With Victoria Park undergoing a facelift back home, the Gibraltar national team will take to the field at the Estádio Algarve in Portugal, a venue they formerly occupied between 2013 and 2017. It seems fitting that a stadium built specifically for the 2004 UEFA European Championships will host a clash with 2024 competitors Scotland, although Gibraltar themselves have never featured at a major tournament since being recognised by Europe’s governing body in 2013.
That’s hardly a surprise, given that the minnows had only registered one win prior to 2018, and have racked up just seven more victories since then in what is a dismal overall FIFA-recognised record (W8, D9, L69). It’s difficult to make a case for any improvement here either after 12 straight defeats, a run which includes Gibraltar’s heaviest-ever loss (14-0 vs France) and 48 unanswered goals ahead of this friendly.
Looking to pile on further misery for the hosts are Scotland, who are preparing for their second straight European Championship finals under Steve Clarke after finishing bottom of their group in the previous edition. Improving on that may be a tall order however, as the Tartan Army will face hosts Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary in a tough-looking group, although a confidence-boosting trip to face FIFA’s 203rd-ranked side can’t do any harm.
Scotland’s have a woeful record of one victory in their last 13 friendly encounters (W1, D3, L9), but they have scored 12 times across their two H2H wins over Gibraltar, meaning that the likes of Lawrence Shankland and James Forrest, among others included in the preliminary squad, will see this match as an ideal opportunity to impress as they look to force their way into Clarke’s final roster for Euro 2024.
Players to watch: Lee Casciaro scored Gibraltar’s only goal against Scotland, although all three of the 42-year-old’s international strikes perhaps unsurprisingly have come in defeats. As for the visitors, Ché Adams seems guaranteed to be in the final squad after helping Southampton to promotion with 20 Championship goal contributions this season (G16, A4), but just one of his five Scotland strikes have come in friendly encounters.
Hot stat: Four of Scotland’s last five outings have seen at least one goal scored in both halves and over 3.5 total goals.
#scotland #gibraltar #livefootballmatchtoday #rangers #celtic #livefootball #livescores #livefootballmatchtoday #footballmatch #footballlive #footballtoday #Spl #SPLLIVE #euro2024
in 10 days time that is looming large that’s going to be An Almighty test regardless of the form Scotland are in it is a win but it wasn’t particularly convincing missed a plethora of chances in that first half the second half was fairly pedestrian but at least they got the goals that secure the win and they’ve edged ever closer to Euro 2024 getting underway finishes here in the algar sunshine jalter nil Scotland 2 this is sports sound from BBC Radio Scotland no doubt at all we will definitely take a win it’s been a poor run for Steve Clark side one more up match to go before we head to Germany that is on Friday night full coverage on Sports and we were on here at 6:00 Scotland at home to Finland that’s the send off let’s hope we can get a better performance on that evening than we saw tonight Willie Miller it was pretty pedestrian and the guys were saying that Liam and Tom were saying they’re just when you’re playing in a stadium that Willie not a big attendance we could hear the dog back and we think wanted to go out the stadium actually but it was it was pretty Grim at times but what what did you take take from the game and what do you think Steve Clark will take from it I think it’s much much more than the game really isn’t it it’s about the camp and it’s about getting the the the squad together and it’s about you know seeing them in training as well as getting them tested although there wasn’t there wasn’t much to be tested tonight as far as um Scotland was concerned I think Steve Clark would be disappointed that the chances it created they didn’t take more of the chances that were created they got two goals and two very good goals you know Christie and Jay Adams as well coming on and and drilling one into the back of the net so I think for these two players it’s it’s it’s a boost John M eventually came to life to walk into the game it was Anonymous for most of the game and that free kick that we saw was Dreadful but his delivery for the goal magificent magnificent wasn’t it just right to the back post obviously knowing where Adams was um and and delivering it just so precise and a fantastic finish as well um I I think these games are difficult um you’re looking for goals you’re looking for Shanklin maybe scoring so that’s disappointing and he didn’t he could have says it was an assist for Christy’s goal when he got in the way and the ball bounced off him it’s down as an assist he might be get an assist you for that one um a little bit disappointing for for Lauren Shanklin I thought that that that you know he might have been able