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World Cup Q&A: ‘Are you allowed to be scared of the prospect of losing to Haiti? Of course you are!’ | Football
Key events
Ewan Murray
Thank you for all the questions; including because you proved I am not nearly as good at thinking on my feet as I thought I was. I hope everyone enjoys the World Cup and that Scotland make a proper impact here. Enjoy the coverage …
What would Burns say?
BobbiJane15: Clarkie and wee Billy Gilmour are both from Ayrshire. Can you think of a Burns quote that would give the team a boost?
That’s a brilliant question. And with family heritage there, I should have a smart answer. Unfortunately, I will have to leave for others, besides pointing out that if the Scotland team is even nearly as “prolific” as the national bard …
How big a miss is Billy Gilmour?
whatthatguysaid asks: Is Gilmour a big miss for Scotland, or would Clarke not have used him much anyway? I’m torn between loving having a classy ball player in the team, and being worried about him playing neat little passes only to find Grant Hanley is on the receiving end.
You are quite right to point out Clarke had a tendency not to use Gilmour when others expected he would (the Germany game in the last Euros an example). I just feel really sorry for the player; his Euro 2020/21 was ruined by Covid. It’s also fine to say the team can manage without him.
Am I allowed to be scared at the prospect of Haiti?
Dumbuck asks: As one who attended the Costa Rica debacle in Genoa in 1990, am I allowed to be scared shitless by the prospect of facing Haiti in our opening game?
Of course you are! I remember that day because, as a schoolboy, I placed a can of Irn-Bru in the freezer with a plan to drink it during the second half. I forgot all about the can, which exploded. You can imagine my mother’s delight at the subsequent state of the freezer.
What will you wear to matches?
Murdomania asks: I’ve dusted off my John Collier suit of 1978 (which served me well until 1982 – jacket, not the trousers by this point). What item of clothing will you be wearing to mark WC 2026?
It’s a shorts and T-shirt World Cup. Steaming hot. Everywhere.
Who should have been in the Scotland squad?
Fran2016 asks: Is there anyone who has not been selected for the Scotland squad who you think was desperately unlucky to not make it? Or do you feel Clarke got his choices correct?
I think he called it all right. The big decision obviously came after Billy Gilnour was injured. Picking Tyler Fletcher ahead of Lennon Miller turned heads. Fletcher, to me, looks to have a really bright future and massively impressed experienced players during training sessions. I hope Miller responds to the point where Clarke cannot ignore him but, in the here and now, Fletcher to me looks the better player.
Kieron Bowie and Oli McBurnie had strong cases but I generally find it hard to grumble with the squad.
Will Morocco be tougher than Brazil?
waefall asks: How seriously should we take Morocco? They’re my wildcard to go all the way, so I fear they could be even tougher than Brazil.
Very. But there is no question of anything else happening. In previous years – Costa Rica, Peru, Iran, Zaire – there was ignorance among Scotland players/staff/media about national teams we typically saw little of. That harmed Scotland. Now, there is so much information about opposition and, in Morocco’s case, a general understanding they are very good. I just think the position of that game is problematic for Scotland; I expect Morocco will be hungry for victory after an opening game loss to Brazil.
Does Scottish football offer more hope than its politicians?
seanmcnulty asks: Do you agree with William McIlvanney about the connections between Scotland’s World Cup fiascoes and our political fiascoes, and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory becoming a national trait in the widest sense? If so, what’ll happen to us after we reach this year’s semis?
There are so many ways I could answer this … But a debate on the merits of Scottish independence isn’t something I’d rather enter into at this point. Generally I have always agreed with both McIlvanneys. I also think the current crop of Scottish international football players operate at a far more impressive level than Scotland’s current crop of politicians.
How much is Shankland worth to Rangers?
CogitoErgoSumAnxius asks: How much can Rangers expect to get for Lawrence Shankland once the slow-motion maestro finishes top scorer of the group stage having made a fool of Marquinhos?
This made me laugh. More intriguing to me is whether Rangers would have bought him. He was a no-brainer on a free transfer but would they have paid even £1m for him? I’m not so sure. But perhaps I am being sour …
His current form and mood will be a huge asset to Scotland. Suddenly it looks like Steve Clarke has a reliable goalscorer, who partners exceptionally well with Che Adams.
What should we call Scotland v Haiti?
