England vs Scotland: H2H, Auld Enemy Derby Rivalry, Watch Live & More
The England vs Scotland football rivalry is the oldest international fixture in the world and one which remains as intense as always.
The neighbouring countries are historical enemies, much of which has its roots in centuries of ongoing socio-political conflict.
We take a closer look at England vs Scotland including the H2H (stats correct – July 15, 2024), how to watch live, the history of the Auld Enemy rivalry and more.
England vs Scotland H2H
The two nations have faced each other in 115 official matches, with England leading the H2H 48-41 and the other 24 games finishing as draws.
The Three Lions also have the edge in terms of winning silverware, with their success at the 1966 World Cup the only time either team has lifted a major trophy.
Notable England vs Scotland Results
- Scotland 7-2 England – Friendly – March 1878
- England 1-5 Scotland – British Home Championship – March 1928
- England 9-3 Scotland – British Home Championship – April 1961
- England 2-3 Scotland – British Home Championship – April 1967
- England 1-2 Scotland – British Home Championship – June 1977
- England 2-0 Scotland – European Championship – June 1996
- Scotland 0-2 England – European Championship – November 1999
- England 3-0 Scotland – World Cup – November 2016
England vs Scotland Live Streams
Channel 4 is the best place to watch England matches, with the broadcaster owning the rights to broadcast their games until 2024. Scotland games are available on Viaplay until 2028.
If the two teams play in World Cup or European Championship tournaments, the games will likely be broadcast on the BBC or ITV.
There are loads of other streaming platforms that cover live international games, but you will need to use Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology to gain access.
One of the best services is Express VPN, which can be downloaded to various devices including Android, iOS, Fire TV, PC, Mac and smart TVs.
Auld Enemy Derby History
Scotland hosted England in the first-ever international match, with the two sides battling to a goalless draw in November 1872.
England struggled to match Scotland during the early years of the rivalry, losing 11 of their subsequent 17 friendlies and Home Championship encounters.
However, the balance of power eventually swung towards England, with Scottish victories becoming fairly sporadic from 1950 onwards.
A notable exception occurred in 1967 when Scotland famously defeated then-world champions England 3-2 at Wembley Stadium.
Scotland fans demanded that the World Cup trophy be sent north of the border, sparking an angry reaction from their English counterparts.
A pitch invasion at Wembley by Scotland fans in 1977 was a low point in the rivalry, with images of the crossbar being broken defining the disorder that day.
Hooliganism subsequently became commonplace whenever the two teams met, resulting in the end of the Home Championship tournament.
Meetings have been few and far between since then, with England dominating on the odd occasions they have been pitched together.
A feature of the rivalry is Scotland’s perception of English arrogance – feelings that are fuelled by resentment about the United Kingdom’s government’s bias towards the ‘Auld Enemy’.
Many England fans have become indifferent to Scotland, with rivalries against Germany and Argentina often viewed as having more gravitas.
England vs Scotland Controversies
While meetings between the two sides are generally feisty affairs, there is usually begrudging respect between the two sets of players and management.
However, it is a different story where the fans are concerned, with several noteworthy incidents marring England vs Scotland games.
One of the most noteworthy examples occurred in June 1975, when around 75,000 Scotland fans descended on Wembley for a Home Championship game.
Their team triumphed 2-1 – their first victory on enemy territory in ten years. Scotland fans were naturally eager to celebrate, and most ended up on the pitch.
They dug up the pitch and smashed the crossbars in scenes that had never been witnessed before at the home of English football.
This triggered further incidents in subsequent years, with a clash at Hampden Park in 1985 undoubtedly one of the most brutal.
England hooligans bought tickets in the Scotland end of the ground, sparking skirmishes that resulted in almost 100 arrests on the day.
The Home Championships were soon scrapped, resulting in the England vs Scotland fixture becoming a novelty since then.
A meeting in the 2020 European Championships highlighted that elements from both sets of fans could not coexist, with police making forced into action due to clashes in Leicester Square.
More England Resources
England News | England Fixtures | England Top Scorers | World Cup Winners
More Scotland Resources
