shows the 26-man group named for the 2026 World Cup, which remains the best guide to Tuchel’s pool. Clubs are as listed at selection and may have changed since.
| Position | Players (club at selection) |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City) |
| Defenders | Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Reece James (Chelsea), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen) |
| Midfielders | Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) |
| Forwards | Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli) |
Key England players
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, striker, captain). England’s all-time leading scorer had passed 110 caps and 78 goals before the World Cup. He scored 26 league goals in the Bundesliga title season and remains the first name on the team sheet. Against a low defensive block like Scotland’s, his link-up play and penalty-box movement are the main route to goal.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, attacking midfielder). Back in the squad after being left out in autumn 2025, Bellingham gives England drive between the lines. He scored in the 2023 win over Scotland at Hampden and is the type of player who decides tight games.
Declan Rice (Arsenal, midfielder). Rice is the engine of the side. With Elliot Anderson holding the base, Rice is free to carry the ball forward and arrive late in the box.
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest, defensive midfielder). Tuchel’s biggest discovery. Anderson debuted in September 2025 and quickly became the anchor, valued for positional discipline, work rate and tidy distribution.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, winger). Reliable, direct and tireless, Saka supplies the crosses and cut-backs that England’s forwards feed on.
Jordan Pickford (Everton, goalkeeper). Now a veteran of five major tournaments, Pickford is the undisputed number one, whatever the debate about his distribution.
Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones and Nico O’Reilly. This is the defensive group Tuchel keeps returning to. Guehi and Konsa are quick and comfortable defending space, Stones brings experience and passing range, and O’Reilly offers versatility on the left side.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon (Barcelona). Both give England pace on the flanks and can punish a team that pushes too high.
Scotland Squad: The Players Clarke Relies On
Here is the 26-man group named for the 2026 World Cup, again the strongest indicator of Clarke’s current pool. Clubs are as listed at selection.
| Position | Players (club at selection) |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers) |
| Defenders | Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic) |
| Midfielders | Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Napoli) |
| Forwards | Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich Town), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ross Stewart (Southampton) |
Key Scotland players
Scott McTominay (Napoli, attacking midfielder). The star of the squad. Since moving from Manchester United to Napoli, McTominay has become a goal-scoring midfielder who arrives in the box at speed. His overhead kick against Denmark is already part of Scottish football folklore.
Andy Robertson (captain, left-back/wing-back). The most capped player in the group, with more than 90 caps, Robertson provides leadership, energy and a high volume of crosses.
John McGinn (Aston Villa, midfielder). McGinn is the heartbeat of the team: tenacious, creative and fearless in the big games.
Kieran Tierney (Celtic, defender). Fit again after years of injury setbacks, Tierney gives Clarke quality on the ball from the left side of a back three.
Angus Gunn and Craig Gordon (goalkeepers). Gunn has been the first choice for much of the cycle, while 43-year-old Gordon stepped in during qualifying and remains a trusted figure.
Che Adams (Torino) and Lyndon Dykes (Charlton). The two strikers Clarke has leaned on most. Adams offers mobility and link play, Dykes brings physical presence in the air.
Ben Gannon-Doak and Findlay Curtis. The young wild cards. Gannon-Doak is a direct, fearless winger and Curtis, still a teenager at selection, represents the next generation.
Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) and Ryan Christie (Bournemouth). Both add technique and work rate in midfield and are regulars in Clarke’s rotation.
Predicted Starting XIs
The projected elevens in this section are what answers the search for Scotland National Football Team vs England National Football Team Lineups right now. They are informed predictions built from the latest squads and recent selections, not official team sheets, since no match is scheduled. Injuries, club form and the specific demands of a fixture would change them.
England predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
| Line | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Jordan Pickford |
| Defence | Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly |
| Midfield | Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice |
| Attacking three | Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford |
| Striker | Harry Kane |
Bench options: Henderson, Stones, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Eze, Gordon, Watkins.
Scotland predicted XI (3-4-2-1)
| Line | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Angus Gunn |
| Back three | Jack Hendry, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney |
| Midfield four | Anthony Ralston, Lewis Ferguson, Kenny McLean, Andy Robertson |
| Attacking two | Scott McTominay, John McGinn |
| Striker | Che Adams |
Bench options: Gordon, Hanley, Hickey, Patterson, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Curtis, Dykes.
The Tactical Battle
England want the ball. Under Tuchel, England look to dominate possession, press in organised waves and use Rice and Anderson to control the middle. The full-backs push on, Saka and Rashford stretch the pitch, and Bellingham drifts into pockets behind the opposing midfield. Kane drops deep to link play, which creates space for runners.
Scotland want to frustrate. Clarke’s three-man defence turns into a five when the opposition has the ball. Robertson and Ralston drop to wing-back positions, Ferguson and McLean screen the centre, and McTominay and McGinn hunt second balls. Scotland are most dangerous when they win possession high and send runners beyond the striker, or from dead balls where Souttar, Hendry and McTominay are a genuine threat.
