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00:00And Liam McLeod.
00:04Very good afternoon to you.
00:0618 weeks and five days have elapsed since the night of their lives.
00:11The echoes of that evening still ring through Queen's Park, King's Park and up and down the streets of Glasgow's
00:18Southside.
00:20A night never to be forgotten for sure.
00:28It's in the past now though.
00:31Too often Scotland have wallowed in might have been great moments that ultimately counted for little.
00:38And this group of players make that night against the Danes count and leave their mark on the World Cup
00:44finals in less than three months' time.
00:47The preparations will be meticulous for those games against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil as they try and get out of
00:55a major tournament group stage for the first time.
00:59And it begins in earnest here against the stars of the Far East, Samurai Blue.
01:04Japan have made it as well with their ultimate goal one day of winning the World Cup itself.
01:12They were the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
01:17And they mean serious business.
01:49They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:06They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:07They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:08They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:09They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:09They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:09They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:10They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:11They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:11They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:13They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:15They're the first non-host country to qualify for the tournament in North America.
02:27Japan matters with the Netherlands, Tunisia and the winner of Tuesday's playoff final between Sweden and Poland and Stockholm to
02:34look forward to at the finals.
09:53You.
10:07He set up the famous McTominay goal but came off in that first half and was replaced by Kenny McLean
10:18who learned to describe his own story that night.
10:26Another one there by Hiroki Ito of Bayern Munich, the left centre back.
10:32The Japan system that you'll see tonight is something that is tried and tested.
10:51McLean was fouled.
10:58He does well in the end, Kenny McLean is putting a bit of trouble there.
11:01Linden Dykes, the slack pass to him.
11:06Riyasu there was in the Japan side that agonisingly missed out in a place at the 94 World Cup.
11:13That would have been their first appearance at the tournament.
11:16They were held to a draw by Iraq in a game played in Doha.
11:21South Korea went to the tournament instead.
11:30There's Maidat, swipe at it.
11:33It says it all about where Japanese football is right now, they've been to every single World Cup since then.
11:38Yeah, they're always a strong side.
11:41I mentioned the game back to 2006, really technically very good, physically strong, very tough opposition.
11:48And they have been dominant in Asian football, reaching major tournament after major tournament.
11:55And that's why it's such a big test for Scotland, as you say.
12:00Don't normally play against the Asian nations.
12:03Going to the World Cup, I think it's vital preparation.
12:07But it's vital that we go and put in a good performance and try and get a good result.
12:10I know it's a friendly, but I still think that all that matters, particularly with the momentum that's been built
12:16up from the qualification.
12:19That unbelievable night here against Denmark to try and maintain that, build on it, and make sure we're going into
12:25the World Cup in good form.
12:29Someone who's in the World Cup, Shane, who's anchoring the Japanese defense .
12:34Number five on the ball now.
12:38Then it's Aot Tanaka of Leeds United.
12:50And goal from Seco.
12:56Can't quite get Sugawara in behind there, but that is an option for them all day, all night long.
13:05A lot of emphasis on the wide areas.
13:44Patterson, it's a good opportunity for him not just to get some minutes in the national team, but to get
13:49minutes on a football pitch.
13:51James, he's not played since January, just seven appearances this season with Everton and he's had those well-documented injury
13:58problems.
13:59Yeah, I mean he's had a tough time, Nathan Patterson, Everton are obviously doing well in the league and it's
14:05been a tough team for him to get into,
14:06but I have to say that when he's played he has performed well and that's all he can do at
14:11this moment in time,
14:12he's got a great opportunity as you say to go and get minutes on the pitch, to go and get
14:16himself into the Scotland side,
14:18first of all, but also to go and remind everyone that he's a good player and he's got a tough
14:23test today.
14:24He's Dyson Mai, we know the energy and the speed and that is going to be tough.
14:29But he'll be hoping we can run him back the way and cause him problems of his own.
14:36Jack Henry back in the reckoning as well.
14:40There's Dykes.
14:42He won't win that.
14:45He leads into Itanabe.
14:50It's Graf Maidan falling for McGinn here.
14:53He's got a cross as well!
14:55And somehow it stays out.
14:58McTominay denied.
