Scotland at the weekend sealed a 4-0 victory over Bolivia to finish their 2026 World Cup warm-up phase with a goal scoring flourish…
The national team are over in the USA just now setting up preparations for the big international tournament kicking-off this coming week. The competition starts this Thursday, 11 June, with Scotland set to play three days later against Haiti, in their opening gambit over in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland side scoring goals going into World Cup
Steve Clarke saw his men get past Curaçao last Saturday, with a 4-1 victory at Hampden Park against ex-Ibrox gaffer Dick Advocaat. After opening the scoring initially, the South American’s managed by the Dutch Dutchman went down to 10-men after a fairly hefty and reckless tackle, from Jürgen Locadia on Aaron Hickey.
Former Celt Ryan Christie scored against Bolivia
That advantage was enough to see the Scots come right back into the game, with goals from Finlay Curtis and Ryan Christie, either side of a Lawrence Shankland double. That controlled and assured display was all to the good, but many would have wondered if it was merely because Curaçao had been reduced to the 10-men for the majority of the match in Mount Florida.
Clarke’s side seem to have swatted away these fears, after Scotland battered Curaçao’s South American counterparts Bolivia in another strong showing, this time over in the States. At the Sports Illustrated stadium, the squad gave the ex-Kilmarnock boss a mighty headache ahead of our opener this coming weekend and confidence is now booming within the squad.
Anthony Ralston’s post match comments
Celtic’s very own Anthony Ralston was interviewed post-match and revealed that there is a real desire for the boys in the group to make history and qualify from the group for the first time ever.
To get out of the group is our aim – Ralston
“The boys were excellent,” Ralston said, via The Scotsman. “Since we arrived in America, we’ve put the work in and you saw that today. The goals and the clean sheet, all round very positive. We’ve had a bit of time to work in the sun and that was a great test before next weekend.”
The Celtic defender reiterated his gaffer’s message, that the squad will need to be utilised fully at this tournament, whilst he reaffirmed the belief amongst the current crop over reaching the knockouts.
“The gaffer has said it’s going to be a squad tournament. It’s a great group of lads and we want to do ourselves proud over here. As a collective, to get out of the group is our aim. I don’t see why we can’t.”
Here are the highlights from Scotland’s 4-0 win over Bolivia in the final warm-up match before the World Cup Finals get underway later this week….
Paul Gillespie
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