Adams at the double as Scotland thrash Bolivia in World Cup warm-up

“I think a medal of some sort will come. I pray and hope that it is the gold one.” Ally MacLeod was never to live down his hubris of 1978. A Scotland loss to Peru and draw with Iran saw to that. Unlike MacLeod, Steve Clarke has never been prone to bold or rash predictions. Excitement will be left to everyone else. Who can reasonably deny them that?

In a last outing before a first World Cup appearance in 28 years, Scotland dismantled Bolivia. Suddenly, worries over a potentially tournament defining joust with Haiti next weekend evaporated. If Clarke’s men are this ruthless and efficient when the proper stuff starts, they have a serious chance of emerging from the group phase for the first time in Scotland’s international history. This friendly, in theory an exercise in box ticking, instead gave reasons for huge Scottish confidence. Scotland will remember their first ever game against Bolivia with great fondness.

Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and Che Adams, twice, had Scotland four goals clear at half-time. While it is fair to point towards limited opposition, that is precisely what Scotland will face in game one of Group C. Foot was removed from gas in the second period but there was still something hugely admirable about Scotland’s approach. Now for the key question; will it be alright on the night?

Shankland can now be considered a guaranteed Scotland starter for the Haiti clash. He joins Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey, McTominay and John McGinn in that bracket. The likelihood is that Clarke would be keen to deploy Adams in attack alongside Shankland, but the impact made by Lyndon Dykes during last weekend’s win over Curaçao inserted doubt to that scenario. Clarke has tough calls over who starts in goal and at centre half in Boston. Ryan Christie excelled against Bolivia, which should enhance his Haiti prospects.

Full report to follow