15:01Well, Zeon Suzuki in the Japan goal has done just enough.
15:06He's done more than just enough.
15:09I mean, for all the world it looked like the ball is going to smash off the net.
15:13John McGinder's brilliant.
15:15Dykes keeps it alive.
15:17Little clipper.
15:18I mean, it is straight at him from McTominay,
15:20but it's good reactions from Suzuki in goal.
15:23You didn't expect him to score there.
15:25Great little pick out into the area.
15:27He is at the stretch.
15:29It's a brilliant save, you have to say.
15:30You're looking at Scott McTominay.
15:32You're expecting him to score.
15:34Sometimes in those situations it's about making sure you get a good contact.
15:39Get it towards goal.
15:41Goalkeeper's reactions to keep that out.
15:43Top class.
15:47Goalkeeper, Suzuki plays in Italy as well.
15:50That's McTominay with Parma.
15:57It's a good opening though, it comes from Nathan Patterson
16:00clipping the ball at the line for Lyndon Dykes.
16:02Fights to keep it alive.
16:04Probably disappointed in his play initially.
16:07Manages to do well to recover.
16:09Here's Maida.
16:11He's on the corner off Patterson.
16:17Hasn't scored since the 10th of January, Dyson Maida.
16:21It's a bit early to be bringing that up, William.
16:23Still a lot of this game left.
16:26Would be just a thing, wouldn't it?
16:28Yeah.
16:29Yeah, it would be.
16:3133 goals last season.
16:33Just eight this term.
16:35It's an effort from distance, which gone.
16:46They isn't going to ice.
16:48But you there's more.
16:48Yeah.
16:48Here it is.
16:51Three...
16:52Two...
16:55You're higher.
16:58Walt Disney.
17:49As much as we're saying, you know, this is preparation, still players haven't got ready.
18:08There's McTominay.
18:15There he goes, there's a little misunderstanding with Dykes, it's the right idea though.
18:26Absolutely, it's a great run from Kenny McLean, you hear the crowd screaming for him to shoot
18:30any time he picks the ball up, and understandably so, but Dykes has made the run.
18:38Maybe he's expecting the pass a little bit early, but I think it's good play from Kenny McLean.
18:45There he goes.
18:50Henry is on for his 37th cap tonight.
18:56Japan winning it back, a decent area for them here.
18:59He's in the key.
19:04Robertson's on to it.
19:09Every chance Andy Robertson this year becomes the most capped player in this team's history.
19:18Wolverine.
19:20The fourth is in on Kenny Dalgleish's long standing record since the mid-eighties.
20:06Scott McKenna there, he's having an excellent season with Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
20:12To the point his manager's not expecting him to be there for very long.
20:18They're not apparently suitors.
20:37Those two wins over the Germans and the Spanish at the World Cup were all the more impressive given.
20:44They came from Gundogan and Maratha, goals down in those matches to win them.
20:50They've been through the groups, out of the eight World Cups, they've been through four times.
20:55Unable to get beyond the second round.
20:59Left devastated by a shootout defeat to Croatia in Qatar.
21:07My dad giving them the lead in that game.
21:13I think that's why it's really good preparation.
21:16You're playing against a strong team that used to have been at the World Cup that have had some huge
21:20results.
21:21And it just gives you a little gauge of where you are as a team.
21:25But you just look at the body language of the players.
21:30You can tell that they're comfortable.
21:34And they're obviously all fighting for players at the World Cup.
21:36And that can get the extra little bits of performance out of you.
21:41But I think it's a really good test and a good game to be playing in.
21:45We're only 15 minutes in, just about, to this game.
21:47You can already tell Kenny McLean's absolutely buzzing to be back here in a Scotland shirt.
21:52Absolutely.
21:53I mean, he's got a lot to live up to.
21:55And he has promised that he's going to be having a go from the halfway line.
21:59It's not too late for him to make that his trademark.
22:07It's just been great.
22:08A great week as well, knowing that you're not involved in the playoffs.
22:11Watching the heartache for other countries throughout the week.
22:15Knowing that it has been us on previous occasions.
22:18But not in this one.
22:22It's a little bit loose from Patterson.