PeteTheBeat asks: In one office I worked in, we would make up tabloid names for certain games: England-Uruguay was for “The Fray Bentos Trophy” or Ireland Mexico being the Tricolour Derby.
What would we call Scotland v Haiti ?
Group C, both teams back at a World Cup after decades away. The Boston C Party? Sorry.
Who will be the surprise package?
Chrisquinze asks: Which team is your true “dark horse”. ie not Turkey, Norway, Japan etc that keep getting mentioned?
You are robbing me of my Japanese obsession. Fair enough. Côte d’Ivoire.
Will anyone be taking the knee?
JuiceSpritz asks: Will any team “take the knee” during the competition?
I genuinely haven’t heard that being talked about. So my sense is, no. But clearly we will have to wait and see.
Which players will come out of nowhere?
bowboysammy asks: Do you have a pick for a player coming out of nowhere who amazes us?
It is very difficult for a player to come out of nowhere now. Touching on answer below, I really enjoy watching Japan and think they have a batch of attackers who are really exciting. My bet is one or more of them achieve big transfers on the back of this World Cup.
How difficult was it to get into the US?
ayjaym asks: How far back in cleaning your social media profile did you have to go to get into the US?
I didn’t! Which is either the result of me coming to the US all the time to cover golf or a lack of interest in the corridors of power about my rantings towards Scottish referees.
How badly have Fifa fouled up?
RHConnon asks: Are you as disappointed (though not surprised) by the utter spinelessness of Fifa regarding, well, everything to do with this tournament as I am?
What is obvious is that their marketing budget was either too small or not appropriately used. If you look closely in the US, you will know the World Cup is happening. But you have to look closely. I’d suggest a key aim of a World Cup is to grab the attention of the host nation. That really doesn’t seem to have happened here. Yet, anyway.
Who will be the group stage entertainers?
OttoMaddox asks: What are the most promising group-stage games in terms of it actually being an entertaining game for the neutrals? Do any stick out?
I really enjoy watching Japan. That group has potential to be really entertaining, especially with the Dutch also involved. That also appears a pretty level/even section. A lot of the others have one or two noticeably weaker teams (in relative terms).
What are the chances of a Iran v US match?
KTwoDJF asks: I know that there is technically a path to it, but what are the chances USA will be knocked out of the tournament by Iran ?
I have the USA being knocked out by Belgium. But I also have the USA winning their section; the mood in this country does not seem to suggest much confidence at all in that happening.
Shout out for Shankland
Mauberley asks: As a fellow Hearts fan, will you join me in saying well done to Lawrence Shankland for his big move.
The line is breaking up here, I can’t hear your question. Apologies.
Scotland’s nemesis: Haiti or Brazil?
richardinmadrid asks: Being a Scot, aged 69, and a football fan all my life, I really think Scotland will play awful against Haiti and play a great match against Brazil. What do you think of my premonition?
Yes, this isn’t a wild theory at all. I disagree though; I think Scotland have been wounded by failures in the last two finals. They have players a) with a point to prove over that and b) aware this will either be their best or last World Cup opportunity. So I actually believe they will seize the day against Haiti.
The Brazil fixture is dependent on whether they are comfortably through already or have incentive to damage Scotland. If there is nothing on it for Brazil, and knowing how the big nations manage their way through tournaments, I wouldn’t at all rule out Scotland taking a point.
Bracketology predictions
3chordgenius asks: According to my Bracketology predictions Scotland will need to beat Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Argentina to win the trophy, assuming they qualify as one of the best 3rd placers. How much do you recommend I invest in this outcome?
You could invest £20 to lose £20. My own predictions on the same Guardian page had Scotland losing to Mexico in the last 32. And my scenario added England plus Brazil to the possible opponents.
Will Scotland make it past Group C?
Lambchops asks: It’s a well known fact that Scotland’s group opponents never end up meeting their expectations in the World Cup? Having faced Ronaldo’s convulsive fits in France 98 what misfortunes may befall Brazil this time? Will the “curse” be lifted if Scotland make it out of the groups this time? And speaking of curses, should we actually just try and get WWE wrestler Danhausen to curse our opponents as he seems to be having some success with US sports teams?