Key duels. Saka against Robertson on England’s right is the flashpoint, because it tests whether Scotland’s captain can attack and defend in the same match. Rice and Anderson against McTominay and McGinn will decide who owns the middle third. And the aerial contest between Kane and Scotland’s centre-backs could shape the entire game, especially from set pieces and crosses.
Last 10 Scotland vs England Matches
The table below lists the ten most recent men’s senior meetings, newest first.
| # | Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 Sep 2023 | Friendly (150th anniversary) | Hampden Park, Glasgow | Scotland 1-3 England |
| 2 | 18 Jun 2021 | UEFA Euro 2020, Group D | Wembley, London | England 0-0 Scotland |
| 3 | 10 Jun 2017 | 2018 World Cup qualifier | Hampden Park, Glasgow | Scotland 2-2 England |
| 4 | 11 Nov 2016 | 2018 World Cup qualifier | Wembley, London | England 3-0 Scotland |
| 5 | 18 Nov 2014 | Friendly | Celtic Park, Glasgow | Scotland 1-3 England |
| 6 | 14 Aug 2013 | Friendly | Wembley, London | England 3-2 Scotland |
| 7 | 17 Nov 1999 | Euro 2000 play-off, 2nd leg | Wembley, London | England 0-1 Scotland |
| 8 | 13 Nov 1999 | Euro 2000 play-off, 1st leg | Hampden Park, Glasgow | Scotland 0-2 England |
| 9 | 15 Jun 1996 | UEFA Euro 1996, Group A | Wembley, London | England 2-0 Scotland |
| 10 | 27 May 1989 | Rous Cup | Hampden Park, Glasgow | Scotland 0-2 England |
What the numbers tell us
- England have won 7, Scotland 1, with 2 draws across these ten games.
- Goals: England have scored 20 and Scotland 7.
- England are unbeaten in their last five against Scotland (three wins, two draws).
- The most recent game saw Harry Kane score England’s third in a 3-1 win at Hampden, after Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham struck before half-time and Harry Maguire’s own goal pulled one back.
- The most dramatic recent game was the 2017 qualifier, when Leigh Griffiths scored two late free-kicks to put Scotland ahead before Kane’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued a point for England.
- Scotland’s last victory came in November 1999, but England still progressed from that play-off 2-1 on aggregate.
What to Expect If They Meet Again
On paper, England are clear favourites. Their squad is deeper, their qualifying record was perfect and they performed at the highest level at the World Cup. But Scotland have shown across the last few years that they are a very different side to the one that was beaten 3-0 and 6-1 in lopsided affairs of the past. Their organisation, belief and set-piece threat make them dangerous opponents, and the rivalry has a long history of upsets.
If you are trying to picture Scotland National Football Team vs England National Football Team Lineups for a future qualifier or friendly, expect Tuchel to field his strongest available spine of Pickford, Guehi, Rice, Anderson, Bellingham and Kane, while Clarke would almost certainly keep his back three and rely on McTominay, McGinn and Robertson to drag Scotland into the game. Expect England to have the lion’s share of the ball and Scotland to count on the break and the set piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a Scotland vs England match scheduled?
Not at the moment. England are playing in League A of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League against Spain, Czechia and Croatia, while Scotland are in League B, Group 1 with Slovenia, North Macedonia and Switzerland. The two teams are in different leagues, so a meeting would have to come through a future qualifying draw, a tournament draw or a one-off friendly.
2. Who are the managers of Scotland and England?
England are managed by Thomas Tuchel, who took charge in January 2025. Scotland are managed by Steve Clarke, who has led the team to two European Championships and the 2026 World Cup and has taken charge of more matches than any other Scotland manager.
3. Who has the better head-to-head record?
England lead the all-time series with about 48 wins to Scotland’s 41 and roughly 26 draws across around 115 meetings. In the last ten games England have won seven, Scotland one and two have been drawn. The most recent meeting was a 3-1 England win at Hampden Park in September 2023.
4. Which players should I watch in a Scotland vs England game?
For England, watch Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Elliot Anderson. For Scotland, the key names are Scott McTominay, captain Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and striker Che Adams. Young talents such as Ben Gannon-Doak could also make an impact off the bench.
5. When did Scotland last beat England?
Scotland’s last win over England was a 1-0 victory at Wembley on 17 November 1999 in the second leg of a Euro 2000 play-off. England won the first leg 2-0 at Hampden Park and went through 2-1 on aggregate. Since then, England have won five and drawn two of the games between the sides.
Final Thoughts
The clash between these two nations is as much about identity and history as it is about tactics. England bring a deep, well-organised squad led by Kane, Bellingham and Rice, while Scotland bring a resilient, tightly drilled team built around McTominay, McGinn and Robertson. Until a new fixture is announced, the projected sides above are the best way to picture a meeting, and the numbers suggest England would be favourites. Football history, though, says never to rule out the underdog, which is exactly why the search for Scotland National Football Team vs England National Football Team Lineups will keep coming back every time the two nations are drawn together. Bookmark this page and check back when the next fixture is confirmed.
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