to get a goal or two and and really you know kind of a put this throw the gauntlet down for Steve clap they start him and she Adams comes on and scores a goal so you’re then thinking well you know for the actual opening game who does he go with and I think before maybe we were leaning towards Shanklin after maybe not so much and you know Adam’s doing what a a a a striker needs to do get in the right place and and finish it uh with a lot of confidence that’s exactly what he did um Ros mcro I just wish that Ros having watched him you know down the right hand side um and even in a Midfield area when he got the ball and he’s positive and I watch him for aine doing it you know he can have a real influence and and I thought that he just he just took the easy option out in too many occasions um you know whenever he got a little bit of space One V one he was only too happy just to look back and play the ball inside they’re actually backed theart and and for me this is a you know that is that is a that is a position that’s up for grabs M you know I just wish you had done more because I think he’s capable of more done nothing wrong and and Tomo pointed it out in a a number of occasions he’s done nothing wrong but I just would have liked to see him being more positive you know looking at the opportunity that he had and grasping that opportunity and I don’t think he he quite did that um there’s nothing too much to shout about in the game no you know I think it’s not a great performance I think Steve Clark could be portraying as he’s got something out it he’s got minutes he’s got the the the players together he’s had a good camp they’ve won a game 2-0 they haven’t lost anything you wouldn’t expect them no to lose anything but of course it can happen um you know so it’s a shut out and he scored two goals but he’ll be disappointed that it wasn’t you know three four or maybe you know match in the last two games when it when it was six that’s what that’s what I was expecting I think that’s what we were all expecting but it never materialized and quite simply probably the chances fell to the wrong players as well um you know I think Grant antley getting a number of opport unities um and nothing much fallen for shankland which I felt was disappointing overall I think it’s okay I think Finland will be a better test for them in Friday um it’s it’s build up to to to to to to the game’s proper uh we don’t want to get too excited about our chances in Germany maybe maybe maybe Steve just doesn’t want to build us up too much thinking that we’re going to go there and and qualify out the group although I do think that we’re capable of doing that I think we’re capable of doing that if we get right team playing at the level that they can play at um but I don’t think there’s too much to get excited about tonight I think I’m much looking forward to the Friday night experience and then of course that opening game in Germany against German yeah let’s hope it’s a great send off on Friday night Tom we’ll be there on air from 6 o’ hopefully a few goals a good performance great spirits everyone in good form and looking ahead to the eurus what did you make of what we’ve just witnessed in that game against ja brala um I thought it was a desperately flat game um for obvious reasons you know no crowd very poor opposition just sitting back everyone behind the ball no real intention or no real kind of ability to trouble Scotland going forward so it was kind of Defenders against attackers it was and it was it was a grim game but you know Scotland eventually they they stuck with it they scored two goals um you would hope they score more uh a lot of other teams have gone to faroh I can scored like Ireland Republic of Ireland who don’t have many goals in their team at all scored four in Farrow against uh against jalter so disappointed from that perspective I don’t think too many players played particularly well um but look they’ve won they’ve brought an end as he knew they would but they brought an end to the seven games without without uh Victory but you wish they’ done it with a bit more Authority than that allow me to inject a bit of positivity yes I know I can see the look in your faces I’m I’m gonna go with this I’m glad I’m sitting down really indeed indeed Ryan Christie yes you know fine young man with a long interview Sports sound on Saturday and we were asking the guys and well we get yourself and Tom to do this at hamon on Friday night Tom was in Billy Dodge was in Michael Stewart getting to pick their starting 11 actually Tony D was in as well he did it as well starting 11 all everyone being fit for the opening game against Germany but you just feel Ryan Christie could have a big part to play because we talk about a l of options up front and and he is someone that could play in that role through the middle you’re talking on his own no it would be it would be a big challenge for him I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play through the middle on his own um I don’t you would have to ask Ryan himself if he has ever