Not a “curse” I have previously contemplated. The Netherlands did reach the final in 1978 … The historical comparisons for Scotland are fair but of course skewed. This team will generally be regarded as the greatest of all time should they emerge from group C, which a 2-0 win over Haiti and nothing else might be enough to secure. The Scotland team of 1974 didn’t reach the group phase but also didn’t lose a game. A glance at that squad and suggesting this team might be superior feels silly.
My wrestling interest ended in the days of Big Boss Man but I will take your word for it re: Danhausen.
What’s become of Max Johnston?
Fearandloathingpart2 asks: Three right backs in the squad but no Max Johnston. Is he injured again, does he have the wrong attitude for Clarke, or does Clarke genuinely just rate Ralston higher?
I thought Johnston had a very difficult time when he came on in Copenhagen at the start of the World Cup campaign. Clarke is of course fiercely loyal and emphasises the club feel within this squad but I think the reality is he does rate Ralston higher. Hickey is by far and away the outstanding right back. Patterson needs a transfer from Everton to reignite his career and, like Johnston, is far better on the attacking elements from right back then he is defending.
A flutter on Scotland reaching the semis?
misterbadexample asks: Well, I’ve put £50 on us at 28-1 to reach the semifinals, and I never gamble. Do you think the excitement at qualifying may have overexcited the nation?
That has ebbed and flowed. People were hugely excited at qualification. That mood dampened a little but noticeably in the following months. Yet the comeback to win against Curaçao and the 4-0 victory over Bolivia on Saturday has, I sense, boosted the mood again. You will lose your £50 but I think the last-32 is a legitimate, proper target.
Will Norway-Scotland friction escalate?
DeJongandtherestless asks: Ewan, do you anticipate that the issue between Norway and Scotland will develop into a full-scale war at some point?
A wonderful story, largely because it is so utterly trivial. Norway are right to be irked about the late cancellation of a training game and the Scotland explanation doesn’t exactly tally. After all, Billy Gilmour was injured a week before they postponed the bounce game. However, the existence of the fixture wasn’t known publicly at all until the Norwegians made it that way. I also fail to see how it can significantly impact their build up.
There may be lingering Norwegian animosity of course. Scotland stole a late win in Oslo, which was key to qualification for the last Euros.
What do Scotland need to progess?
stooze asks: What do you think Scotland need to progress from the group – the minimum? I’m thinking 3 points and even a -2 GD might just scrape through.
Those who look at modelling suggest that will indeed be the borderline scenario. It’s a strange World Cup for Scotland in that it is so heavily based on game one. Without a win over Haiti – and I would argue a win by a couple of goals – the whole thing could fall flat within 90 minutes. I don’t fancy Morocco in game two after, I assume, they lose to Brazil. So I think Scotland have to win with a little to spare against Haiti then cling on for dear life.
Welcome to the Conversation
Hello, and welcome to the first Guardian World Cup Q&A
Ewan Murray is one of our newly expanded team of Guardian football correspondents scattered across North America to cover all 104 games.
Ewan is now here live from Charlotte, North Carolina where Scotland didn’t play Norway on Monday, to answer any questions you might have about the World Cup as a whole and, specifically, Scotland’s chances in group C alongside Haiti and France 98 group rivals Brazil and Morocco. Post your comments and questions below the line and Ewan will answer as many as he can.
Here’s some reading/watching/listening in the meantime:
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at locations across the central belt with their faces covered and many holding Union flags and banners.
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Key events
50 mins: Russo has a snapshot from inside the box but it is blocked.
Moments later Greenwood lines up a free-kick from the other side of 30 yards but it is straight at the wall.
48 mins: No surprise but it is all England at the moment. I will predict five second half goals.
46 mins: Some half times changes …
Hlushchenko and Radionova are on for Ukraine. Kohut and Kunina off.
Mead and Greenwood enter the pitch for England, Morgan and James off.
Second half
Here we go again!
Spain are winning 3-0 in Iceland. No concerns of any shocks tonight.
Tom Garry
It’s been one-way traffic. If you think this game is one-sided, just wait for October’s play-off first round tie against a League C team! The fans at the Hill Dickinson seem to be enjoying it, nonetheless. There are two little pockets of Ukraine fans who are also in good voice, too, as the sun sets to my left over the Mersey.
