The playing of a Scotland fixture on Merseyside provided a significant boost to the area’s hospitality sector. Questions remain over whether or not Scotland’s World Cup involvement this summer can deliver on‑field impact.
Steve Clarke believes momentum is little more than a buzzword. There is an unavoidable sense, however, that Scotland are desperately in need of precisely that with North America calling. Supporters are edgy.
By contrast this has proved to be a wholly productive stop-off in the UK for Côte d’Ivoire. Les Éléphants will remember their two wins from two. They were good value for victory at Everton’s home. Scotland, while spirited, huffed and puffed.
Scotland had not played in Liverpool since victory against Wales in a World Cup qualifier in 1977. Kenny Dalglish, who scored that evening, was in the stands for this friendly. So, too, were footballing Scots with connections to the city; Duncan Ferguson, David Moyes, Graeme Sharp and Gary McAllister. Alex Ferguson’s legend is linked to Manchester but he, too, attended.
Clarke had promised a raft of changes from the side that tamely lost 1-0 against Japan on Saturday. The manager was true to his word; only Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay remained as starters. Robertson became the second-most capped Scotland player in history in the process. The full-back is within 10 of Dalglish.
Scotland opened brightly. George Hirst justified Clarke’s faith in attack. The Ipswich Town man should be on the plane to the US, given the pace and threat he offers. More worrying for Clarke is his goalkeeping position. Angus Gunn faced Japan despite only a single half of club football all season. Craig Gordon remains injured and even if fit is unlikely to play this season at Hearts.
Clarke turned here to the Rangers understudy Liam Kelly. Scotland’s manager will argue that he is duty‑bound to top up minutes but given Gunn is regarded as second choice, it would have seemed wiser to leave him in place.
Presumably it would have helped Gunn to encounter a different system; Clarke switched from the weekend back four to a three-man defensive line. Scott Bain, another deputy, replaced Kelly at half-time.
The glaring, early problem for the Scots was their generosity towards the Côte d’Ivoire forwards. Nicolas Pépé was standing in splendid isolation to tap home after Elye Wahi’s shot rebounded from a post. A swift Côte d’Ivoire counterattack left Scotland badly exposed. The goal settled the visitors, who played some gorgeous one-touch football for the remainder of the first half. Wahi’s dipping shot from range almost caught out Kelly. McTominay launched a Scotland response of sorts, the Napoli man’s effort from distance pushed away by the goalkeeper Alban Lafont.
Scotland were booed off at the break, in the latest example of displeasure from paying punters towards what is on offer. It seems extraordinary to think that Denmark and one of Hampden Park’s most spellbinding occasions, as the Scots reached the World Cup, was only two games ago. There is a rising undercurrent of noise, which even in a small way will place Clarke and his players under pressure at the tournament.
The issue of course is not actually Clarke’s. Côte d’Ivoire were proving themselves merely as the latest side with technical and physical ability that dwarfs what Scotland can offer. The theme has been ignored as Scotland have started qualifying for tournaments once more, but this was precisely the time when it should have been addressed. Clarke’s job, or that of his successor, will only get tougher.
Wahi was poised to double the lead for Côte d’Ivoire’s before John Souttar’s last-gasp block. Hirst responded by pinching possession from a Côte d’Ivoire throw-in, the 27-year-old snatching at a shot that flew high and wide. Guela Doué broke free from Dominic Hyam at a corner but his header cleared the crossbar.
Côte d’Ivoire withdrew Wahi, the former France youth international who had pestered the Scottish defence all evening. Bain saved well from Amad Diallo. Simon Adingra cracked a Scotland post. Scotland had the obvious desire to equalise, a matter undermined by their lack of cutting edge. Fans screamed for a penalty as Tommy Conway tumbled. It was an unconvincing moment, rather summing up the whole event for those in navy blue.
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