Scotland reaction: Steve Clarke left with more questions than answers after Ivory Coast defeat as final friendly confirmed
National team boss reacts to back-to-back friendly defeats as last World Cup warm-up opponents revealed
Steve Clarke insists there were some pleasing aspects for Scotland to focus on after failing to score for a second successive game in Tuesday night’s friendly defeat to Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
After losing 1-0 at home to Japan on Saturday, a heavily rotated Scotland side went down by the same score line to their African opponents on Merseyside with former £72m Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe bundling home from close range in the first-half for the only goal of the match.
The Ivorians created good opportunities to make the score line more comfortable after the Scots failed to build on a bright start to the contest. Manchester United star and ex-Rangers loanee Amad Diallo had a fierce drive superbly saved by Scott Bain in the closing stages, while Simon Adingra struck the woodwork.
Back-to-back losses and a number of lacklustre performances across the two matches leaves Clarke with plenty to stew over before his squad reunite in May ahead of jetting off to the USA.
Scotland’s reaction to conceding goal leaves Clarke disappointed
“Disappointed to lose again,” Clarke admitted. “Like always with friendlies, some things were good, some things bad. I thought we started the game really well. We got caught on the counter attack. We didn't react well to losing the goal. First half became a bit of a struggle.
“Second half, I thought we were excellent, we dominated the ball and asked them to defend. To be fair to Ivory Coast they defended very well. Sometimes you're hoping the ball will fall for you and it didn't fall for us tonight, but you have to make it fall for you. That's the little bit we need to get better at.”
Clarke must submit a provisional 55-man squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup on May 11 - accounting for pre-tournament injuries and possible dips in form - before whittling that enlarged list down to 26 players by the FIFA deadline on May 30.
Discussing his final squad selection, Clarke added: “Still plenty of things can happen. I won't get too carried away. Going into previous tournaments I've lost players to injury.”
George Hirst impresses in World Cup audition
Ipswich Town striker George Hirst impressed with his World Cup audition and is hopeful that a first goal in dark blue isn’t far away after earning plenty of plaudits.
“It was a tough game,” Hirst told BBC Scotland. “We started on the front foot and were causing them issues, but we committed too many bodies forward and we got caught. We were a little bit sloppy at times, but second half we came out with a great mentality and got after them.
“All I can do is go out whenever I get an opportunity and play as well as I can. If I can keep doing that and doing it for Ipswich, it will stand me in good stead. I'm getting in the positions and on another day I would have come off with a couple of goals. Hopefully they start going in.”
Scotland are next in action against Curacao on May 30 at Hampden before Clarke’s men head out America where they will play one further warm-up game against Bolivia in New Jersey, who are taking part in a play-off against Iraq in the coming hours as they bid to become one of the last nations to seal qualification.