Scotland Men's Football Team

Steve Clarke will select Craig Gordon as his first-choice goalkeeper for the World Cup if the injured 43-year-old recovers in time for the summer, says former Scotland international Cammy Bell.

The Hearts man has played just three times this season, finding himself down the pecking order at Tynecastle amid a campaign plagued by fitness problems.

The veteran goalkeeper produced one of the saves of the season in the Scottish Premiership leaders' vital victory at Dundee in January, but he has featured just twice since.

Angus Gunn, who is also struggling for minutes at club level, was restored to Clarke's line-up for Scotland's friendly defeat to Japan on Saturday.

However, former Hearts player Bell believes Gordon will get the gloves if he can return from a shoulder issue by the time the Scots jet off to the US in June.

"If Craig Gordon's fit for the World Cup, I think Craig Gordon will play," Bell said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Yes, it would be ideal if Craig can get a few games under his belt before then, but if that doesn't happen, I really don't think that affects Steve's decision too much.

"He handles the pressure games really well. He's still a top, top goalkeeper. I think it's also that experience he's got as well.

"But it's good to have Angus Gunn playing. He did well on Saturday again - some decent saves and everything that was asked of him he did very tidily. He looked very confident within the game as well.

"We would expect him to play again on Tuesday night. I think if we can get as much game time as possible into Gunn before the World Cup, it sets us up in a better place to have Angus and Craig there to fight it out."

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Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae has warned his players to expect a stiffer test from Scotland on Tuesday and said "we are not getting carried away" by Saturday's 4-0 defeat of South Korea.

Goals from Evann Guessand, Simon Adingra, Martial Godo and Wilfried Singo secured a comfortable victory at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes - their first outing since their Africa Cup of Nations campaign ended in quarter-final disappointment.

Fae, who has been under pressure despite his side topping their group before losing to Egypt, said: "I believe Scotland are at a higher level than South Korea and it will be a very big test for us. They are a strong team.

"We are going into the game in a good place after scoring four very good goals. We didn't concede either - that's important for confidence.

"We also showed that we are capable of winning and playing good matches against teams that have World Cup experience, so it's encouraging for the future."

However, the scoreline perhaps flattered Ivory Coast, with Fae admitting South Korea caused his side "some problems".

Former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu had already fired against a post before Crystal Palace forward Guessand poked home the opener from six yards.

Seol Young-woo also shot against a post before Monaco winger Adingra fired the second from 15 yards in first-half stoppage time.

Oh was denied by goalkeeper Yahia Fofana before Strasbourg winger Godo, in his senior bow after switching allegiance from England, pounced on Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun's poor header to stab in the third after his first effort was blocked by goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-Woo.

Lee Kang-in also found a post before Galatasaray defender Singo side-footed home from 15 yards to complete the scored in stoppage time.

"We are not getting carried away with this win and it is important for the team to keep working hard, even after scoring four goals and keeping a clean sheet," Fae added.

He was particularly pleased with the victory considering he had given "other players a chance to prove themselves" as he looks to narrow down his squad for the World Cup finals.

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, the former Rangers loanee, came on as a second-half substitute and provided the assist for the fourth goal.

Fae said he knew his strikers were in good form and was pleased that three were among the scorers.

Tyler Fletcher, who could make his Scotland Under-21 debut against Portugal on Tuesday, says there is no chance he will follow twin brother Jack's decision to pledge his future to England and the 19-year-old Manchester United midfielder has targeted surpassing father Darren's 80 caps for Scotland. (Scottish Sun), external

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay is not talking to Saudi Pro League clubs as the 29-year-old's focus remains in Italy with Napoli. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

We asked for your thoughts after Scotland fell to a narrow friendly defeat by Japan at Hampden on Saturday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Brian: The team reverted to the old way of trying to not lose rather than trying to win. Yes Japan are higher in the rankings but we seemed to try not playing with the same style that we showed against Denmark. We are a much better team when we try to play skilful football. Too often we played square or backwards, it was if we were scared to show how good we can be. We need to show that we have good players who are not afraid to try being positive.

Graham: You've got to ask why Lyndon Dykes is first choice striker? Four goals for Charlton Athletic, yet Oli McBurnie has 14 and numerous assists for Hull and can't even get in the squad, is it personal? Also Kyle Joseph has eight goals in the same team, yet not picked.