22:25And it has been collected here by Nogai Sano.
22:33It's Fujita.
22:35Just slipped through.
22:38There, as Ito had made his way up from the back, as I said.
22:43Bayern Munich player, 17 appearances this season.
22:48Won the Bundesliga with Bayern last year.
22:52They're just set and waiting to capitalise on a mistake.
22:55One of those slack passes into midfield.
22:56And you can see, you know, when they do, they go forward at speed and numbers.
23:03I'm just not sure Ito was ready for that pass there.
23:05Maybe expecting it to go wide to Maida.
23:09Slap this time by there.
23:11Bayern man Ito.
23:25McLean Missed out on that first major tournament under Clarke.
23:33Particularly heartbreaking given it scored the winning penalty against Israel in the playoff semis.
23:38That European Championship.
23:43And the likes of Patterson and Ferguson starting tonight.
23:47Missed out in Germany.
23:52Go again!
23:56Go!
23:57Go!
24:02You would take a friendly at this time of year, all day long, when you see what happened to Wales
24:05and the two Irish sides.
24:08Another night.
24:14We all thought Scotland were going to go there when Greece went 3-0 up in that game in Toreas.
24:22Quite an incredible campaign.
24:24Steve Clarksman.
24:26And you're right, it did look like it was playoff at best.
24:29So for them to go and win the group.
24:32Quite amazing achievement.
24:34And now the benefits are you're playing against strong opposition.
24:38Knowing fine well you're preparing to go to a World Cup.
24:42Yeah, as well as McTominay, Tierney and McLean, there should be statues outside of this place.
24:49For Demchenko and Gromyko, the two Belarusians who scored in the 2-2 draw in Copenhagen.
24:55With the Danes that set up that dramatic final night.
25:04Fujita.
25:06To Tsigawara.
25:09It was an option out there.
25:11It's Maida on the other side.
25:15On this occasion, Yumi Seko, who was up from right centre-back position.
25:24I think had they managed to have Tsigawara out in that area, you're probably getting a better cross into the
25:30box.
25:31Yeah, but they're quite fluid.
25:34A minute ago you saw Ito getting forward in that inside channel into the box.
25:40Clearly, you know, it's part of the way they want to go and play the game.
25:43Where you use wing-backs, if you like, to create that width, that space.
25:49For the side centre-backs to go and drive into it.
25:53So it's not by no accident that he's there.
25:55You are expecting better quality in that situation because you know he's probably been there before.
26:08Suzuki.
26:10Suzuki.
26:11And there's Sugawara.
26:13To Tanaka.
26:21There's been a few big goals for Leeds United this season, as I will Tanaka.
26:32Japan of their second corner.
26:36There's been a few big goals for Leeds United this season, as I will be up to join the attack.
26:52Feinur defender.
26:53Feinur defender.
26:55Feinur defender.
26:55Feinur defender.
26:58Feinur defender.
27:00Feinur defender.
27:02Feinur defender.
27:02Feinur defender.
27:02Feinur defender.
27:06Feinur defender.
27:13Feinur defender.
27:18Feinur defender.
27:19Feinur defender.
27:21Feinur defender.
27:21Feinur defender.
27:22Feinur defender.
27:23Feinur defender.
27:24Feinur defender.
27:24Feinur defender.
27:25Feinur defender.
27:27Feinur defender.