Tony Mason emails: “I must take issue with your statement that the cost of tickets to see England at Wembley was “incredibly expensive”. This is a misconception. The cheapest England tickets at Wembley are and have been since the “new” Wembley opened are about the same price as a League 1 fixture. Slightly more than I pay to see Notts County. There are also many of the cheapest tickets so you don’t even need to be waiting on a Ticketmaster queue to get them.
“Also, although Wembley isn’t the best positioned ground in the country it isn’t that hard to get to from much of the country. From Nottingham I would get home after an evening kick-off at about 00:30. My mate travels in from Bristol and it is about the same. Granted, we drive but coaches do run from the major cities.
“Having said that, it is always nice to see them around the country.”
I’ve just put in for the best available ticket for the Czechia game in October and it’s £120. You can, in fairness, get tickets for £35 but I really wouldn’t want to travel three hours to then sit at the top in the corner. That’s just me.
Half time: England 2-0 Ukraine
This has not been much of a contest, well any contest whatsoever. The main surprise is that England have not managed to get more than two but ahead very much out of sight thanks to Carter and Stanway.
45 mins: One minute added on.
44 mins: Hemp receives the ball around 20 yards out, spins a defender and fires a shot but flies over the bar.
43 mins: James curls a free-kick from the edge of the box just over the bar.
41 mins: A band is trying to whip the crowd up with Sweet Caroline, the most overplayed song in history.
39 mins: With confidence renewed, Hemp whips in a cross from the right into a dangerous position but no one is there to get on the end of it.
GOAL! England 2-0 Ukraine (Stanway, 37)
The Lionesses needed that. Russo sneaks around the back and slides the ball across to Stanway who slides home at the back post.
36 mins: James loops in a cross from the left which Boklach comes to claim but it takes her two attempts to get the ball under control.
England and the atmosphere have gone quite flat.
34 mins: England have a corner on the right. Le Tissier and James combine once more but it is a slow burner, with the ball belatedly being sent into the box by Walsh, only to be easily collected by the goalkeeper.
32 mins: England are too casual at the back and it gifts Boychuk a first chance of the match but her shot from the edge of the box is scuffed.
30 mins: England will be disappointed they have not got a second but, in truth, they have not come that close to adding to the tally.
The ball goes into the box again but Charles is penalised for something or other.
28 mins: Hemp crashes into the hoardings after a challenge in the box. After brushing herself down, she is up and ready to go again.
Blindkilde Brown has not got into the game much thus far. I would like to see more of her. Just as I write that, she gets in a good position in the box but is tackled before she can shoot. Not to worry, as the ball lands at Russo’s feet but she lashes over.
26 mins: Same old story without England being able to penetrate.
24 mins: Le Tissier should do better from a Charles pull-back but the defender is leaning back and whacks her shot from 12 yards well over.
England currently enjoying more than 86% possession.
22 mins: Hampton’s only involvement thus far has been with her feet. I am not sure she will be kept occupied by shots here.
Russo’s shirt is held when 30 yards out with her back to goal. England take it quickly but Hemp is pushed backwards.
Hemp then thinks she has a great chance to score but Shaynyuk puts in a perfect tackle in the nick of time.
20 mins: The free-kick is tapped to Hemp who fires a shot from 20 yards but Boklach moves quickly to her left to save.
The goalkeeper is tested soon after when Russo meets a cross but her header lacks power and Boklach collects.
18 mins: Stanway and Hemp combine well, allowing the latter to pick out James inside the box but her shot is blocked.
England have a free-kick in a dangerous position after James is bundled over …
Tom Garry
17 mins: That feels like it’ll be the first of many. Lauren James’ cross was sumptuous. But Ukraine can’t even get close to her. It could be a long night for the visitors. The home fans here really enjoyed that goal and they’re all on their feet but England can’t get too excited to be ahead – Spain are already winning in Iceland.
16 mins: I think it is fair to say the goal was coming.
Russo is the next to have a chance but her header loops well wide.
GOAL! England 1-0 Ukraine (Carter, 14)
Hemp wins another corner. Le Tissier decides to take another one short to James. This forward shows some trickery before chipping a cross to the back post from where Carter nods home across the goalkeeper.
12 mins: England have a corner on the right. Le Tissier takes it short to James who pings it towards the far top corner, only to see her shot bounce off bar and post into the goalkeeper’s arms.
10 mins: The free-kick comes to nothing but England continue to attack.
The space is outwide for England, may I suggest James drifts further over to the left. She would be more dangerous than Charles out there.
