The stage is set in Harrison, New Jersey, where the New York Red Bulls typically play. Back in 2010, I visited this venue, which was a brief train journey from the World Trade Center. Honestly, there isn’t much to see in the vicinity, but I did discover that Tab Ramos hails from Harrison. My memories include watching Juan Pablo Angel perform for the Red Bulls.
In an interview in New Jersey, Ben Gannon-Doak shared, “I’m not entirely certain how things will unfold until kickoff, but it feels like my teammates and I have had a productive week of training, especially with the challenging conditions we faced in Florida. I believe we’re well-prepared to showcase the style of football we aspire to play. We’re aiming for a solid outcome to boost our confidence ahead of the World Cup, to perform well collectively, display some attractive football, and most importantly, enjoy the game. It’s surprising to see how far we’ve come.”
Scotland recently secured a victory against Curacao, although the match had its drawbacks for Billy Gilmour while offering Tyler Fletcher a chance to shine.
The Bolivian squad features striker Paniagua, who plays for Wydad Casablanca, alongside Terceros, who is with Santos in Brazil. They represent a blend of local talent and international players.
This matchup marks the first-ever encounter between Bolivia and Scotland.
The lineup for Bolivia includes: Viscarra, Rocha, Haquín, Morales, Fernández, Matheus, Vaca, Villamíl, Terceros, Ribera, and Paniagua. The substitutes are Arroyo, Centella, Govea, Lampe, López, Macazaga, Melgar, Nacif, Tórrez, Viviani, and Zabala.
Scotland’s team features Angus Gunn as goalkeeper, with Lawrence Shankland, Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey, Ben Gannon-Doak, and Ryan Christie returning from last weekend’s clash with Curacao. Expect several changes in the lineup, with Gunn, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Lewis Ferguson, and Che Adams stepping in.
The full Scotland roster includes: Gunn, Hickey, Robertson, McTominay, Hanley, Adams, Christie, Hendry, Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, and Shankland. The substitutes are Kelly, Gordon, Tierney, McGinn, Fletcher, Dykes, Stewart, Souttar, Hyam, Hirst, Patterson, McLean, Ralston, Curtis, and McKenna.
Additionally, Ewan has penned a preview for Scotland’s campaign.
“Clarke adopts a pragmatic approach, but it would be surprising if he doesn’t field two strikers for the opening match against Haiti. A win there could genuinely pave the way for Scotland to advance beyond the first round for the first time. There’s also the lingering need for Clarke to project confidence; he faced criticism from fans for overly cautious tactics during a crucial match against Hungary in the last Euros. A more defensive style is likely against teams like Morocco and Brazil, who are undeniably superior to Scotland. However, Clarke’s squad can thrive in such scenarios; they are well-coached and possess a formidable counter-attacking capability.”
Ewan Murray will be following Scotland throughout the World Cup, providing coverage from New Jersey as all eyes turn to the match against Haiti.
Clarke remarked that he cannot change his strategy due to possible fitness issues. “Should we wrap them in cotton wool so they can’t train?” he questioned. “Work is essential. Injuries are a natural part of football. It’s especially disappointing when they occur in circumstances like Billy’s. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and move forward. That’s our plan.”
In Harrison, New Jersey, this warm-up match serves as a crucial opportunity for Steve Clarke’s squad. Anticipate numerous substitutions and hope for no further injuries following Billy Gilmour’s recent exclusion. This friendly serves as the last preparation before facing Haiti in a week, allowing the team to acclimatize and adapt to the environment. Bolivia, unfortunately, did not qualify for the finals, having lost to Iraq in the intercontinental playoffs. Their last appearance was in 1994, recalling names like Erwin “Platini” Sanchez and Marco Etcheverry, who are iconic figures in MLS history. Scotland returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, making this game the final step before their match against Haiti.
The kickoff is scheduled for 9 PM Scottish time, which is 4 PM Eastern time.
