- 22 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00A very good evening to you all, another friendly, a new opponent, and the fact of the matter is that
00:07in just 40, 74 days, Scotland will kick off their World Cup campaign, as they desperately try and get some
00:18momentum going, try to find some kind of form to go into that tournament with, and that was something they
00:24had none of when they went to Euro 2024, which ultimately led to more disappointment.
00:30Momentum is key in any sport, when they have just three more games to find it, with two pre-World
00:35Cup bounce matches to come, before they face Haiti, Massachusetts, in the early hours of June the 14th, once they
00:43are done with this one tonight, and standing in their way, the three-time African Cup of Nations champions, Ivory
00:49Coast, who have reached the World Cup for the first time since the tournament in Brazil in 2014, as their
00:56golden generation started to wilt the names of Drogba,
00:59the Touré brothers, Calou and Jervinho, were all household names, this generation of Ivorians, will hope to follow in their
01:08legendary footsteps, on the biggest of stages.
01:12Ladies and gentlemen, please stand, if able, for the National Anthem's first...
01:18Two qualifying failures, but they made short work of getting to this year's tournament at the Ivory Coast.
01:38Two qualifying failures, including the National Anthem's first...
01:49Two qualifying failures, but they made short work, but they made short work of getting to this year's tournament.
02:18CHOIR SINGS
02:37CHOIR SINGS
02:42Expecting a crowd of around about 44,000 inside this magnificent stadium tonight.
02:48The vast majority of them just down the road from the other side of the border.
03:09The vast majority of them just down the road from the other side of the border.
03:10The vast majority of them just down the road from the other side of the border.
10:44Japan started off the right
10:46fashion tonight and you look at the number
10:48of players that Scotland have in around the box
10:51here to keep it alive, that is certainly
10:53a more aggressive, more attack
10:55minded performance
10:56certainly layout and Scotland
10:59almost getting the rewards for that because
11:00when the ball comes to Tierney it's not his
11:03best of efforts but that's a left
11:05centre back up 25 yards
11:07from goal getting a shot away
11:14yeah return to
11:15the back three tonight
11:19Steve Clarke has
11:21been going with the four
11:22for the last period
11:25of time just now and it's
11:26reaped plenty success in regards to qualifying
11:29for major tournaments
11:33remember Scott McTominay's turned into
11:35an absolute goal machine for him and indeed
11:37for Napoli
11:37was at the delayed Euro 2020
11:40finals playing as a right centre back
11:46times change
11:58there's Tierney
12:00he's looking to get Robertson in behind
12:02single
12:06you have to be careful with the bunch here
12:16just got away from both Wahi and Traore
12:19this is the first time
12:20you know the Gorians have been up the park
12:22it's been a little bit of a mess
12:23from a Scottish point of view
12:31yeah it was self-inflicted
12:32yeah it was self-inflicted
12:33high on the strudging the flight of the ball
12:34and understandably
12:35with the height and distance it was on it
12:38brilliantly done by Hurst
12:39to win it back off single
12:40here's Adams
12:44from McCrory
12:46back it comes to Christie
12:49and a little bit off balance slightly behind him as well
12:54yeah it wasn't on for the first time shot particularly on his right foot
12:57Ryan Christie but Hurst again
13:00doing really well
13:01win the ball back and break forward
13:03look like she Adams are going to go and try and get shot away
13:05but recognises too many bodies in front
13:07and this one back here
13:09it's a difficult one for Christie
13:11it's always outside him
13:12on his left foot
13:13absolutely no problem for him
13:14but not really on the right there
13:34might be close to one of nine African nations
13:37who'll be going to North America in the summer
13:39they've been robbed here
13:40McTominay kind of scuffed at that
13:46if they keep giving the ball away in those kind of areas
13:48there's going to be opportunities for Scotland tonight
13:50yeah there is
13:51McTominay normally so much better
13:53he's got options maybe Hurst inside him
13:54but it comes from John Suter
