Ivory Coast 1-0 Scotland: ‘Scotland fans can fret – but they need to keep perspective too’
But don’t boo. You can imagine it’s stupid, but also extremely frustrating for players.
They tried to play progressive football against Ivory Coast, but often failed due to their own wastefulness, inaccuracy and the lack of explosiveness and intelligence that Ben Gannon-Doak provided them on his best days.
The hope is that Gannon-Doak continues his recovery and can fly to Boston. It’s also hopeful that Scott McTominay, John McGinn and the other totems of this team find their best on the biggest stage.
That’s a lot to hope for. The alternative is to be sad and boo and there’s no future in that.
Scotland had 14 shots to Ivory Coast’s 12 and 4 shots to their opponent’s three. They created difficulties for a team that went through its entire World Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal.
Clarke’s team will never be as ruthless as they were against Denmark on that famous night at Hampden; A header from McTominay, a world-class finish from Tierney, a miracle from half-range from Kenny McLean.
Lawrence Shankland’s goal was a throw-in, but Lewis accepts Ferguson’s corner would probably have gone in without any assurance.
Four goals and there was something odd about the whole thing. Now reality hits home again.
Scotland need to get back to what has brought them joy in the recent past: big pace, dangerous shots from distance, flooding the opposition penalty area, creating chaos, a kick, a bounce, a ball into the net.
McTominay, McGinn and Ryan Christie need to get into the box and finish.
They need Andy Roberton on one side, and Gannon-Doak on the other, to land crosses that will cause mayhem.
There are qualities that Clarke has as a centre-back. None of them are Harry Kane. The star quality lies elsewhere on this team. They all need to step up.
The second friendly defeat in four days was not a disaster, as it came after an admirable performance that was not worthy of booing.
Be anxious, be worried, be a quivering wreck about what might happen in America, but keep perspective. Scotland are there and they have a chance to do what none of their great predecessors have done.
The person booing them now should be a character who smiles at himself in the mirror in the morning, just to get out of this situation.