27:28to play wherever they find themselves really they're all very comfortable in those different
27:36areas of the park yeah they're getting control of the ball now as well you know at the start of
27:41the
27:41game it was more about been sitting in the shape and trying to go and capitalize on those passes
27:46in the midfield area but getting quite a bit of the ball now and building their attacks in the
27:53scotland box fell by ferguson on keski goto
27:58of course amongst those eight bottle cups that japan have played at they co-hosted one of them
28:22in 2002
28:30south korea took advantage of their co-hosting of that tournament to get to the semis memorably
28:41a lot of green-eyed monsters on the other side of the sea of japan when that was happening
28:46and jung-wan in particular was the star of that tournament there's always someone
28:53he emerges ahead of the rest suppose ronaldo would
28:57lay clean to that as well they're going to win the tournament they're standing in south korea in
29:03that tournament unfortunately they played against them they're friendly and they lead up to that
29:07tournament and didn't go very well
29:25it's up for dykes
29:32so they've let scotland down london dykeses
29:35so they lost an aerial duel in a scotland jersey
29:41i mean there's a danger of him getting a bit lonely up there because
29:46he does do well to control it the only option he's got is to
29:50flip that you know behind them from again make the run inside them
29:54i just see them having a lot of conversation there about the best option
30:08and
30:09the same recovers sufficiently
30:10very fortunate nathan partison because he gambles on getting the contact and
30:24coming back off of my that we know it's a big strength of his
30:31and he kills a cucumber in the end but that's the problems that my the causes
30:40how difficult is it if you're not playing for your club team we used to see your old teammate
30:43alan hutton same position it didn't seem to affect him when he wasn't playing for aston
30:48villa primarily how difficult is it yeah i mean i've done it on a few occasions um myself and i
30:55always i wouldn't say enjoyed it because i'd rather be playing week in week out but you enjoy coming
31:01away and getting an opportunity to play and just show everyone that you know you're still more than
31:05capable of first of all playing at this level and also you're trying to catch the eye of your club
31:11manager to get a little way into the side um so i think that it can free you up you
31:17can go back and
31:18enjoy your week's preparation knowing you've got a chance of playing and then you get that nod
31:22to go and play then you can go and try and put in a performance without so much pressure
31:41again again
31:43again shielding it from me too
31:54you can't see much of it in the quarter or so
32:15scotland's record in friendlies is pretty poor overall they've won just two of the last 11 and
32:19four of the last 23 mercifully their record in competitive games is much much better
32:29it's been born out these qualifications seem a million miles away for so many years
32:45they were there there was the odd close shave of course wasn't that yeah not close enough
32:51unfortunately but yeah i mean ultimately all that matters is you're winning your competitive games but
32:56i think when you look at the the run of results and performances getting into the euros in germany i
33:03was
33:03always thinking that well you're at the tournament everything will be okay and you know the players
33:08will then put on performances and when it really counts and that didn't seem to materialize so i think
33:14that certainly in the this game and the three after and the lead up to the world cup finals i
33:19think there
33:20has to be momentum there has to be you know positivity surrounding results or performance or both and to
33:26help the players you know feel good about themselves getting into the tournament
33:32yeah i mean it's still crazy to think that that friendly against iceland here last june which was
33:37an awful night it came in the same calendar year as the denmark game
33:43you know you had a performance and result against northern ireland and you know just the preparation
33:49didn't feel right and clearly you know it had an impact on performances at the tournament
33:58you know a chance to to go and you know learn from that and certainly that'll be the expectation that
34:04and a bit of performances in the world cup but it starts from these preparation games
34:19scotland's world cup group opponents have got preparation matches themselves coming up here they
34:24are playing tunisia morocco paraguay brazil croatia
34:30in the course of the next day or two
34:44he's got four goals for this country guys in my dad
34:5027th cap for him tonight
34:55he basically plays as a wingback for japan most of this season not every week but most of the season
35:02he's been through the middle the celtic have struggled to find somebody to score goals regularly
35:08in that kind of number nine position maid has been the one who has led the line there's been a
35:13few
35:13others have been tried there but they always seem to go back to him that's no surprise to me that
35:20he's utilized as a wingback because of his attributes you know the speed that he can get
35:26his work rate to go forward and press his work rate to get back
35:31his energy is incredible so i'm not surprised the profile that he has certainly suits that position
35:40he's been asked to do a number of jobs for celtic this season he hasn't really
35:45anywhere near the levels he showed last season
35:51it's set the bar quite highly to be fair yeah he did
35:57japan on the ball here kesuke goto moves it to the right and gun is behind the effort from
36:05gaisano
36:09there's another one straight at him and he's gone not troubling him
36:13this little break match i thought it was going to look for the pass for suzuki just inside him
36:21it's well documented the goalkeeping problems that scotland have right now
36:28gordon get gold in those two matches in november
36:33it's just one half of football for nottingham forest this season number one there's matt sales belgian
36:41and that uh given a one-one draw with crystal palace in february so he's seen precious little football
36:48his gun so these are crucial minutes for him because you suspect that he would be the number one choice
36:57for
36:58the tournament the summer yeah and he's got a chance to sharpen up if you like i know it's you
37:05know
37:05ideally again another one you'd rather see playing weekend week out he'd certainly be happy with the
37:10two shots he's had to face tonight straight out uncomfortable for him but yeah you would expect
37:14that angus gun is going to be the first choice goalkeeper going into the world cup finals
37:29scotland have come closest to scoring scotland have come closest to scoring scotland's effort saved by suzuki
37:35into his post that's really the only time scotland have threatened
37:44hujita
37:51stanika
37:54and circle to sugara
37:59by henry
38:14He hasn't played much for Scotland recently, Jack Henry, but he did start all three games in Germany.