ever done that it would be different wouldn’t it I mean his movement is very good his movement’s very good so you know it’s not a case um that that you’re going to be on the ball and you’re going to be looking and you’re thinking I don’t have any Target here because he’s always on the Move yes you know that’s a big part of Ryan’s game um but I don’t know if if he play you know he’s back to the opposition goal and he would take it in I think he’d be more a player that would be looking to run into the channels perhaps and is that what you want from a main Striker is that not what you’re wanting from a number 10 you know one that plays off a main Striker it would be it would be a big challenge for him I I don’t know if it would be that up optimistic seeing him in that position I think I think we’ve got two that are better than him um I I I I like I like him where he plays actually I like him when he plays just in that you know where they three up and he’s one one side of the main Striker and I think he gives a lot to the game and he he can score he gets himself into good goal scoring positions as well uh but I’m not so sure you don’t think so no being that that number nine I like him in front the goal that I just he’s a very good he’s very cool he’s composed play in any number of positions I mean he’s been playing a deeper Midfield role uh for his Club he can play higher up as a midfielder he could probably play through the mid middle if he wanted to that you know Central strike or whatever he could play he’s very versatile player but I think one of the things that I will take from tonight is that when we were naming our teams uh on Saturday I had didn’t have Ryan Christie in it but it’s kind of tonight’s a reminder as well you know he is a he’s an important player and maybe he is in that team Billy dos his big decision Ry Chris Billy Gil that was his big decision and I still think that’s that is that is think so I think it’s that’s a tossup to be honest with you Tom what are your thoughts on Ryan Christie what he will offer our team come to yours yeah Ben M start in 11 um I think he’s obviously a goal threat um I think he’s a very intelligent footballer he talked about his movement there his movement’s excellent he’s very composed and we’re going to need a lot of compos a composure and composed players in a very very pressurized situation uh come a week in Friday so it would definitely been m in 11 I wouldn’t have him as a number nine though could he not do that role Tomo no I think he could I think he could yeah I think you know I think he’s intelligent enough at footballer to do it um but it’s a different type of position it’s the only position in the pitch where you’re constantly get your back yeah you don’t know what’s behind you and it’s not something to a lot of people it can be foreign just to go in and do that you know he’s very good with the the game in front of him um so it’s a different type of role uh I would imagine but yeah I mean tonight I was disappointed for Lawrence because he never really got the opportunities to get a on the score sheet which I think everybody was really craving and hoping would happen but our other Striker Shay Adams did finding it with was a brilliantly well taken uh goal from sham so that that’s going to be a big decision come uh the Germany game who starts uh in the in the forward areas and you would have to see come out of this game tonight then see Adams has put himself in a really good position what other positives could you take a couple of nice finishes Tom what posi is can you take what do you think Steve Clark will take from this game tonight well I was trying to work that out with Liam as we were kind of get getting towards the end of the game um I think the you know the winning thing to stop that winless run was important um how much confidence you going to take from the game but not that but much I don’t think it was a strong performance but there’s a number of reasons for that um in this evening’s game um I don’t really know because you can’t judge the match and it wasn’t a high octane it wasn’t a game that anything like it’s a complete antithesis of what uh the Germany game is going to be like you couldn’t get a game further removed from what that game is going to be like so as a warm-up game for it I’m not sure there was all that much value in tonight if I’m being perfectly honest because the players weren’t testing they weren’t pushed they didn’t have to reach their levels that they’re going to have to reach so I’m hoping on Friday that that changes and we get a performance full of energy and we get star performances from a number of our players and we see the kind of Scotland that got us to this tournament in the first place were you disappointed Tomo that Ben do didn’t get an opportunity tonight yeah yeah I thought it would have been a good opportunity for him to go and see what he can do um you know against a poor opposition the game was flat as anything so I F was he would have injected something into it he wasn’t on was on the bench