8 mins: Hemp aims for Russo in the box but a Ukrainian head meets the cross. I will guess the possession stats as being Eng 98%-2% Ukraine.
Le Tissier is crudely taken down by Boychuk just outside the box.
Spain are ahead in Iceland. No surprise there.
6 mins: Charles is starting very high on the left and being allowed to push forward from full-back. England will have plenty of freedom to attack considering the lack of ambition among the Ukrainians.
4 mins: Ukraine try to break but Le Tissier is there to tidy up.
England start again from the back from move up the pitch in a composed manner. Hemp has a cross blocked but the ball is recycled and ends up back with the City winger, who shoots from 20 yards only to hit it straight at the goalkeeper.
2 mins: A positive start from England as they pushed forward to put pressure on the Ukrainian backline. The visitors are keen to defend as deep as humanly possible.
Hemp puts in a dangerous cross from the right but it drifts over everyone inside the box.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Tom Garry
Smoke fills the air as fireworks jet out from the side of the pitch as the players emerge to a crowd of around 30,000. The upper tier is mostly empty, but the lower bowl is busy. Ukraine’s players each have their national flag wrapped around them as they sing their anthem, which receives a generous round of applause from the home fans.
The Ukraine players, each clad in a national flag, sing the national anthem.
ITV are not particularly interested in this game, they have spoken about Friday night for about 15 mins. Look forward, folks.
Sarina Wiegman: “Every game you don’t win, it hurts. Friday was a hard one because we didn’t create any momentum.
“Of course you want to win but always when we lose, win or draw we look at things we can do better but when you lose it makes it more urgent.
“We want to have some freshness and some other players. We expect very tight spaces and she [Blindkilde Brown] position herself really well, she finds the ball and that’s why we brought her in.”
Gordon emails in: “After the debacle of last Friday, and, let us not forget, a poor performance in Iceland, many were calling for changes in the England XI, and, indeed, I am pleased to see Le Tissier, Charles, and Blindkilde Brown starting tonight.
“But, to me, it is inexplicable that Walsh and Stanway retain their spots. These two were embarrassingly poor against Spain last Friday – they had rings run round them by Putellas and co. Their inclusion tonight begs the question – how poor do they have to be to get dropped? Lucia Kendall and Jess Park should be playing in their place.
“I have belatedly realised that Sarina Wiegman has been without her long-time assistant Arjan Veurink since last year’s Euros triumph – he is now the head coach of the Netherlands Women. I am beginning to think that he was the brains of the outfit.”
Will England bounce back or will they be pulped?
It is only four changes for Wiegman tonight, so not as many as some anticipated but will freshen things up.
Not just about England tonight. There will be a decent amount in the away end.
It is great to see England playing away from Wembley. The only time I had much interest in the national side was when they were travelling around during the construction of the new stadium. Getting to Wembley from pretty much anywhere outside London is a massive pain and it is incredibly expensive for tickets, as a general rule.
Pre-match reading …
Starting lineups
England (4-3-3): Hampton; Le Tissier, Carter, Morgan, Charles; Walsh, Stanway, Blindkilde Brown; Hemp, Russo, James.
Subs: Bronze, Moorhouse, Toone, Wubben-Moy, Greenwood, Kelly, Kendall, Mead, Park, Baggaley, Beever-Jones, Fisk
Ukraine (4-2-3-1): Boklach; Savka, Olkhova, Shmatko, Shaynyuk; Kotyk, Zaborovets; Molodiuk, Kohut, Kunina; Boychuk.
Subs: Basanska, Hlushchenko, Holovach, Keliushyk, Khrystiuk, Kotiash, Podolska, Radionova, Samson, Semkiv
Preamble
This will almost certainly not be the end of England’s World Cup qualifying campaign because, barring a strange set of results tonight, they will be heading into the playoffs later this year. The Lionesses are level of points with Spain but sit second thanks to an inferior head-to-head records having been thrashed on Friday in Mallorca.
Sarina Wiegman is set to make changes at Hill Dickinson Stadium tonight. The dreadful result in Spain may have influenced the decision but after a lengthy season, some players will need a rest. England are strong favourites in Liverpool, so rotation is unlikely to harm their chances.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.
The man has also been charged with possession of an article with blade in a public place and threats to kill.
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