38:21It was two years ago.
38:28Take by Maida.
38:32It was brilliantly done by Ferguson.
38:41An up-and-down season for Luis Verdes and Bologna this time around.
38:46And then over the side as it's struggling in the mid-table area in Serie A.
38:54Yeah, they're going well in the Europa League.
38:56And I think a lot of times it's been a team for the league, a team for Europe.
39:01Yeah, he's playing in the European games, yeah.
39:03Yeah, and it's certainly a different approach.
39:12Japan's latest corner.
39:14Dai Sano with it.
39:17It's a little bit awkward.
39:20Eventually stabbed away.
39:23The big Dykes that got at the end of that.
39:27Sano gets it back in.
39:29That is going to be another corner.
39:39Fantastic win over Brazil last October for Japan.
39:43The game from...
39:472-0 down.
39:49Scored three times in the second half.
39:50They were two down in the break.
39:53First ever win over the Brazilians.
39:58Second chance for Sano here.
40:02Dykes again.
40:03And at the 4th floor.
40:07Let's go.
45:41You can see it in your picture with that challenge there, two applause from the manager.
45:47Japan, win it back, double quick time.
45:54That's Ferguson.
45:57And again, can't quite get it beyond Seko.
46:04Yeah, right idea, Tom O'Connor made a move off that left-hand side, London Dykes.
46:11It's the option to feed, but there was space in behind, they just underhatched him again.
46:15Great touch there by Koto.
46:18Slipped and then fired over by Sano.
46:24It's been a little bit ominous here.
46:27Yeah, they're certainly in their rhythm, Japan, whether it's with the ball or without.
46:30Scotland, when they win it back, unable to go and cause too many problems whatsoever.
46:34And they are finding space, Sano again, goes with the right foot on this occasion.
46:41He's very keen to make an impression, just the second cap tonight, by Megan Midfielder.
46:56The Japanese are keeping the Tartan army pretty quiet.
47:00Yeah, and they're keeping the ball pretty well.
47:03And it also has been a bit of a struggle without, I mean, they have had a couple of openings
47:10where
47:10you're expecting to do better, but I wouldn't say anywhere you're expecting them to score from.
47:16But certainly, they look really comfortable in the ball.
47:19Stretching Scotland all over the place, finding those gaps, got willing runners, quality find the pass.
47:29They're round about 55% possession just now, Japan.
47:32It feels like a lot more than that.
47:35There's McLean.
47:40He's got it to Robertson.
47:45He's three waiting.
47:47McTominay, Dykes and Megan.
47:50I'm disappointed he's not found any of them because we know the quality that Andrew Robertson possesses from that kind
47:56of position.
47:57Yeah, particularly that type of cross as well.
47:59The one that's laid out his path and he steps on and hits it first time.
48:04It is at least a little glimmer.
48:07Kenan McLean driving forward, Robertson high and wide on the left-hand side.
48:11Loads of time and space, just doesn't get the execution right, but it is better.
48:26Giving away, there's Maida.
48:30Opportunity here, and the shot, straight at gun from Suzuki.
48:38Giving the speed of the counter from Japan, speaking about that control.
48:42Kenny McLean just runs into trouble, can't get that clearance.
48:46Into space, look at the runners.
48:49Another one, straight at gun, comfortable for him.
48:53Feel that he's got to move the ball a lot quicker.
48:57I understand at times you're looking at not too many options.