Iain: A wake-up call for this squad. Outplayed by Japan who could have scored three or four goals if they had been more clinical. You wonder where the goals are going to come from as there is no real quality in the forward areas.

Ian: Fans booing should wind their necks in. Japan are a good team, very tidy in and out of possession. Steve Clarke was experimenting. That is unlikely to be his starting 11 in Boston and he needs space to tinker. Bring on the Ivory Coast.

George: Dismal performance. One paced and absolutely zero movement going forward. We seem totally unable to move the ball quickly. Pedestrian at best.

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Jack Hendry believes being "tested every week out in Saudi Arabia against top strikers" will stand him in "good stead" as he aims to cement his place in Scotland's squad - and starting XI - at the World Cup finals.

The 30-year-old centre-half joined Al-Ettifaq, who sit seventh in the Saudi Pro League, from Club Brugge in 2023.

And he earned his 35th cap as he started Saturday's 1-0 friendly defeat by Japan at Hampden.

"There's a lot of football to be played before the World Cup, so you can't think too much of the future," Hendry said.

"But every minute you are on the pitch, you are trying to impress the manager to get into that World Cup squad and team.

"There's competition all over the pitch. We've got a real good pool of players.

"But I get tested every week out in Saudi Arabia against top strikers. That will put me in good stead.

"If you look at the pool of players out in Saudi Arabia, there are top international players and it can only help me when I come up against them internationally.

"If you look throughout the league, there's a lot of players who will be going to the World Cup."

Hendry thought facing a Japan side who are "ranked 18th in the world and have had one defeat in their last 10" was "a very good test for us", although he was disappointed with the defeat.

He thought playing Ivory Coast in Liverpool on Tuesday would be another "learning curve" against another country with a different style and "good players".

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Lyndon Dykes believes he has achieved his goal of enhancing his World Cup chances and improving Charlton Athletic as a team after signing from Championship rivals Birmingham City in January.

The London side might have only moved up one place - to 18th - since the Scotland striker arrived, but they have won five of their 14 games since, compared to two of the previous 14.

"Really enjoying my time there," the 30-year-old, who has scored twice in 13 games for his new club, said. "The main aim was getting game time and minutes, feeling good and making Charlton a better team hopefully and I think I've done that so far.

"We've got to finish the season strong, I am there until the summer and then we'll see what happens."

Dykes earned his 49th cap by starting Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Japan but is not taking his seat on the plane to the Americas for granted.

"You have to make sure you finish strong and finish fit and hopefully performing as well," he said.

Dykes recognises "there are things we can do a little bit better" when the Scots face Ivory Coast in Liverpool on Tuesday.

"We conceded a sloppy goal, but these are games that we can learn from going into the World Cup," he added.

"We don't want to be losing games, but the manager is trying new things out, he's got a bigger squad and I'm sure he'll use a lot of the squad for the next game.

"It is another test and another team we haven't played before and it is going to cause us more challenges."

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Tommy Conway believes "there's no-one better in football to have behind you" than Andy Robertson as he tries to cement his place on the left side of Scotland's attack for this summer's World Cup finals.

The Middlesbrough striker realises he is one of those in the current squad who are in the position of "not knowing if we are going to go" to the Americas and face a "massive couple of months" to prove themselves to head coach Steve Clarke.

But he believes he "made an impact" as he made his first Scotland start despite the 1-0 defeat in Saturday's friendly at home to Japan.

"I really enjoyed it out there," 23-year-old Conway said. "I felt like it took me a while to get into the game, but once we got to grips with it, I naturally got into the game.

"We were unfortunate to lose the game, but we'll take the positives from it and go on Tuesday.

"Obviously it's been a while since I played for Scotland, but I like to think I took into the game what we've been working on in training.

"It wasn't too dissimilar to what I'm doing at club level. That's more or less where I've been playing - off the left and trying to come in and make things happen."

Conway said captain Andy Robertson, the Liverpool left-back, was "talking me through the game".

"There's no-one better in football to have behind you," he said. "Hopefully it is a combination on which we can build.

