Scotland Men's Football Team

Former Celtic coach Darren O'Dea says Bournemouth and Scotland winger Ben Gannon-Doak felt he was being held back by the Scottish champions' "duty of care" despite being handed his first-team debut at 16 - and that the 20-year-old is a "generational talent". (The Margins), external

Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has revealed that national head coach Carlo Ancelotti sought his counsel over whether to recall 34-year-old Santos forward Neymar for this summer's World Cup, at which his side will face Scotland. (Football Transfers), external

Hibs midfielder Josh Mulligan is "running out of weeks" to make his return from injury this season, but head coach David Gray thinks there is a "strong possibility" the Scotland international could still play. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Haiti players have been handed a £2m bonus from their government for qualifying for the World Cup, where they are in the same group as Scotland. (The National), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Napoli have offered Scott McTominay a significant increase to his £2.6m per year salary if the 29-year-old Scotland midfielder extends his contract until 2030. (Il Mattino), external

AC Milan are considering a move for Andy Robertson should the 32-year-old Scotland left-back's summer switch to Tottenham Hotspur from Liverpoolfall through if the London club are relegated. (Sportmediaset), external

Dinamo Zagreb chief scout Tomislav Sokota says they have already received offers of around £10m for 29-year-old Scotland centre-half Scott McKenna, who has reportedly been scouted by Celtic. (The National), external

Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam has revealed he was interested in the St Mirren manager's job when Stephen Robinson left for Aberdeen. (The Herald), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, SNS

Former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam reckons Andy Robertson is still the Reds' best left-back despite deciding to leave the club this summer.

Robertson announced last week he would be departing Anfield at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on a nine-year Liverpool career in which he has won nine trophies, including the 2019 Champions League and two Premier League titles.

The Scotland captain, who is in advanced talks with Tottenham, has been restricted to just seven starts in the league this term following the arrival of Milos Kerkez last summer.

But Adam said: "I think you can put him up there as a legend of the football club.

"He's won every major honour, he's been there nine years, his performances over the years have been incredible.

"And for me, I still think he's the best left-back in the football club. He's been one of the great Liverpool left-backs over time.

"And he's had an unbelievable career from his rise from being released (by Celtic), to Queen's Park, to Dundee United, to Hull, to then going and playing for Liverpool for nine years. It's a special career that he's had.

"He's a really humble guy and understands where he's come from, and he deserves everything he gets."

Adam was clear in his verdict that the full-back is still capable of competing at the highest level.

"I think if you're any other club in the Premier League, maybe apart from two or three, you'd still be looking to sign Andy Robertson as one of the top left-backs in the league," said 40-year-old Adam, who is currently coaching in Burnley's academy.

"He's got that opportunity to pick where he wants to go. I don't think it's a done deal (with Tottenham), I think where Tottenham are in the league at the moment, it's going to be maybe a big decision on where he goes.

"But if he goes to Tottenham, it's still a big football club that obviously has underachieved this year and he'd be looking to try and come in and improve them."

Image source, Getty Images

Scott McTominay's 14th goal of the season was not enough to prevent Napoli dropping two more points in their bid to retain the Italian title.

The Scotland midfielder slotted a precise 15-yard equaliser after 60 minutes away to 14th-placed Parma, who had taken the lead after just a minute through Gabriel Strefezza.

The draw means second-top Napoli, for whom Scotland team-mate Billy Gilmour was unused substitute, are now nine points behind Internazionale after the leaders' thrilling 4-3 win away to Como on Sunday evening.

Kieron Bowie scored his second goal for Hellas Verona since signing from Hibernian in January, but his fine solo finish to equalise against fellow Scotland striker Che Adams' Torino was not enough to prevent the second bottom visitors losing 2-1.

With Lawrence Shankland also scoring from the penalty spot in Heart of Midlothian's comeback win over Motherwell to stay top of the Scottish Premiership, with his 18th of the season, competition for striker berths at this summer's World Cup finals is hotting up.

George Hirst grabbed his 10th goal of the season, thumping home the second of the game in the East Anglian derby win away to Norwich City as Ipswich Town consolidated second spot in the Championship.

