Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has confirmed he will make a “raft of changes” for Tuesday’s international friendly against the Ivory Coast, promising a starting lineup that will be “unrecognisable” from the side that fell to Japan.
The national team travels to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium to face the West African giants for the first time in their history. Following a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday, Clarke is determined to inject fresh energy and goals into his squad.
A “Clinical” Challenge in Liverpool
Despite the Ivory Coast’s recent 4-0 thumping of South Korea, Clarke believes the scoreline didn’t tell the full story—though it served as a warning of their lethal finishing.
“If you watch the 4-0 game, if I was the South Korea coach, I’d be thinking, how did that happen? They were actually quite good in the game,” Clarke noted. “The 4-0 is a measure of how clinical Ivory Coast were. We know we have to defend well, but we also have to try and create some problems and get ourselves on the scoresheet.”
World Cup 2026: The Road to the USA
With Scotland set to face Curacao, Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil in Group C of the 2026 World Cup, Clarke is already looking at the bigger picture. He confirmed that an interim World Cup squad will be revealed at the start of May.
Having ended Scotland’s 28-year World Cup hiatus, Clarke is focused on long-term sustainability and finding the next generation of talent.
- On Squad Selection: “I’ve been looking for seven years, it’s not about the last six weeks. I’ve got a really good idea of what’s coming next.”
- On Dual-Nationality Players: Clarke hinted at ongoing efforts to persuade eligible players currently representing other nations to switch allegiance to the Tartan Army.
- On the Qualifying Mentality: “Now we expect to qualify. The players know how to get points from a qualifying group.”
Key Stats & Milestones
Andy Robertson’s Historic Night
Captain Andy Robertson is set to earn his 92nd cap. This landmark move will see the Liverpool left-back overtake legendary goalkeeper Jim Leighton to become Scotland’s outright second most-capped player of all time, trailing only Kenny Dalglish (102 caps).
The Goal Threat
While Scotland struggled for touches in the box against Japan, they boast a potent weapon in Ché Adams. The Torino striker has five goals in his last six starts, and crucially, Scotland have won every single match in which Adams has scored.
Opposition Watch
The Ivory Coast arrive in formidable form, having kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 games. Scotland will also need to nullify Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, who has been involved in seven goals in his last nine appearances for the Elephants.
Match Information
- Fixture: Scotland v Ivory Coast
- Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium
- Date: Tuesday, March 31
- Broadcast: Live on BBC Scotland
This friendly marks Scotland’s first match on English soil (not against England) since a 2-2 draw with Nigeria at Craven Cottage in 2014. With places on the plane to the USA up for grabs, Tuesday night represents a massive opportunity for Scotland’s fringe stars to make their mark.
Co-Founder of Fitba Focus and MMA UK. A lifelong Rangers fan and former player, he combines over a decade of sports media experience with a deep-seated passion for the Scottish game. From the Ibrox stands to the lower-league terraces, Frankie is dedicated to providing honest, fan-led analysis of the full Scottish pyramid.