"When you are not having an impact in possession, you've got to have an impact out of possession and I feel like me and Robbo did that in the first half.

"In the second half, I thought our press was a lot better and allowed us to get up the pitch and in someone's face and that is a strength of mine."

Conway thought Saturday's match against Japan, and Tuesday's against Ivory Coast, would be good preparation for facing "players from three different continents" at the World Cup.

"Some of it I feel I have ever come across before, in terms of what they pose physically - they are sharp and they are fast and tactically they are good as well," he added of Japan.

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Celtic winger Sebastian Tounekti spoiled Haiti's preparations for their World Cup opener with Scotland by scoring Tunisia's winning goal in their friendly in Toronto.

Tounekti slotted the only goal of the game past goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre from the edge of the penalty box after a fine, defence-splitting pass from Ismaël Gharbi, the midfielder on loan to Augsburg from Braga, after only seven minutes.

The 23-year-old Celtic winger had a chance to add to his first-ever goal for his country seven minutes later but fired over from 15 yards.

Philadelphia Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques had Haiti's best chance shortly after, but his effort from close range was blocked at the near post by goalkeeper Sabri Ben Hessen.

Sayfallah Ltaief was denied by a near-post block from Haiti's Pierre after the break, while fellow forward substitute Hazem Nazon prodded over when through on goal.

However, Tunisia had to survive intense late pressure before Haiti's frustration was exacerbated when Jean Jacques was sent off for a second yellow card three minutes into stoppage time.

It was only Haiti's second defeat in seven outings.

Sebastien Migne's side next warm-up friendly is against Iceland, again at BMO Field in Toronto, on Tuesday, with Tunisia continuing their World Cup preparations against hosts Canada at the same venue the following day.

Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes believes his January move to Charlton Athletic from Birmingham City has reignited his hopes of being Steve Clarke's main man up front when the World Cup rolls around this summer. (The Scotsman), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Scotland began their World Cup preparations with a narrow friendly defeat by Japan at Hampden as substitute Junya Ito conjured a late winner.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean

"A disappointing result. It's good to get these challenges, we're trying to prepare as well as we can for a big summer ahead.

"We'll try to get better and that's what we'll try to do again on Tuesday. The shape was decent enough at times.

"The second half was a bit better out of possession, but I think we could have been a bit more threatening at the top end of the pitch.

"Japan a really good team, they press you really well, but that's what we're going to come up against in the summer.

"There's an expectation now and we want those expectations on us. We want to reach new levels as a squad and as a country."

Scotland defender Scott McKenna

"We had ideas that we worked on through the week that maybe we didn't execute quite as well on the ball.

"Japan have a lot of pace in the team to break early. We had a couple of chances that we maybe could have taken but didn't. Ultimately we gave away too many chances and they scored one towards the end.

"We're at home and we've qualified for a World Cup. This team have come that far that we expect to win these games at home.

"Japan have gone deep into competitions and we want to do the same going forward."

Scotland defender Jack Hendry

"It was a good test for us, Japan are a good side.

"Going into the World Cup it's good to play against these opponents. We knew it was going to be a tough test and it's a poor result.

"They move the ball really well, these are the types of opponents we need to play going into the World Cup. We will learn lots from it.

"We've got a lot more in the tank. Those small margins matter in a game like that, but I feel like we've got a lot more to show for ourselves.

"We've got a lot more to work on and improve but we'll do well."

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "There's a lot to take from the performance. Obviously there's are one or two things we can do better.

"To lose it on the goal that we lost is disappointing. The game at that stage looked like it was going to peter out to a 0-0 draw.

"We made a mistake, probably tried to go forward too early, got caught and they managed to score off it.

"I thought we defended well in the game against a very good side. They pop the ball around really well and we knew they would cause us problems . I thought it would be a low-scoring game and it was.

"Young Tommy [Conway] did really well coming off the left side. He did really well for us and didn't do himself any harm tonight. I liked my midfield, my midfield was strong.

"We played a lot of good stuff and I think we can be a bit more progressive to get to the top end of the pitch but against top opposition sometimes that difficult.

"We'll recover now and get the next team ready to go. I anticipate six or seven changes and there's some personnel I want to see on the pitch. So it'll be a different team on Tuesday from the one that played today."