13:55stepping right into the midfield area
13:57from right centre back
13:58aggressive press
14:0030 yards from Ivory Coast box
14:03so there is definitely an intent to go and press
14:06and get players to go and engage
14:08and I like it so far
14:10I know we're really early
14:11but the early signs are very good
14:18and Rahe
14:21won't make that stick as yet
14:23in the infancy of this one
14:26Christie
14:28and Tierney
14:31flick by Hurst for McTominay
14:40the early signs are encouraging here
14:43the performance on Saturday
14:50whilst it wasn't a dreadful performance
14:53by any stretch of the imagination
14:54it was a bit flat at times
14:57yeah I think that's perfect
14:59it was flat
15:00I think that there was moments where
15:02there was decent bits of play
15:04overall
15:05Japan deserving victors
15:08but there was a bit of flatness
15:11there's certainly been
15:12a different feeling to this game
15:15so early on you can see
15:16there seems to be a bit more energy
15:18about the play
15:20more willingness to go and get pressure
15:22this is an opportunity for Lahey
15:24support arriving now
15:26but Tierney's there
15:28better
15:28or
15:32but there's a bit more energy
15:44but there's some
15:47better
15:47better
15:47better
15:47better
15:47than that
15:47better
15:48I think I could
15:54better
15:55better
15:57better
15:57really
16:00There are a lot of players out there tonight who aren't guaranteed places
16:04in the final squad for the World Cup, 26-man squad it will be.
16:11So plenty out there keen to impress tonight.
16:17And Alon Kosunu of Atalanta and Italy, and Pepe.
16:28He's laying Conan to Pepe again who's found himself in a good position in the box
16:35and the deflection takes it behind for the game's first corner.
16:40That's a good play from Pepe, going from right to left,
16:43going for a lot of one-two, a little bit of fortune in coming back to him,
16:46but John Suter getting across for the block.
16:55And Beny Traore goes out to take.
17:02Former Sheffield United player,
17:05he's currently with Basel in Switzerland.
17:07He won the title there last season.
17:15Traore's corner, and a couple free in there,
17:19including Ousmane Diamande.
17:28And then it comes to Singo.
17:32Useful ball in, and Shea Adams as well, just to nudge Traore out of position.
17:39Although the ball back wasn't ideal.
17:45It's looking like there's going to be goals in this game tonight, both ends.
17:49Here's Hurst.
17:51And Adams.
17:57And Tomine.
17:59And Gilmore to Tierney.
18:17That's not a good touch by Suter, he's recovered it though.
18:25You don't want your out-of-the-position centre-back losing the ball in that kind of position.
18:28No, he takes a big touch out of his feet there, John Suter, but he recovers it well.
18:37Robertson for Tierney.
18:40I fancy Robertson's getting to that.
18:42He has.
18:44But Tomine's in there, so too, Christie.
18:47Look at the purchase in it.
18:49It's a crucial block from the cross there.
18:54This game looks incredibly stretched already.
18:58Pepe.
19:01That bounces back off the upright, but the rebound is popped on by Pepe.
19:10And the Ivory Coast have the advantage, despite promising signs.
19:16From a Scotland point of view, they find themselves behind again.
19:22Yeah, again, it's good quality from Ivory Coast in the break.
19:28You were right, it has been open.
19:30Scotland going from defence to attack, and then the transition to get back in.
19:36Not enough players getting back.
19:38Pepe looked like he was going to cut onto his left, get the shot away.
19:42Slight nip there from Dom Hayam that takes that off the post.
19:47And then...
19:50Player ready to react to it, Nicola Pepe.
19:57Nazely Wahi, who had the initial shot, which bounced off the left-hand post, the goalie's right.
20:05And Nicolas Pepe is on hand to score his 12th international goal.
20:13And he's looked lively from the off.
20:18And the deadlock is broken in Liverpool.
20:25Scotland have more issues in friendly matches to contend with.
20:34Yeah, I praise them for being aggressive, trying to get high, certainly high backline to allow that pressure.
20:43And you can be cut open with quality, absolutely.
20:47But when that ball rebounds off the post, no Scotland player ready to react to get the block in.
20:52That's the disappointing thing about it.
20:54And Traore for Wahi who takes the tumble.
21:01Now look at the referee.
