Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has named his starting XI against Moldova in World Cup 2022 qualifying tonight at Hampden Park, with Leeds United captain Liam Cooper dropped to the bench in a tactical reshuffle.
Nathan Patterson returns from Covid-19 isolation at right-wing-back, allowing captain Andy Robertson to move back to left-wing-back, having started on the opposite side v Denmark midweek. Leeds United captain Cooper is replaced Jack Hendry and Scott McKenna drops out too. Ryan Christie, Lyndon Dykes and Kevin Nisbet form the attack.
Cooper (Photo by MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)
Clarke’s side are in desperate need of three points. On a run of one win in nine matches, Scotland have five points from four games in Group F and were widely-criticised for their defensive performance against Denmark midweek. A 2-0 defeat in Copenhagen has heightened the need for three points tonight and next week versus Austria.
Head coach Clarke said of the match: “We’ll be better. The lads have been good in training and there’s a little edge to them – I can feel it already. They know they are going into a pivotal moment in the group. Obviously, after the last result, it’s going to be more difficult to be first.
“Is second still attainable? Very much so. We can definitely get wins in the next two games. Whether we need them or not will be determined by how the other games pan out. Moldova are a threat from set-plays. We give them every respect, but we look to put on a performance for ourselves and for the fans.”
Here is Scotland’s starting XI at Hampden Park.
Your Scotland team taking on Moldova at Hampden Park this evening.#SCOMDA pic.twitter.com/5FuuLYlZz6
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) September 4, 2021
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