49:02But, you know, that extra touch, that extra two touches then allows Japan to go and put the pressure on,
49:07close the gaps, wait for that mistake and then catch you on the break.
49:24He's two away from last season's tally for Napoli, it's McTominay.
49:30Going to make it back-to-back Scudetto, so they're currently behind the two Milan teams.
49:51Paterson's down, looks like he's okay, he's gathering himself down there, but you're always worried,
50:02given the injury history.
50:05I think Fujita's running to go and get the ball, and as he turns, I think he stands on his
50:11foot.
50:12He's in control of the ball, Fujita, when he does it.
50:17I don't know, I mean it is clumsy, I think I saw one for him, I mean his foot just
50:24slips off the ball,
50:26to where Paterson's foot is, but I'm sure it'll be fine.
50:34There is fire tonight, in case you missed that earlier.
50:48It shows you that a lot of these things can look so much worse when you see it in the
50:51replay,
50:52because you're watching that at the time, you can see clearly, he takes a touch of the ball,
50:55it's an accidental stand on his foot, not a foul at all for me.
51:02You never know these days though.
51:04No, you don't.
51:11Final minute of the first half.
51:23Robertson for Conway.
51:25It's going to get the roses in front before the break.
51:30Robertson, wasn't the worst call.
51:33Suzuki flying at it, with Paterson on the other side, McTominay.
51:38It's better.
51:40Yeah it is, it is better, I'm surprised it came down the left hand side again.
51:45Conway and Isley, laying it back for Robertson.
51:48Suzuki almost makes a mess of it.
51:51That's, he does get a decent enough contact on it with Tomany, but
51:55nice a glance in that towards the back toe, it's fairly difficult to score from there,
51:59because he's having to generate the tower on the cross.
52:10One minute being added, see the door down the bottom of your picture there, come into it.
52:22And now, it's got the weight of a drop-up, so it's crewed back.
52:26And the way, by Paterson.
52:37Classic McGinn.
52:51It looks like we're going to get the final opportunity of this first half.
52:57Yeah, I think that when the ball would have looked so comfortable,
53:01and then what way off it, to go and win it back.
53:04It did look like it was going to be Classic McGinn and he was going to be able to go
53:07out the other side,
53:08and Scotland are potentially going to go and cause problems,
53:11but they get round the ball, they hunt and pack Japan, win it back.
53:19It's by Sano, he's over it, and he's been pretty prominent in this first half.
53:32It's Alito making his move, and there's the header, and the gun holds on,
53:37there is a flag anyway, which denied Watanabe.
53:43And that is the half-time whistle.
53:46It's not at the pomp and fanfare of November, but he was never going to have that.
53:52Even it's unfriendly, much greater that than a playoff.
53:56McTominay coming closest.
53:59Scotland hit in the post via the safety on Suzuki.
54:04It's United's our old Tanaka.
54:07Likewise struck the woodwork as he clipped one off.
54:11Guns crossed bar, Guns made another few comfortable saves as well.
54:15He's got to have struggled to threaten really.
54:18Tomarine a little header right towards the end of the first half there.
54:23Guns made a few saves, which he'll be pretty happy with.
54:26Guns made a few saves, as comfortable as they were.
54:28He's not seen much action recently, so any action for him tonight is good.
54:34Step in the right direction.
54:37It is goalless, and Hampden Park at the break.
54:43Scotland return to the scene of that memorable night in November.
54:49As I said, James, it was never going to have the same electricity,
54:54given how high the stakes were that night, and how dramatic things were,
54:58and how dramatic things went.
55:00But what have you made of that first-half performance?
55:03I thought it was actually an okay start.
55:05You know, as the game grows, then Japan are in control.
55:09And the chances they've had have been comfortable for Angus Gunn,
55:13but the space they're finding would be the worry.
55:16Just look to see a bit more of an attack and intent from Scotland,
55:19and a chance to go and take the lead.
55:22But overall, not been great.
55:24But as you said, I'd rather be concerned about performance.
55:28They're friendly than worrying about a play-off.
55:31So 0-0 as Scotland begin preparations in earnest for North America
55:36in the summer tie here as they take on the Japanese.
55:40Second half to come.