21:13This is two wins in their last 12 friendlies for Scotland, and four out of their last 24.
21:20Those four wins have all come away from home.
21:25Their record in competitive games is much better, lost just two in their last 11.
21:31And that has been borne out in their recent major tournament appearances.
21:39You kind of feel, given we're getting so close to the tournament itself, that they need something to hang their
21:44hat on.
21:45When it comes to the performance.
21:51Here's Kieran Tierney.
21:54He's drifted away from Hurst.
21:57And Clorey's been beaten to it as well.
22:03Clear foul.
22:06Out there on Traore.
22:07It's a decent ball in from Tierney.
22:09And I know that they're expecting potential of the cross to come in from Andy Robertson.
22:14But as soon as he turns back and you see the set, the way that he lays it back.
22:18It makes Tierney's mind up for him to step on and cross it first time.
22:21The strikers need to be alert to that.
22:23That when that's rolled back, he's getting crossed into the box.
22:38A brilliant turn there by Pepe.
22:40A brilliant turn there by Pepe.
22:44A brilliant turn there by Pepe.
23:01Go, go, go!
23:09Go, go, go.
23:25It looks of disbelief that that's gone to the Ivorians.
23:44Suter got a little bit out of position there again, there's Wahey, just laying it back
23:48to Pepe, and that's going to be another corner, and despite the promising start, things are
23:54looking a little bit ominous now.
23:56Yeah, Ivor course certainly look to be getting into the rhythm, and Pepe in particular at
24:03the heart of it.
24:12Mentioned there, one of nine African sides at the finals, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal,
24:17South Africa, Tunisian, and debutants Cap Verde will all be there, and of course Scotland
24:25England will be up against Morocco in Group C.
24:34Decent header away there by Haim.
24:42There's Pepe again.
24:44There's Pepe again.
25:05There's no doubt that he ignored the coaches phone calls for a few weeks afterwards.
25:12Totally understandable.
25:34There's no doubt that he's got in touch with the ball.
25:41Franchesi now to his lane, Conan.
25:46Now with Traore.
25:54Ulai.
25:57And Pepe.
26:03Scotland can't get a touch right now.
26:06No, they haven't been able to get the press on at all.
26:10Even looked like getting close enough to win the ball back.
26:26It was 4-0 to the Ihorians against South Korea at the weekend,
26:30but the Korean side hit the post a couple of times,
26:33they had a whole heap of other opportunities in the match.
26:39Lagary Coast were utterly ruthless on the day.
26:53Much changed side, of course, but...
26:57Scotland are going to have to try and find a way through...
27:01most miserly defence in Africa here.
27:06It's quite something to go through an entire qualifying campaign
27:10and not concede a single goal.
27:12It sure is.
27:14And I think early signs were good for Scotland,
27:17in terms of getting that pressure, getting the team high up the pitch
27:21in areas to win the ball back, but...
27:24I don't know if...
27:25I can't see it as being a big drop-off in terms of the shape of the team.
27:31Certainly not looking as likely to win the ball back in the areas they were in the early part of
27:36the half.
27:48I mean, it's basically a 4-2-4, the Ivory Coast are playing here tonight.
27:54Yeah.
27:56A man down here, right enough.
28:04Yeah, they're in a 4-2-4 essentially when they have the ball,
28:07but the recovery when Scotland managed to go and get forward
28:12as the two wide men come back and the two strikers stay higher up the pitch.
28:22Frank Kessie receiving treatment here.
28:26He's played at five AFCONs, but yet to feature at a World Cup.
28:31And that will surely change this summer, should he be fit?
28:36Duncan Ferguson.
28:42Everton legend.
28:46Gary McAllister.
28:48Liverpool legend, they're all here tonight.
28:51Yeah.
28:52Tim Cahill just in front as well.
29:03And Kessie enjoyed a five-year spell.
29:08And you see Milan.
29:11You see Graham Sharp taking in the action.
29:19But he is a regular fixture in this Ivorian team.
29:26It's his 102nd cap tonight.
29:29Currently playing in Saudi Arabia with Al Ali.
29:36This is what's caused the problem for him.