Oli McBurnie also pressed his case for a Scotland recall as the 29-year-old fired his 15th goal of the season for Hull City, but the side sitting sixth in the Championship failed to build on that and, after former Rangers midfielder John Lundstram's red card, conceded two late goals to the striker's former side, Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, Scotland Under-21 winger Emilio Lawrence inspired Luton Town's comeback to lift the Vertu Trophy with a 3-1 win over League One rivals Stockport County at Wembley.

The 20-year-old on loan from Manchester City fired the equaliser, his second goal of the season, after former St Johnstone striker Adama Sidibeh had given County an early lead.

Former Scotland youth defender Kal Naismith set up Luton's second for Nahki Wells.

Image source, SNS

Former Scotland left-back Barry Douglas has officially announced he is retiring from "the playing side of the beautiful game", stressing his "immense pride" after a career during which he won league titles in England and Poland.

The 36-year-old has been without a club since leaving St Johnstone following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership last summer.

But, before then, he had twice won the Ekstraklasa, and the Polish Super Cup, with Lech Poznań, the Turkish Cup with Konyaspor and the Championship in England with both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

"In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd make it as a professional footballer - never mind win multiple titles in different countries and go on to play almost 500 games," Douglas said on Instagram., external

"Now that I'm finally 'hanging up the boots', I can look back with immense pride, knowing I gave it everything I had."

In a time when the Scotland left-back spot was dominated by Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, Douglas managed just one cap, as a substitute for the former in a 1-0 win over Hungary in 2018.

"Every kid grows up dreaming of playing for their country - so to have made that a reality is something I'll always be incredibly proud of," he said.

Having started his career with Queen's Park, Douglas moved to Dundee United, Lech, Konyaspor, Wolves, Leeds and, after a loan to Blackburn Rovers, returned for a second title-winning spell with Lech before his final season with St Johnstone.

Douglas paid special tribute to his wife, Debbie, saying his globetrotting career was "as much yours as it is mine".

"The truth is, without you by my side, I would never have achieved what I have," he added.

"I'm forever grateful for your support, your sacrifices, and for taking that leap into the unknown when we first moved to Poland together to begin our adventure.

"Now look at us - two beautiful kids, multiple winners' medals and memories that will last a lifetime."

Lawrence Shankland has to be Scotland's starting striker at the World Cup this summer, says former Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday.

The Hearts captain started his first match since January for the Scottish Premiership leaders against Livingston on Sunday, scoring and assisting in the 2-2 draw.

The 30-year-old has now netted 16 times in all competitions this season and has provided another five assists for Derek McInnes' men.

Despite scoring in the astonishing 4-2 win over Denmark in November, which booked Scotland's place at this summer's finals, Shankland has struggled to nail down a starting spot in Steve Clarke's side.

Just four of his 18 caps have been starts, but he has scored on four occasions, and Halliday feels his former team-mate has demonstrated why he deserves to be Clarke's first-choice centre-forward.

"I think he's the best striker at our disposal," Motherwell midfielder Halliday said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I think he's the best finisher out of the group of strikers we've got.

"Going into three World Cup games where I don't expect us to have loads of chances every single game - the past two friendlies probably proved that - I think if a chance is going to fall to anyone, you're hoping it's Lawrence Shankland.

"He comes on in the game against Denmark, makes an immediate impact. That type of goal, as simple as it is, it's a two-yard tap-in.

"That's what Lawrence Shankland is: he's someone who thrives off playing in between the posts. For me, it's not fortune when you see strikers that land on these types of chances all the time.

"I thought he should have been the starting striker going into the Euros in 2024. I'm hoping we've almost learned a lesson from that not being the case."

Image source, SNS

Captain Andy Robertson is urging supporters to remember the team that got Scotland to their first World Cup in nearly 30 years after sections of the fanbase were booing following Tuesday night's friendly defeat to Ivory Coast.

Some fans could also be heard booing after the 1-0 loss to Japan at Hampden on Saturday afternoon in their first pre-World Cup friendly.

"If we don't get the result we just get booed," Roberston said.

"What I will say is that 95% of the fans drowned it out very quickly. It's a small minority, it was a small minority at Hampden. When we were clapping the fans behind the goal was fans that were appreciative of what they've seen and appreciative of the team that took them to the World Cup. The reception at the end was unbelievable.

"I don't know if they just want to boo for the sake of it. To me, that was not a booing performance. I hate getting beat but there were a lot of positives to take."

The Scots avoided having to contest a World Cup play-off after finishing top of their qualifying group at the end of 2025 thanks to a memorable 4-2 victory over Denmark.

