Scotland and Japan go face each other for friendly match wey dey serve as important warm-up for World Cup 2026. The match go hold at Hampden Park for Glasgow on Saturday, and both teams dey use this opportunity to fine-tune their squads before the big tournament for USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke don talk say him selection for this match fit surprise some people as him dey leave World Cup door open for new players like Findlay Curtis. The Rangers winger wey dey on loan to Kilmarnock na the only player wey never get cap for Scotland inside the squad. Clarke say him dey look to keep the momentum wey dem get from qualifying for World Cup, but him still dey consider player fitness and different personnel.
Celtic star Daizen Maeda wey dey play for Japan don send bold message ahead of the match. The 27-year-old attacker wey dey play for Celtic for Glasgow say opportunities like this no dey come often. “I think many fans go come watch the match for Glasgow, including Japanese fans wey dey live here. I dey really look forward to play for their front,” Maeda talk. Him add say some of him teammates for Celtic dey play for Scotland, so him dey look forward to the match.
Scotland qualify for World Cup after thrilling 4-2 victory over Denmark wey make dem top their qualifying group. Late goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean for stoppage time turn the game around and secure automatic qualification. Japan too dey enjoy good form, with seven wins from their last matches and only one defeat during that period.
Steve Clarke watch as Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland suffer play-off heartbreak for midweek, and him feel proud say Scotland squad dey different orbit when e come to self-esteem. The Scotland coach remember June 2022 when Scotland lose play-off against Ukraine, but this time dem dey relax knowing say their spot for World Cup don secure.
For team news, Clarke don call up 26-man squad for March fixtures. Major positives include returns of Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, John McGinn, and Scott McTominay. Forward Tommy Conway don selected too, and Nathan Patterson and Ross McCrorie don return to bolster the group. Scotland still dey without important figures like Aaron Hickey and Craig Gordon, plus striker Lawrence Shankland.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu don call up Maeda for their friendlies against Scotland and England. The versatile attacker don appear 26 times for Japan since him debut for 2019, scoring four goals. Him represent him nation for World Cup four years ago, and him come up against ex-teammate Josip Juranovic for knockout stage.
Scotland never score against Japan for three previous fixtures. Dem play two KIRIN Cup 0-0 draws for 1995 and 2006, plus 2-0 defeat for Yokohama for 2009. Keisuke Honda score the second goal for that 2009 match. The Kirin Cup winners for 2006 na Scotland after dem beat Bulgaria 5-1 for Kobe and draw 0-0 with Japan for Saitama.
Record Sport writers don give their predictions for the match. Scott McDermott and Michael Gannon both predict 1-1 draw, while Mark Pirie predict 1-1 too. Ross Pilcher and Scott Burns predict Scotland go win 2-1, but Gavin Berry predict Japan go win 2-1. Robbie Copeland predict Scotland go win 1-0, and Craig Swan predict 1-1 draw.
The match go kick off at 5pm BST on Saturday, 28th March. Dem go broadcast am live for UK on BBC One Scotland, BBC Sport, and BBC iPlayer. Scotland first World Cup match go be against Haiti for Boston on June 14, while Japan go begin their campaign against Spain for Los Angeles on June 15.
Findlay Curtis inclusion for Scotland squad don raise some eyebrows, but e serve as vindication for the youngster decision to seek loan away from Ibrox this January. The winger don become key player for Kilmarnock under former Rangers and Hearts winger Neil McCann since him temporary switch. Curtis maturity for realising say regular minutes for this stage of him career dey important fit prove beneficial for both Rangers and Scotland.
Andy Mackay talk say Scotland fans dey with feet up, watching three of other Home Nations go through stress and heartbreak of World Cup playoffs. Now dem dey back to Hampden, safe for knowledge say result of today friendly against Japan no really matter. For theory, e na chance for Steve Clarke to try new things with less than three months until World Cup campaign start against Haiti for Boston.
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