Scotland Men's Football Team

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Captain Andy Robertson is urging supporters to remember the team that got Scotland to their first World Cup in nearly 30 years after sections of the fanbase were booing following Tuesday night's friendly defeat to Ivory Coast.

Some fans could also be heard booing after the 1-0 loss to Japan at Hampden on Saturday afternoon in their first pre-World Cup friendly.

"If we don't get the result we just get booed," Roberston said.

"What I will say is that 95% of the fans drowned it out very quickly. It's a small minority, it was a small minority at Hampden. When we were clapping the fans behind the goal was fans that were appreciative of what they've seen and appreciative of the team that took them to the World Cup. The reception at the end was unbelievable.

"I don't know if they just want to boo for the sake of it. To me, that was not a booing performance. I hate getting beat but there were a lot of positives to take."

The Scots avoided having to contest a World Cup play-off after finishing top of their qualifying group at the end of 2025 thanks to a memorable 4-2 victory over Denmark.

The Danes won't be at next summer's tournament in America after losing their play-off final against Czech Republic on penalties.

And Robertson is urging supporters to remember where Scotland could have been.

"We've learned a lot," Robertson said of the two friendly defeats.

"We look at the play-off games and how hard it is to qualify for the World Cup. People need to remember that we've done it, not the easy way, but we finished top of the group and we've got two friendlies in March when other teams are fighting for their lives to get to the World Cup."

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Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain is relishing his return to the Scotland national team after contemplating "calling it a day" and hanging up his gloves.

The 34-year-old's second half cameo in Tuesday night's 1-0 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast marked his first appearance for the national side since 2019 when he played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over San Marino as part of their qualifiers for Euro 2020.

Bain, who had been third choice goalkeeper at Celtic for a number of years, joined Falkirk in the summer and has become a mainstay as John McGlynn's side edge closer to securing top six football.

"I was planning on doing coaching badges and calling it a day," Bain said of his career turnaround in the last 12 months.

"It's been a great season, a great moment for me. I can go home and potentially have an amazing season at Falkirk and if that leads to getting on the plane for the World Cup then that leads to that."

Bain replaced Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly at half-time in Tuesday's pre-World Cup friendly against Ivory Coast and put in a solid performance.

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Angus Gunn had started Saturday's game against Japan and of the three called up for this month's friendlies, Bain is the only one getting game time on a regular basis.

And while the Falkirk number one is hopeful it'll stand him in good stead when Steve Clarke contemplates his World Cup squad.

"The manager said before we left that it's not often you get to play a game with the shackles off and not scrapping for three points," he added.

"It resonated with me, I've waited a long time to come back into the Scotland set-up and I'm just going to enjoy it.

"We've got excellent keepers with real experience and a lot of caps between them so it certainly helps me to feel like I'm in a better place."

We asked for your views on Scotland's 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on Tuesday night in their second pre-World Cup friendly.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Andy: I was at the match last night and the booing was ridiculous, as it was after the Japan game. There was also a lot of applause too. The players are doing us all proud and we have to be realistic about what we can achieve. Ivory Coast and Japan are two good teams and we were only one or two key moments away from beating both. Give me that in the World Cup and I'll be very happy.

Simon: Two Euros exited with a whimper and barely a sight of goal and we're looking well on form to continue the trend, despite the best quality of squad in nearly 50 years. Why? Dinosaur tactics and personnel selections from the manager.

Ryan: The lack of goals is a worry but I wouldn't look too much into it. Was good to see Steve Clarke trying a few different players that haven't had much of a chance only frustrating one for me is Lennon Miller getting zero minutes when in the last friendlies he was one of our better players.

Archie: Why ask Miller and Andy Irving to join the squad if Clarke wasn't willing to give them at least a few minutes game time in a preparatory friendly?

James: Lawrence Shankland is a natural goalscorer and would have done much better with those chances that George Hirst had last night. With Ben Gannon-Doak back too we can have a much more potent goal threat.

Nathan: We're just so bizarre I can't understand how we can have such a great pool of players at our disposal yet still not be able to piece it together and work as a team. This performance was a lot more encouraging than the Japan game but there are still some questionable decisions from Clarke such as not giving Lennon Miller any minutes or only giving Scott Bain a half of football when he is the only goalkeeper we have that is actually playing football frequently. We will get some players back from injury such as Aaron Hickey and Shankland but there are certain players that Clarke cannot afford to favourite if we are to choose our strongest squad for America.

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke told BBC Scotland: "Disappointed to lose again. Like always with friendlies, some things were good, some things bad.