The Danes won't be at next summer's tournament in America after losing their play-off final against Czech Republic on penalties.

And Robertson is urging supporters to remember where Scotland could have been.

"We've learned a lot," Robertson said of the two friendly defeats.

"We look at the play-off games and how hard it is to qualify for the World Cup. People need to remember that we've done it, not the easy way, but we finished top of the group and we've got two friendlies in March when other teams are fighting for their lives to get to the World Cup."

Image source, SNS

Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain is relishing his return to the Scotland national team after contemplating "calling it a day" and hanging up his gloves.

The 34-year-old's second half cameo in Tuesday night's 1-0 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast marked his first appearance for the national side since 2019 when he played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over San Marino as part of their qualifiers for Euro 2020.

Bain, who had been third choice goalkeeper at Celtic for a number of years, joined Falkirk in the summer and has become a mainstay as John McGlynn's side edge closer to securing top six football.

"I was planning on doing coaching badges and calling it a day," Bain said of his career turnaround in the last 12 months.

"It's been a great season, a great moment for me. I can go home and potentially have an amazing season at Falkirk and if that leads to getting on the plane for the World Cup then that leads to that."

Bain replaced Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly at half-time in Tuesday's pre-World Cup friendly against Ivory Coast and put in a solid performance.

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Angus Gunn had started Saturday's game against Japan and of the three called up for this month's friendlies, Bain is the only one getting game time on a regular basis.

And while the Falkirk number one is hopeful it'll stand him in good stead when Steve Clarke contemplates his World Cup squad.

"The manager said before we left that it's not often you get to play a game with the shackles off and not scrapping for three points," he added.

"It resonated with me, I've waited a long time to come back into the Scotland set-up and I'm just going to enjoy it.

"We've got excellent keepers with real experience and a lot of caps between them so it certainly helps me to feel like I'm in a better place."

We asked for your views on Scotland's 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on Tuesday night in their second pre-World Cup friendly.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Andy: I was at the match last night and the booing was ridiculous, as it was after the Japan game. There was also a lot of applause too. The players are doing us all proud and we have to be realistic about what we can achieve. Ivory Coast and Japan are two good teams and we were only one or two key moments away from beating both. Give me that in the World Cup and I'll be very happy.

Simon: Two Euros exited with a whimper and barely a sight of goal and we're looking well on form to continue the trend, despite the best quality of squad in nearly 50 years. Why? Dinosaur tactics and personnel selections from the manager.

Ryan: The lack of goals is a worry but I wouldn't look too much into it. Was good to see Steve Clarke trying a few different players that haven't had much of a chance only frustrating one for me is Lennon Miller getting zero minutes when in the last friendlies he was one of our better players.

Archie: Why ask Miller and Andy Irving to join the squad if Clarke wasn't willing to give them at least a few minutes game time in a preparatory friendly?

James: Lawrence Shankland is a natural goalscorer and would have done much better with those chances that George Hirst had last night. With Ben Gannon-Doak back too we can have a much more potent goal threat.

Nathan: We're just so bizarre I can't understand how we can have such a great pool of players at our disposal yet still not be able to piece it together and work as a team. This performance was a lot more encouraging than the Japan game but there are still some questionable decisions from Clarke such as not giving Lennon Miller any minutes or only giving Scott Bain a half of football when he is the only goalkeeper we have that is actually playing football frequently. We will get some players back from injury such as Aaron Hickey and Shankland but there are certain players that Clarke cannot afford to favourite if we are to choose our strongest squad for America.

Image source, SNS

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke told BBC Scotland: "Disappointed to lose again. 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."

On his final squad selection, Clarke adds: "Still plenty of things can happen. I won't get too carried away. Going into previous tournaments I've lost players to injury."

And on his own future, Clarke says: "Most important thing is to get ready for the World Cup. My future can take care of itself whenever it does."

Image source, SNS

Scotland captain Andy Robertson told BBC Scotland: "We changed the system and made nine changes. The manager is trying both systems.

"We caused them problems - last 20 minutes we were the team pushing forward. It's one of those games.

"We want to win these games, but we're also trying stuff. We get caught on the counter for the goal, which can't really happen.

"It's up to us now to go back to our clubs and be really excited for the summer."

Scotland striker George Hirst told BBC Scotland: "It was a tough game. 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."