29:40It's fairly innocuous.
29:49He looks like he's okay.
29:52Are you reading this game right now?
29:53It's been a difficult last ten minutes.
29:55Yeah, it has.
29:56I think that it was a bright start.
29:58And then, of course, managed to get control in the game.
30:02And Scotland not really able to look threatening in the last ten minutes or so.
30:09But that can happen in games.
30:10It can even flow.
30:12It's about responding to that and getting control of the ball.
30:16And doing what you were good at in the first ten, fifteen minutes of the game.
30:29Dillon looking for his club mate, McTominay.
30:32Red by Diamande.
30:49That's a great ball.
30:51Here for Wilfred Shingo.
31:12Conan.
31:20It's Kusunu to Ulay.
31:26Tomre got a vital touch on that, and now it's with George Hurst.
31:33A little bit too much of it to Kusunu though.
31:37Gilmore retains.
31:38Here's Suter.
31:40Out to McCrory.
31:43Christie made a really clever run in there.
31:46He's annoyed he's not managed to get in the end of it.
31:49That's unlucky.
31:50It's well spotted.
31:51Ross McCrory.
31:53See exactly what he's trying to do.
31:54Just over hits the pass, but it's a good run from Ryan Christie.
32:03Christie.
32:06A challenge by Suter.
32:10Tomine from Gilmore.
32:14Tierney.
32:15And he was, I think, expecting Christie to make another run there.
32:21Kieran Tierney, who was a substitute for the vast majority, pretty much the entirety of that World Cup qualifying campaign.
32:36So many years the debate stood about how you fit Robertson and Tierney in the same team.
32:44It was in this system they were able to do so.
32:51He looks to the heavens.
32:57A fair bit of dip on that.
33:00And that, again, the course managing to break and get the other side, the Scotland midfield.
33:06There is, it's not troubling Liam Kelly, but you don't want to face too many of those shots.
33:14Well, that would have been some way to mark your international debut.
33:32Gilmore on the charge.
33:35It's behind Adams, though.
33:40Just look how quickly the Ivory Coast can spring you.
33:46Single.
33:48Brings back to Pepe.
33:58Right to Kessie.
34:04And the scooper showing no ill effects of the treatment he received five minutes ago.
34:13It's Traore.
34:17And Diamande.
34:18Very comfortable on the ball.
34:26.
34:30.
34:32.
34:35.
34:55The Ivorians open against Ecuador in Philadelphia,
34:58which is where they're going to be based for the duration of their time at the tournament.
35:04And then cross the border to take on the four-time winners, Germany and Toronto.
35:09Finish against Curacao.
35:13And will be Scotland's next friendly opponent at the end of May.
35:33They are the two-time winners, Germany and Toronto.
35:44The World Cup is the first round, and they have their own winners.
35:52The World Cup is the first round.
35:57The World Cup is the first round.
36:0855th cap for Kieran Tierney tonight would have been so much more than that.
36:12That injury has not afflicted his career.
36:22Benny Traore on the chase, and he's on the ball now.
36:29Lots of clever movement, and they've drawn their latest corner.
36:38And Zoumana Toure moving on that far side.
36:42.
37:00Traore then.
37:05Oh, Hurst couldn't get that away, and he goes straight at Kelly.
37:14It's a little nervy moment for the Scotland defenders there, and for Liam Kelly.
37:23I think the deliveries have been excellent from Ivory Coast any time I've had a corner.
37:28Nice, easy, comfortable one for Liam Kelly in the end, but there would have been moments there where he thought
37:33there was going to be more work to do there.
37:37Yes, Ellie! Yes, Rusty! Yes, that's the goal!
37:49How important is it to you that they go to this tournament with a real semblance of confidence?
37:55As Gilmore finds Hurst, Kessie trying to get in the way of that.
38:01It's with McTominay, and it's a good hit as well, which Lafon deals with.
38:07And right on cue I'm talking about momentum and confidence in Scotland with an opportunity to find an equaliser.
38:14Yeah, to answer your question, I think it's really important that they go and get a bit of momentum in
38:22terms of performances and results.
38:25And moments like that can certainly help.
