The warm-up match between Bolivia and Scotland in Harrison, New Jersey kicks off with excitement as Scotland quickly seizes the lead.
- 11m ago Goal! Bolivia 0-1 Scotland (Shankland, 5)
- 14m ago Away we go in Harrison
- 1h ago The Scotland team
- 2h ago Preamble
As the game unfolds, Scotland’s initial energy wanes slightly, raising concerns about the challenging climate conditions.
Fan Tony Barr shares his thoughts: “Clean your keyboard, John! The Guardian even declared Scotland’s away kit as one of the best of the tournament. Personally, I favored the vibrant pink Earl of Roseberry kit that stirred quite the debate. This one will suffice until the Euros come around.”
James Humphries chimed in, urging caution: “I know this is a bit far-fetched, but if you could avoid provoking the football gods or the ghost of Ally McLeod’s dog, that would be appreciated, aye?”
Bolivia starts to show more deliberate passing, with both of their full-backs currently playing in Russia, specifically at Akron Tolyatti, established in 2018.
A bagpipe tune fills the air as Bolivia earns a corner kick, but it fails to create a scoring opportunity. They might benefit from a Nicolas Jover to improve their set pieces, while Austin MacPhee, a Scot, assists Portugal with their corner strategies in this World Cup.
Defender Aaron Hickey finds himself out of position, leading to a foul by Gannon-Doak on Terceros. The ensuing free-kick is poorly executed and easily cleared.
Gannon-Doak attempts a cross from the flank, but it goes astray. Meanwhile, Andy Robertson is performing exceptionally well, raising questions about Liverpool’s confidence in him.
Scotland’s attacking vigor is evident, with murmurs of channeling Ally MacLeod’s spirit and predictions of a World Cup victory emerging.
Following a solid start, Christie and Robertson collaborate effectively, leading to a shot from Adams that Viscarra can only deflect.
Gannon-Doak appears empowered to push forward while Ryan Christie fills in, as Scotland adopts a classic 4-4-2 formation. This strategy pays off as Robertson overlaps, sending a cross from Christie to the back post where Shankland heads the ball into the net.
Andy Robertson, the captain, races towards Shankland’s flick but then fouls a Bolivian defender. The heat is palpable, and the Bolivians seem to control the ball well.
The stadium in Harrison is not at full capacity, and Scotland’s red kit seems somewhat unfamiliar, resembling that of Chile or a lower-tier La Liga team. Bolivia quickly makes their presence known, with Villamíl leading the charge, prompting Gtant Hanley to clear a header.
As the iconic “Flower of Scotland” echoes through the stadium, it appears the bagpipes have successfully passed customs at JFK.
Fan Tony Hughes reminisces about his school days during the Mexico ’86 World Cup: “Back then, eight of us in physics class held a sweepstake, paying two pounds each to randomly select three Scotland players. The one with the most goals would win the pot. Sadly, we had to include Alex Ferguson and Craig Brown, plus the goalkeepers, due to a mismatch in numbers. Some of us drew unlucky players. I ended up with Graeme Sharp, Arthur Albiston, and Maurice Malpas, who didn’t score, while the kid with Gordon Strachan won it all.”
That was the last sweepstake I participated in for Mexico ’86.
This stadium in Harrison, home to the New York Red Bulls, is a familiar spot for me; I visited back in 2010, just a short train ride from the World Trade Center, and there wasn’t much around. Searching for notable figures from Harrison, I found only Tab Ramos. I also recollect watching Juan Pablo Angel play for the Red Bulls.
Ben Gannon-Doak spoke to the media in New Jersey, stating: “I can’t predict our performance until the game starts, but I believe the team has had a solid week of preparation in the harsher conditions of Florida. We’re fully prepared to play the style of football we aim for. We hope for a positive result to build confidence heading into the World Cup and to enjoy the game. None of us expected to be here.”
Scotland’s previous match against Curacao was a win, but it proved costly for Billy Gilmour, opening a door for Tyler Fletcher.
Among the Bolivian squad, striker Paniagua plays for Wydad Casablanca, while Terceros is with Santos in Brazil, showcasing a mix of domestic talent and expatriates.
This match marks the first encounter between Bolivia and Scotland.
The Bolivian lineup includes: Viscarra, Rocha, Haquín, Morales, Fernández, Matheus, Vaca, Villamíl, Terceros, Ribera, and Paniagua. Their substitutes consist of Arroyo, Centella, Govea, Lampe, López, Macazaga, Melgar, Nacif, Tórrez, Viviani, and Zabala.
For Scotland, Angus Gunn is in goal, with Lawrence Shankland, Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey, Ben Gannon-Doak, and Ryan Christie participating from last week’s game against Curacao. Many changes are anticipated. Gunn, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Lewis Ferguson, and Che Adams are set to join the squad.
The Scotland team comprises: Gunn, Hickey, Robertson, McTominay, Hanley, Adams, Christie, Hendry, Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, and Shankland. The substitutes include Kelly, Gordon, Tierney, McGinn, Fletcher, Dykes, Stewart, Souttar, Hyam, Hirst, Patterson, McLean, Ralston, Curtis, and McKenna.
Ewan has also penned our Scotland preview.
Clarke adopts a pragmatic approach; however, it would be surprising if he doesn’t begin with two strikers in the opening game against Haiti. A win there would significantly enhance Scotland’s chances of advancing from the group stage for the first time in years. Moreover, there’s an underlying reason for Clarke to appear assertive; he faced criticism from fans for negative strategies during a crucial match against Hungary in the last Euros.
Against stronger teams like Morocco and Brazil, a more defensive approach is expected and justified. However, Clarke’s squad is well-trained and possesses a counterattacking threat.
Ewan Murray is tracking Scotland’s journey in the World Cup and will cover this match from New Jersey, with a keen focus on the upcoming game against Haiti.
Clarke has made it clear that he won’t adjust his plans based on potential fitness issues. “Do you want to wrap them in cotton wool and have them not train?” Clarke questioned. “You need to keep working. Injuries are a part of football. When they occur, especially in the manner that Billy’s did, it’s disheartening. Everyone must take a deep breath and move forward, and that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
Clarke emphasizes that he cannot modify strategies due to fitness concerns.
“Do you want to wrap them in cotton wool and have them not train?” Clarke stated. “You need to keep working. Injuries are part of the game. When they happen, especially in the circumstances surrounding Billy, it’s quite disappointing. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and move on. That’s our plan.”
As Harrison, New Jersey hosts this crucial warm-up for Steve Clarke’s squad, expect numerous substitutions and hope for no additional injuries after Billy Gilmour was sidelined last week. This is the final match before facing Haiti in a week, an opportunity to acclimatize and adapt to the conditions. Bolivia, unfortunately, did not qualify for the finals, having been eliminated by Iraq in the intercontinental playoffs. Their last appearance was in 1994, and it has been quite a while since the days of Erwin “Platini” Sanchez and Marco Etcheverry, a legend in MLS. Scotland returns to the World Cup after a long absence since 1998, making this match a pivotal step before facing Haiti.
The match is set to start at 9 PM Scotland time and 4 PM Eastern time.
