Scotland vs Curacao - prediction, team news, lineups

Scotland and Curacao statesman their preparations for an eagerly-anticipated quality astatine the 2026 World Cup erstwhile they quadrate disconnected successful a warm-up fixture astatine Hampden Park connected Saturday afternoon.

This lucifer represents the archetypal ever gathering betwixt the 2 nations, with Scotland ranked 48th successful the FIFA World Rankings and Curacao positioned 34 places beneath them successful 82nd spot.

Match preview

Scotland announced connected Thursday that caput manager Steve Clarke has signed a four-year declaration extension, with the arrogant Saltcoats brag "truly honoured” to beryllium starring his state into their archetypal World Cup since 1998.

The Tartan Army ended 2025 successful jubilant manner arsenic they secured a thrilling 4-2 location victory implicit Group C rivals Denmark to decorativeness successful apical spot. Two stoppage-time strikes from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean - the second netting from the halfway enactment - sparked pandemonium astatine Hampden Park.

Since then, Scotland person suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats successful friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast during March’s planetary break, with Clarke near “disappointed” by some the show of his squad and the boos that rang retired pursuing decision to the erstwhile astatine Hampden Park.

Scotland volition beryllium keen to instrumentality to winning ways earlier they statesman their World Cup run successful Group C against Haiti successful Massachusetts connected June 11. Challenging fixtures against five-time satellite champions Brazil and African giants Morocco volition follow.

The Tartan Army volition beryllium regarded arsenic favourites successful this weekend’s clash with Curacao, but they person lone won 4 of their past 13 fixtures played astatine Hampden Park (D3 L6) and person prevailed successful conscionable 2 of their past 13 planetary friendlies (D3 L8).

Curacao volition beryllium 1 of 4 countries making their debut astatine the newly-expanded 48-team World Cup this summer. As the smallest successful the tournament’s past with a colonisation of astir 156,000, the Caribbean land federation are relishing the accidental to trial their mettle against immoderate of football’s giants.

Preparations person been analyzable by the managerial fiasco that has evolved since the crook of the year. Dick Advocaat initially resigned successful February owed to idiosyncratic reasons regarding his daughter’s health. Fred Rutten was appointed arsenic his successor, but past helium resigned connected May 11 pursuing disagreements with his players.

Advocaat has since made a astonishment instrumentality to the Curacao dugout pursuing improvements to his daughter’s situation, and the 78-year-old Dutchman volition go the oldest manager successful World Cup history.

Curacao - drawn successful Group E astatine the World Cup alongside Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador - are present gearing up for their archetypal lucifer since March erstwhile they suffered 2 disappointing affable defeats nether Rutten against China and Australia, losing 2-0 to the erstwhile and 5-1 against the latter.

Prior to that, Curacao concluded their palmy World Cup qualification run nether Advocaat with a 0-0 gully against Jamaica successful November past year, conscionable 5 days aft thrashing Bermuda 7-0 – the 4th biggest triumph successful their history.

Scotland signifier (all competitions):

Curacao signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Scotland’s 26-man squad for the World Cup does not see striker Tommy Conway, who requires country connected an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Oli McBurnie is besides absent contempt inspiring Hull City to Premier League promotion with 17 goals.

Grant Hanley was forced disconnected with a genu wounded successful Hibernian’s last crippled of the Scottish Premiership play against Motherwell, but the centre-back has since returned to grooming and is disposable for selection.

Veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, has been sidelined since March with an enarthrosis injury, but helium could beryllium successful contention to marque an quality connected Saturday.

New Rangers signing Lawrence Shankland volition beryllium pushing commencement up front, portion prima names including Scott McTominay, John McGinn - A Europa League victor with Aston Villa - and skipper Andrew Robertson could besides diagnostic successful immoderate capacity.

As for Curacao, full-back Livano Comenencia (knock) and winger Kenji Gorre (knee) are some doubtful with insignificant problems and volition beryllium assessed up of kickoff. It is improbable that Advocaat volition instrumentality immoderate risks with the duo.

Juninho Bacuna, who played 12 times for Rangers successful 2021, is closing successful connected 50 planetary appearances and could play successful midfield alongside his member and skipper Leandro Bacuna, who on with goalkeeper Eloy Room successful Curacao’s all-time grounds appearance-maker (70).

Former PSV and Brighton striker Jurgen Locadia, who present plies his commercialized with Miami FC, could commencement arsenic the cardinal striker, portion Sheffield United’s Tahith Chong has scored 2 goals successful 4 planetary caps for Curacao and is simply a contender to statesman retired wide.

Scotland imaginable starting lineup:

Gunn; Patterson, Hendry, McKenna, Tierney; Gilmour, McLean, Christie; Gannon-Doak, Shankland, McGinn

Curacao imaginable starting lineup:

Room; Sambo, Van Eijma, Obispo, Floranus; L. Bacuna, Roemeratoe, J. Bacuna; Hansen, Locadia, Chong

We say: Scotland 2-0 Curacao

While Curacao whitethorn take to sanction a beardown lineup, it remains to beryllium seen whether Scotland brag Clarke volition travel suit oregon usage this affable to negociate the minutes of his squad up of their last warm-up lucifer with Bolivia adjacent week.

Nevertheless, the Tartan Army person spot successful depth, and the players astatine Clarke’s disposal should person capable prime to outscore their Caribbean counterparts, starring america to foretell a location victory.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.