Key occasions
Present key occasions solely
Please activate JavaScript to make use of this characteristic
18 min: McLean picks up possession on the midway line. precisely what the group, virtually as one, entreat him to do. I received’t insult your intelligence.
Share
16 min: Patterson’s poor ball upfield is intercepted, and Japan counter. Scotland are lucky that Tanaka overhits his try and launch Ito down the left channel. Aim kick.
Share
14 min: Hampden isn’t roaring. Extra of a contented rumble. That’s what slaking a 28-year thirst does.
Share
12 min: McLean dribbles elegantly down the inside-left channel. He can shoot if he needs, and he’s inside his rights. Nevertheless it’s clearly not far out sufficient. As a substitute he tries to slide Dykes into the field down the channel, however the striker’s not anticipating the move. Disgrace, as a result of that was a hell of a dribble. Shoot! On a regular basis! You’re allowed. You’ve earned the fitting in perpetuity.
Share
10 min: Fujita has a crack from distance. He’s aiming for the highest proper however his shot is simply too near Gunn, who offers with the shot with out fuss.
Share
9 min: … though given what McTominay did towards Denmark final November, it’s laborious to begrudge the person the odd mistake.
Share
8 min: McGinn dinks a cross in from the fitting. McTominay, steaming in, meets the ball six yards out, and absolutely should rating. However he hits straight at Zion Suzuki, who stands proud a hand. A superb response cease that turns the ball onto the right-hand publish and away. However he ought to by no means have been allowed to make the save. Scotland needs to be main.
Share
7 min: A number of touches for Patterson out on the fitting flank. Probably not worthy of point out in and of itself, however the BBC had Ralston in his right-back place on the pre-match graphic, so let’s clear that up.
Share
5 min: Goto busies himself down the fitting this time. The ball comes into the Scotland field and Maeda takes an air-swipe at it. Scotland clear their traces.
Share
4 min: Goto latches onto a unfastened ball close to the centre circle, and has a go for purpose, McLean having clearly set a pattern. However the whistle goes for a foul earlier within the transfer, so it’s all in useless.
Share
3 min: In any other case, it’s been a reasonably uneventful begin. Scotland seeing plenty of the ball, as they move it across the again.
Japan’s Yuito Suzuki is challenged by Kenny McLean. {Photograph}: Lee Smith/Motion Pictures/ReutersShare
Up to date at 13.14 EDT
2 min: Each males took a uncommon outdated whack there. Each are superb to proceed. A pleasant hand clasp after the accident. No laborious emotions.
Share
10 seconds: McGinn and Tanaka conflict heads. Play stops. It was good whereas it lasted.
Share
Japan get the ball rolling. Hampden roars!
Share
The groups are out! Scotland sport their new away strip of salmon with pinstripes, sleeve/collar accents and traditional trefoil. Japan are additionally of their change gear, an equally scrumptious white quantity with black trim and multi-coloured pinstripes: mainly, what West Germany would have regarded like on the 1974 World Cup had it ever stopped raining and the solar come out. We’ll be off in a minute!
Share
Pre-match postbag. “Kenny McLean has the look of a person who is aware of he’ll by no means have to purchase one other pint for the remainder of his life. I do know the sensation, however that’s as a result of I’m barred from most pubs in Scotland, fairly than being the one who scored some of the well-known objectives in Scottish soccer historical past. It’s saved me a fortune although, have you ever seen the value of a pint as of late, folks have a cheek banging on about gas” – Simon McMahon
“Japan are taking part in an experimental facet however Sano Kodai of Nijmegen is a participant that excites the Japan help. Trying ahead to the match” – Tony Mason
“Being of a sure age, I’m simply unsure I’ll ever heat to chromatically coordinated crests. However salmon with pinstripes, sleeve/collar accents and a traditional trefoil? Sure, please!” – Grant Tennille (who can communicate on your MBM hack additionally)
Share
Final November’s hero Kenny McLean has a fast chat with the BBC. “The final time we noticed [the fans] they have been clearly going psychological on this place. Possibly it received’t be as loud however hopefully we may give them one thing to cheer about tonight.”
… and so, inevitably, as a result of the query must be requested … does that imply one other purpose from the midway line? “Eh … I imply … [flashes cheeky smile] … I’ll give it a attempt in some unspecified time in the future, I’m positive!”
Share
Scotland boss Steve Clarke speaks to the BBC. “It’s been a very long time since November … it’s good to be right here … a bit changeable, the climate! … hopefully it stays dry for the sport … we’ll get an excellent crowd in … I’ve been very impressed with the Japanese … I want to take a look at sure gamers in sure positions … that’s what these video games are for … there are not any surprises within the formation … it’s 4-4-2 … hopefully we’ll trigger them plenty of issues.”
Share
Japan striker Daizen Maeda isn’t any stranger to Hampden Park, due to his day job at Celtic, and he leads the road at the moment. Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka additionally begins for the guests, whereas Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton and Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada are on the bench. The Samurai Blue’s listing of long-term injured contains captain Waturu Endo of Liverpool, Actual Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, and Monaco ahead Takumi Minamino.
Share
Scotland make 5 modifications to the workforce despatched out to beat Denmark final November. Angus Gunn, Nathan Patterson, Jack Hendry, Tommy Conway and halfway-line hero Kenny McLean take the locations of John Souttar and Ryan Christie, who’re on the bench, and the lacking Craig Gordon, Aaron Hickey and Ben Gannon-Doak. Middlesbrough ahead Conway returns to the workforce after lacking the complete qualification marketing campaign. The promising 19-year-old striker Findlay Curtis, on mortgage at Kilmarnock from Rangers, hopes to make his debut.
Share
Up to date at 12.16 EDT
The groups
Scotland: Gunn, Patterson, Robertson, McTominay, McGinn, Dykes, Hendry, Ferguson, Conway, McLean, McKenna.
Subs: Kelly, Bain, Hanley, Tierney, Gilmour, Adams, Christie, Miller, Souttar, McCrorie, Hyam, Hirst, Ralston, Irving, Curtis.
Japan: Zion Suzuki, Seko, Watanabe, Hiroki Ito, Sugawara, Fujita, Tanaka, Maeda, Yuito Suzuki, Kodai Sano, Goto.
Subs: Hayakawa, Osako, Taniguchi, Hashioka, Junnosuke Suzuki, Kaishu Sano, Junya Ito, Doan, Mitoma, Kamada, Nakamura, Ueda, Ogawa, Shiogai, Machino.
Share
Up to date at 12.29 EDT
Preamble
4 months in the past, this occurred …
… and now Scotland are coming down the street. A 28-year World Cup thirst will likely be slaked in three months’ time, and the prep begins now. Kick-off is at 5pm GMT. It’s on!
Share
