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In preparation for the upcoming tournament, head coach Steve Clarke chose to use a 4-4-2 formation during the friendly matches against Curacao and Bolivia. This strategy proved highly effective, as Scotland managed to score eight goals over the course of these two games, building considerable confidence ahead of the World Cup.
However, when the competition began, Clarke maintained the same formation for Scotland’s opening fixture against Haiti, despite the team recording fewer shots and a lower expected goals (xG) tally—1.05 compared to Haiti’s 1.21. The match’s only goal came from John McGinn, whose strike was deflected, while the starting forwards Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams had limited involvement. Shankland was relegated to the bench against Morocco as Clarke strengthened the midfield, yet Adams again struggled to influence the game. Often left isolated, Adams was unable to hold possession effectively or advance the ball, registering just 11 touches before being substituted by Lyndon Dykes in the 71st minute. Scotland ended that match without a single shot on target.
Looking ahead to the clash with Brazil, it is expected that Clarke will continue with the same tactical setup, but there might be alterations in personnel up front. Dykes, Shankland, Ross Stewart, and George Hirst are all in contention to replace Adams as the lead striker. Meanwhile, winger Ben Gannon-Doak brought fresh energy off the bench during the late stages of the Morocco game, helping Scotland finish strongly. Additionally, 19-year-old Findlay Curtis made his World Cup debut as a substitute against Haiti, showcasing his speed and skill, and may well be called upon in the upcoming fixture as Scotland aim to ease the mounting pressure.
Despite Scotland’s difficulties in generating clear attacking chances throughout the two group matches, their defensive performance has been mostly commendable. A single costly error came early in the Morocco game when Ismael Saibari broke past Grant Hanley to score within the first 70 seconds, which proved to be the match’s decisive goal. After that early setback, the Scottish defense contained a highly skilled Moroccan attack, limiting their threat significantly. Jack Hendry stood out with several key interventions, including a brilliant block to prevent Saibari from doubling the lead. Clarke acknowledged the tough start but praised the team’s resilience: “Terrible start but the reaction to that was good…This group of players, this squad, have shown that [resilience] in abundance over the years.” Such durability will be crucial as Scotland approach their final group game, where maintaining a solid defensive performance remains essential
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