though Tom was he I don’t think he was in the squad tonight I was he not well that’s probably a part of the reason he didn’t play then that’s I’m saying but would you not have given him an opportunity tonight because sure we’re all desperate to see what this boy can do yeah yeah I would have I would have yeah I don’t know why I mean I didn’t realize he wasn’t on the bench we didn’t get team sheets given to so I manag to see who on the I don’t think he trained much or maybe even at all last week right so maybe he’s maybe not got so he’s not levels which is kind of concerning isn’t it because here we are you know we’re the Germany game is looming large and he this is this is a kid who hasn’t played since December mid December yeah well you’re talking about one more player’s going to have to be cut it might end up being him yeah yeah and we’re talking about who he may look he spoken about the under 21s they are playing at the moment 4 one up at halftime against Kazakhstan goal scorers joshh do Lyall Cameron Tommy Conway Mr English and leis furini you think Tommy Conway if there was anyone that Steve Clark would turn to he would be the one yeah if he’s if he’s going to bring in another Striker and I don’t I’m not sure he is but if he is Tommy Conway is a is a is a young guy who’s been scoring goals he’s been playing a lot of football um scoring goals are very good is that three in a row now for the 21s um he’s got a good record there he’s had a good season down in England I don’t know if he if he is going to be called on because Steve Clark won’t know much about him but he’s obviously in good form let’s hear from Ross MC he made his debut for Scotland this evening he has been speaking with Jane Le well congratulations on your debut when did you find out you were getting the start um just uh this morning after and the afternoon had a meeting um did a bit some training yesterday so I kind of had an incline H the G I just spoke to him before a game and H just said going do do what I’ve been doing down in Bristol and uh yeah I really enjoyed that you’ve obviously been involved in the squad before but how special was it to actually make your mark out there oh great um look it’s a pinnacle of any footballers career to play for the national team and uh I’m just really happy and hopefully made my family proud tonight um yeah had a lot of messages I’ve just checked my phone there from from old family so they’re really really happy you’ve obviously got a real opportunity here haven’t you um obviously because of injury um do you feel that you took out there how do you feel about your performance tonight look it’s all about the team U we all need to keep our performance HS Li uh sorry performance levels High um and uh yeah we did that tonight it should I mean a few more goals but it was a very sticky pitch uh but the main thing is a result and we take that confidence into the next game and it’s a bit of a cliche but we take each game as it comes I guess you know um because you have got that opportunity you you’re going to grab every chance you can get whether it’s training whether it’s playing out there how how do you cope with that as a player do you kind of relish that kind of playing Under Pressure if feel like or maybe even training under pressure um as any football I wants to play in the the top tournaments that’s H that’s a in any football’s career and um you’ve got to realize playing Under Pressure but as I say it’s all about the team and we all stick together and we make sure we do what’s what’s best for the squad it was a it was a tricky one out there obviously plenty of chances created but just didn’t have that kind of Finishing Touch especially in the the first half was it quite a frustrating game to to to be part of yeah absolutely L chances that first half um very very sticky pitch um but I thought the boys were were great in the end and we got the result it’s the main thing just a a final question in terms of the the atmosphere out there it was an odd one wasn’t it kind of empty is stadium and did that have a bearing on on tonight’s game I think you’ve got to give it to the supporters that came and traveled um the support was tremendous again today and we look forward to the next game in Finland at home Ross mcui there Willie he did okay he was he wasn’t tested at all defensive you you just perhaps he maybe could have done more maybe not offered himself more but when he got the ball had more of an impact I think so yeah just I mean it is he he first International cup as well and listen he did fine did fine um you know never tested really defensively but he was in quite a number of good positions and I’m just sitting here saying well go and take on One V ones you know go and take the field back on and and and get them tested and maybe at times just took the the easy option out but listen you know your first game I think it went fine for him it’s a victory it wasn’t an inspiring game he didn’t do anything wrong so you know it hasn’t blooded the the the copy book in any way so he’s he’s right to feel
