Scotland lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast in Liverpool, their second friendly defeat of the international break.
After losing at home to Japan on Saturday, Scotland showed more intention and effort in their performance, but they proved inadequate in both boxes.
It was also a flat display at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, attended by Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Kenny Dalglish and Toffees manager David Moyes. As at Hampden Park, there was some booing against Steve Clarke’s side at half-time and full-time.
Clarke made nine changes, giving some bit players a chance to shine in a 3-5-2 formation with George Hurst and Che Adams able to play as two strikers.
Only captain Andy Robertson (who won his 92nd cap and is now 10 behind Dalglish, who leads the all-time appearances list) and Scott McTominay remain in the standings.
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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was impressed by his players’ reaction in the 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast and pinpointed what they needed to do to be successful.
However, former Arsenal player Nicolas Pepe put Ivory Coast ahead in the 12th minute and Scotland could not find the quality or inspiration they needed to get on the scoresheet.
Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain and Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson came on in the second half and Scotland increased the pressure, but still struggled to create clear chances.
Hurst had two shots from the edge of the area, but remained vulnerable on the counter.
Substitute Nathan Patterson’s well-timed tackle inside the penalty area prevented Amad Diallo from pulling the trigger from a Scotland corner, and a good save from Bain denied the Manchester United winger, only for Simon Adingra to hit the post in stoppage time.
Scotland have two more warm-up games against Curaçao and an as-yet-unnamed opponent, and will be on the biggest stage in America for the first time in 28 years, facing Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in their group.
Nicolas Pepe scores the winning goal for Ivory Coast
Clark reacts to more boos: thought team was positive
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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is not focused on his future beyond this summer’s World Cup and insists he is “not concerned” with a deal being finalized.
Scotland national team manager Steve Clarke said:
“The more you talk about it (the boos), the more you encourage people to be negative. I thought my team was very positive.”
“I don’t think we deserved to lose. We started well and were trying to go forward with a positive outlook. Our system gave them problems at first, but we conceded a really bad goal on the counter-attack. Really good teams punish that. They’re a good team.”
“We didn’t react well, we lost control of the game and that’s something we have to improve on.
“We dominated the game in the second half. We couldn’t create anything clean, but that’s a credit to Ivory Coast.
“We need quality and composure in the final third. If we can do that, the chances will come.”
Robertson: There are some really good signs.
Scotland captain Andy Robertson told BBC Scotland:
“I thought in the second half we really figured out where we had to go off the ball and we caused them problems.
“Obviously they were winning 1-0, but we were a team that was trying to push forward and create.
“This is a friendly, we want to win these games and of course we will, but we are trying things and you can see with the changes we have made.
“There’s a lot to learn, but there are some really good signs, especially in the second half.”