38:29Excited goal, okay, you want it to go in, but it's encouraging.
38:35First of the match for Scotland.
38:39Low from Gilmore, but he doesn't get enough on it to find Adams.
38:43He's going to get a second bite at it though.
38:46It makes an even bigger mess of it this time.
38:49Most unusual for Billy Gilmore.
38:53The use of the ball is normally on point.
38:57Yeah, absolutely, it's not like him at all.
39:01A couple of slack ones tonight so far.
39:27And Robertson's there.
39:34It's North and Oxley down there.
39:46Traore steps away from Gilmore.
39:51And now it draws the biggest cheat of the night from the Scotland supporters.
39:55And a slip from Conan.
40:31What you're going to do...
40:33What you're going to do...
40:34...that was against Maccolour.
40:36A smile in the face of Toure.
40:41The Scotland went to the last European Championship.
40:45And a run of just one win in nine.
40:48lost a lot of friendlies to big hitters during that period but it clearly didn't serve them well
40:55they were in there they got an absolute walloping from the hosts on the opening night
40:59yeah and that's why I think leading into the Euros in Germany I wasn't too concerned because
41:06I felt that the players would then perform when it mattered but it shows you how important it is
41:12to have form and momentum getting into a tournament particularly when you know it's first world cup in such a
41:18long time
41:19Christie, Adams, here's Robertson, neutralising Adams again but once more it breaks down in the vital area
41:33which is happening too often
41:44they're getting into better positions tonight than they did on Saturday we would say that
41:48but the use of the ball has been poor, indecision, final pass
42:03the final handful of places at this summer's world cup finals will be decided tonight
42:10and Scotland's qualifying group rivals Denmark really picked to the automatic place on the final dramatic night
42:19and trailing in the Czech Republic
42:29Sweden who have had an absolute shocker in the last few years
42:34they're 1-0 up at home to Poland
42:37and stock home tonight in that playoff final
42:43the nation's battle
42:45and what remains at the table
42:49Suter read the danger there and he
42:52comes across to
42:55to Vencingo getting onto it
43:01the final 10 minutes of the first half
43:07yeah and a promising start to the game from Scotland
43:11aggressive
43:12getting pressure high up the pitch and
43:14a couple of sites at goal but
43:16not really played out that way for the
43:20the rest of the half
43:21but it's still
43:23time to get control back of the game
43:25at the minute
43:26you have to say Ivory Coast certainly in control
43:29oh
43:34Gilmore wins the free kick
43:37badged to the ground by Traore
43:44John McGinnamond the subs warming up down there
43:54how many places do you think are realistically available to players in this squad the 26 that
44:01will go to america there's not many is there i don't have an exact number but you feel that
44:08there isn't going to be if everyone's fit and available then i don't think there will be many
44:13places you know for grabs but when you've got a you know you're in the squads and you've got a
44:19chance
44:19to impress then you make sure that it's an easy decision for the manager to take you and that's
44:25why you know we look at it as a whole in terms of performances results momentum but also you know
44:30for players that want to hit form and want to get in the in the squad first of all but
44:34in the team
44:35to go and play at the world cup
44:48you know committed to that didn't he
44:52you like he's felt the full force of it
45:01yes to stop
45:13not always the kind of challenge you see in friendlies no it's not it's full committal
45:18from both players and gilmore in particular making sure he wins the ball
45:26he's had his injury problems this season billy gilmore he's just recently managed to force his way
45:32into the napoli team again started their last three games
45:48a few times during the qualifiers he was left out the starting eleven and it kind of raised eyebrows
45:53just because he's such a good carrier of the ball he's great in possession
45:58yeah he's always available always looking for the ball keeps it moving as well
46:05great range of passing
46:07adams holding off single
46:13tierney
46:16adams to mctominy
46:20robertson is three four in the middle now
46:22that five have made it robertson across
46:25and he's blocked brilliantly by diamante
46:29that's great play down the left hand side
46:32dangerous delivery i'd like to see it again to see if she adams can get across that front post
