Scotland at World Cup 2026: Steve Clarke’s side to progress beyond group stage for first time | football news

As Scotland’s World Cup opener approaches, Steve Clarke will have a rough idea of ​​who to play and how to set up.

Having said that, the Scotland boss admitted that he is “excellent problem” When it comes to party selection. Bolivia’s 4-0 thumping in New Jersey will give him food for thought – but he’s more certain of what he’s about to do.

He is a head coach who has broken many barriers. In 2020, he ended Scotland’s tournament exile by leading them to the European Championship. He followed it up by doing the same in 2024 and has now ended a 28-year wait to reach the World Cup.

The next hurdle is to advance from a group to a major final.

Reasons to be optimistic?

This squad has a lot of experience. You only have to look at the cap numbers, with a sprinkling of young players, and crucially most now have tournament football experience. The problem is, Scotland is in one of the most competitive groups that includes two of the top eight teams in the world rankings.

Coincidentally, these two teams, Brazil and Morocco, were Scotland’s last World Cup group opponents in 1998.

Their first opponents, Haiti, made the group during their first World Cup preparations since 1974. They are the bottom seed, and there will be an expectation that Scotland can win this game, which could be enough to qualify from the division.

That said, there are no guarantees. Never with Scotland. Remember Peru and Iran in 1978? Haiti have a squad with European club experience. I saw Wilson Isidore come on for Sunderland against Chelsea on the last day of the Premier League and cause problems. I thought at the time that Scotland could have a tough game.

They beat New Zealand 4–0 in a friendly in Miami before losing to Peru, where Isador put them in the lead.

Dakens Najan was a threat in the qualifiers, scoring a hat-trick against Costa Rica. St Mirren fans will remember him. He scored a couple of goals in a short spell at Paisley in 2019 and was sent off in the play-off final second leg as St Mirren beat the drop on penalties.

Scotland scored four goals in each of their warm-up matches. After that farewell win over Curacao at Hampden, the win over Bolivia was played in 33 degree heat in New Jersey. It was also a welcome first clean sheet since their first World Cup qualifier in Denmark in September.

For all the positives, we have to remember that they were both friendly. No one can get carried away, but how will we feel if Scotland lose both matches? Clarke wanted no injuries, a good performance and a win, and he got all three against Bolivia.

The team is now at their official training base in Charlotte, fine tuning for their World Cup opener.

Structure flexibility

Scotland is much more flexible than playing in the Euros in Germany. Then, they played 3-4-2-1. The back three was primarily used to fit Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney into the team and exploit their strengths on the left. It was a system that served them well and helped them qualify for two European Championships.

Since then, and starting in the Nations League, Clarke has moved with a back four. The rise of Ben Gannon-Doke and injury to Tierney, in part, forced the change.

Sometimes, he even went with two up front. He did so in the opening match of the World Cup qualifiers in Copenhagen. Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes were a hard-working threat and helped defend set-pieces at the back. The back three returned for the first half of the Ivory Coast friendly in March and showed Scotland can pivot and change when needed.

Striker selection dilemma

I have already mentioned the strikers. What’s the best pair if you decide to go with Clark Two Up Top? Or who will lead the line if a lone striker is needed?

The partnership of Adams and Shankland worked well against Bolivia, with Clarke able to impress with that dual act and Shankland keeping Scotland ahead, to add to his two goals against Curacao, while Adams got two himself in the first half. Adams scored a late goal for Torino in the final Serie A game of the season against Juventus in the Turin derby – but he was unsuccessful. He may hit form at the right time.

Dykes has scored just once in his last 21 internationals, but looking at that stat alone doesn’t highlight his full contribution in game time. He set up Shankland for one of his goals against Curacao.

Given that Adams and Dykes started together in Denmark in September, they have been trusted members of Clarke’s squad, but given Shankland’s form, is the choice now one of Shankland and Adams and Dykes?

Shankland also scored against Denmark in November to add to his 20 for Hearts this season. With his summer move to Rangers confirmed, the in-form striker will be hoping his scoring exploits give him an advantage. George Hurst won 11 during Ipswich’s campaign in the Championship and appears to be on the rise in international football, but has just one goal for Scotland so far.

Who gets the gloves?

The goalkeeping position is still an interesting topic. Angus Gunn was given the No.1 squad number, but will he be first choice? He got the nod against Bolivia, which could be an indicator. The three goalkeepers have played seven club matches between them this season. Seven of Gunn’s last eight career starts have been for Scotland, with just 45 minutes of football as a half-time substitute for Nottingham Forest against Crystal Palace in February.

Then you have Craig Gordon, 43, who struggled for minutes at title-chasing Hearts but pulled off his save of the season against Dundee in January. A recent shoulder injury is a matter of concern. Liam Kelly will continue as support and back-up. He made three saves against Curacao at Hampden Park.

Defensive decisions

There is competition at the back in terms of centre-backs. Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, John Sauter and Dom Haim will feel they deserve a shot. Hanley and Hendry did well in New Jersey, McKenna and Sauter started against Curacao.

Injuries to Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson in the past have meant a lack of depth on the right. Now they have the opportunity to make their mark in the World Cup. The advantage for Clarke is that Scotland were a threat to both sides against Bolivia. Gannon-Doc looked to be enjoying his last match against Curacao with a bit of a fight.

The Scotland head coach, having signed a new four-year deal, knows what international football requires. No one has taken charge of the national team more than him, but expectations have risen.

Scotland will have to handle the heat on and off the field in one of the toughest teams at the World Cup.