"I thought we started the game really well. We got caught on the counter attack. We didn't react well to losing the goal. First half became a bit of a struggle.

"Second half, I thought we were excellent, we dominated the ball and asked them to defend. To be fair to Ivory Coast they defended very well.

"Sometimes you're hoping the ball will fall for you and it didn't fall for us tonight, but you have to make it fall for you. That's the little bit we need to get better at."

On his final squad selection, Clarke adds: "Still plenty of things can happen. I won't get too carried away. Going into previous tournaments I've lost players to injury."

And on his own future, Clarke says: "Most important thing is to get ready for the World Cup. My future can take care of itself whenever it does."

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Scotland captain Andy Robertson told BBC Scotland: "We changed the system and made nine changes. The manager is trying both systems.

"We caused them problems - last 20 minutes we were the team pushing forward. It's one of those games.

"We want to win these games, but we're also trying stuff. We get caught on the counter for the goal, which can't really happen.

"It's up to us now to go back to our clubs and be really excited for the summer."

Scotland striker George Hirst told BBC Scotland: "It was a tough game. We started on the front foot and were causing them issues, but we committed too many bodies forward and we got caught.

"We were a little bit sloppy at times, but second half we came out with a great mentality and got after them.

"All I can do is go out whenever I get an opportunity and play as well as I can. If I can keep doing that and doing it for Ipswich, it will stand me in good stead.

"I'm getting in the positions and on another day I would have come off with a couple of goals. Hopefully they start going in."

Much-changed Scotland ended their pre-World Cup camp by succumbing to a second successive friendly defeat against Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.

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John McGinn said it's "impossible not to regret" Scotland's showing at the past two major tournaments they qualified for but insists this summer's World Cup is an opportunity to prove themselves on the biggest stage.

Steve Clarke's side didn't win a game in Euro 2020 or Euro 2024 amid disappointing showings after promising qualification campaigns.

Aston Villa captain McGinn, who has 84 caps for his country, said he and his team-mates would be "lying" if they said their appearances at such tournaments were among the best moments in their international career.

"For us the priority is improving a lot on our last two major tournament performances and results," the 31-year-old said before the Scots' friendly against Ivory Coast on Tuesday at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"It's impossible not to regret them. You'd be lying if you sat there and said, 'aw, I enjoyed that or that I done myself justice'.

"I enjoyed the journey of getting there, but it's impossible to actually sit back and say those there the greatest moments we had in a Scotland jersey.

"There were small parts of it, the national anthem in Cologne is something I'll never, ever forget but the games we never done ourselves justice and we know we have a lot more to offer than that.

"We have another opportunity in the summer because we earned the right to be there by winning the group. We know we have the capability and potential to compete with the best nations, now we just need to show it."

Should he be selected and stay fit for this summer's tournament, McGinn will be chasing down a century of Scotland caps - something he admits is hard not to consider.

"When you start getting close to 100 you have your eye on it, you'd be lying if you said otherwise," he added.

"But the priority for both me and Robbo [Andy Robertson, who has 91 caps], we spoke about it last week, is to try and get this country through the group stage and achieve something special.

"So, if that meant that was my last three or four caps for my country that would make me much happier than making 20-odd more with poor results.

"We're determined to keep carrying on, I've said before I'll play until I'm told I'm not good enough, because I know what it feels like to be at the lower levels and play your way up."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Liverpool

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Head coach Steve Clarke has been addressing the media at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool before his Scotland side face Ivory Coast in Tuesday's friendly.

Here are the key lines:

• "A big, difficult challenge" awaits against Ivory Coast, who are "strong, direct, quick, good in attack and defence and were very clinical against South Korea," said Clarke, who reiterated that his players don't like him for picking difficult opponents.

• "No injuries is the ultimate priority," adds Clarke, "then performance, then result," insisting "we [players and staff] all think the same."

• On the subject of building "momentum", Clarke thinks it is a "buzzword" that is growing in football: "I don't know if momentum is good, bad or indifferent... I'll tell you in the summer."

• On perhaps taking "easier" friendlies to boost morale and Scotland's poor friendly record, he said: "I'm more interested in our record in competitive games and tournament record."

• Clarke is "fine" with expectations of his squad growing - in response to the reaction and booing after Saturday's defeat to Japan - adding: "The more you do, the more people expect of you, but I'd rather that than people not be bothered. If that level of expectation rises, that's fine - we can handle it."

• On his squad for the World Cup, Clarke confirmed it is a Fifa requirement to name 55 players for his provisional squad and he will "find them" before whittling them down to 26.

• On returning to the city of Liverpool, he said he had "a great time in a great city where I loved working with Kenny [Dalglish]."