46:36and get the first contact on the ball
46:43they started the half strongly scotland as they look to finish it
46:47in that fashion
46:58it's a good run out for them this
47:00it's a good run out for them this
47:01it's a good run out for them this
47:08it's a good run out for them this
47:08ivery coast currently five places above them in the
47:11the fifa world rankings but realistically they're probably in the real world higher than that
47:24there's adams
47:27christie out to hurst
47:33it just seems sometimes that one or two of the scotland players are just not on the same page
47:39in the final third
47:40yeah and that
47:41and that's not ideal either
47:43it's come off hyam's head
47:46he's been slipped back across
47:49here for
47:50triori
47:53flori digs it out
47:54it does a good job because tourey was lurking
47:58you see you got him behind in the first place
48:03one or two little defensive
48:06lapses like that in this first half
48:07yeah and then you know
48:10you look at from a scotland point of view and you want them to make sure they don't make any
48:14but
48:14they've been put under pressure as well
48:16Ivery coast have
48:17as much as they've looked good and comfortable in possession
48:21and they've gone forward
48:22they've gone forward at speed
48:24moving runners
48:25sometimes that forces
48:27the mistake
48:28when you were talking earlier about
48:29not being on the same page
48:31offensively i think that
48:33they're seeing the passes and the runs and maybe just execution just isn't quite there
48:37just yet
48:40good layoff by hearse for christie
48:42kessie was too strong for him
48:44christie's looking at the ref he's not interested
48:49as umana tori
48:52finds ulay
48:54one back
49:09scotland supporters desperately seeking something to cheer
49:16there's another example of problems in the attacking third yeah he narrows off
49:23ros mccrory initially probably not expecting that switch of play from kieran tierney it's an excellent pass
49:30and when he's adjusting he's just trying to head that into the path
49:33the shea adams is probably expecting mccrory to try and take that down in his chest
49:43but on the phone the maivorian goalkeeper plays for panathinaikos
49:49he's having a decent season 11 clean sheets and 31 appearances he is
49:53not the first choice
49:57and he uh fofana is on the bench tonight
50:01he's the regular goalkeeper
50:05so mccrory battling with benetraori
50:13a little bit too overzealously
50:27mccrory
50:28mccrory has just the one cat before tonight came
50:32uh friendly with gibraltar almost two years ago just in the build up to germany and
50:37he was in the final squad for euro 2024 though he didn't play
50:45a little bit more
51:02kusunu
51:05kessie
51:08drop that in behind tyranny for pepe
51:13Single, on the big switch.
51:22Turi couldn't keep that in play.
51:30And there's Fai, the Library Coast head coach.
51:38Fai took over midway through the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
51:42After a poor group stage,
51:46even though they qualified as one of the best third-place sides,
51:49they sacked the coach.
51:51Fai took over, and they won the title.
51:58Defence was ended by Egypt in the quarterfinals of this season's tournament.
52:04First giving chase, but no impact on Kosunu.
52:09Yeah, he's no way round there.
52:10Good defending from Kosunu, it's a lovely pass and run.
52:14It's defended really well.
52:31So there's going to be a little bit of stoppage time here,
52:33primarily because of Frank Kezi's injury.
52:35One-minute added.
52:51Billy Gilmore certainly not holding back tonight.
52:59Scott looking for an equaliser before half-time.
53:05Again, it's breaking down before they can make any real impact.
53:10Areas that are going to hurt Ivory Coast.
53:13Yeah, again, it's another slack one Ryan Christie on this occasion.
53:17It has been too many times tonight, not just from Ryan Christie.
53:23That pass is under-hitter.
53:26You know, it's intercepted.
53:40Well, that's half-time.
53:43Scotland behind.
53:46They were suckered early by Nicolas Pepe.
53:50Having lost a late goal against Japan on Saturday.
53:53It was a relatively early one.
53:55That season behind Scott McTominay.
53:58As in a couple of pops at goal,
53:59did draw a brilliant save out of Alban Lafont.
54:04They threatened every now and again,
54:05but the use of the ball in the final third has been a problem for them.
54:09The Ivorians then have the lead here on Merseyside at half-time.
54:14It is Ivory Coast one, Scotland nil.