World Cup Prep Starts with Wake-Up Call for Scotland

Encouragement and concern in equal measure as the World Cup countdown begins for Scotland and Steve Clarke

Scotland’s first game after qualifying for this summer’s World Cup, ended in frustration as Steve Clarke’s side fell to a late 1–0 defeat against Japan, with substitute Junya Ito delivering the killer blow in the final minutes. After months of celebrating and reliving that stunning win over Denmark which sealed Scotland’s long-awaited World Cup comeback, this was a timely reminder that not every night will be glorious and that Scotland still have a huge amount of work to do on the pitch.

The signs were encouraging early on. Scotland came firing out the traps, and it was almost the perfect start. Scott McTominay, driving into the box with the swagger we’ve seen at Napoli, met John McGinn’s teasing ball from the right. His shot was sharp, but Japan keeper Zion Suzuki scrambled to get a touch, the ball hitting the post on its way out. It should’ve been 1–0, and on another night, it might’ve been.

But that early spark faded. Japan settled, their movement slick, their passing crisp, and gradually they began to pick apart the Scottish shape. Kodai Sano tested Angus Gunn from range before sending another effort sailing high and wide. Yuito Suzuki twice found himself in space, only to be denied by Gunn, while Ao Tanaka’s first-time strike glanced off the crossbar on its way over. It was an uneasy spell for Clarke’s side, who struggled to keep hold of the ball long enough to put Japan under sustained pressure.

The second half brought more control, at least for a while. Scotland pushed higher, forcing Japan backwards, and chances came. McTominay’s looping header cleared the bar before his free-kick drew another solid save from Suzuki. Andy Robertson, charging forward as ever from left-back, unleashed a fierce drive that stung the keeper’s palms but not much else. It all felt promising without ever truly threatening to turn the tide.

Then came the changes, they broke up the rhythm. As fresh legs entered for both sides, Scotland’s edge dulled again. Kaoru Mitoma, introduced off the bench, flashed one chance wide before Ito began to make his presence felt. The Genk forward first forced a stop from Gunn after ghosting past Jack Hendry, and when Scotland failed to clear danger down their left flank, Japan struck. Quick interplay carved open the defence, Ito burst through, and his low drive nestled into the far corner beyond the outstretched Gunn on 84 minutes. A moment of quality, and just about deserved for Japan’s persistence.

George Hirst, on for Lyndon Dykes, clattered a shot into the side-netting late on, but the equaliser never came. At full-time, boos accompanied the end of the game from a section of the support, with Clarke disappointed with the reaction afterwards.

The result won’t rattle Clarke much, but with Ivory Coast up next in Liverpool on Tuesday, Scotland will want to rediscover their spark before they kick off their World Cup campaign against Haiti on the 14th June.

World Cup opponents

Haiti 0-1 Tunisia
Brazil 1-2 France
Morocco 1-1 Ecuador