Shankland And Curtis Fire Scotland Warning Ahead Of World Cup Departure

Lawrence Shankland spent much of the first hour at Hampden as a peripheral figure, dropping deep and running wide in support of George Hirst.

He sacrificed his natural game so that Hirst could lead the line, and Scotland were the poorer for it during a nervy farewell fixture.

That changed decisively when Shankland pushed into more dangerous positions, scoring twice with what were described as two beautiful finishes.

These were his 22nd and 23rd goals in his last 37 matches, a record that makes him, by a margin, Steve Clarke’s most accomplished striker.

Clarke’s previous pecking order may have placed Che Adams in pole position, but that view is becoming increasingly difficult to justify given the evidence mounting in front of him.

The Rangers striker — a dramatic move from Hearts that still feels strange to process — is carrying the form of his life into the World Cup.

Findlay Curtis also made a compelling case for inclusion, scoring three minutes after coming on as a substitute for the injured Billy Gilmour just before half-time.

“Everything I’ve dreamed of,” said the 19-year-old winger, whose parents watched his goal on television while on holiday in Tenerife — a trip he was supposed to be on.

Curtis won the penalty that allowed Ryan Christie to make it four, capping an impressive cameo that showcased his fearlessness and directness on Scotland’s left side.

The final scoreline of 4-1 against Curacao flatters the overall performance, with the visitors — ranked 82nd in the world — arguably the better side while the match remained eleven versus eleven.

The turning point arrived in the 38th minute when Curacao forward Jurgen Locadio was dismissed after an elbow on Aaron Hickey, having put his side 1-0 ahead.

Scotland had been struggling badly at that point, with the atmosphere inside Hampden described as being like a morgue before Locadio’s red card changed the complexion of the afternoon.

Scotland will now travel to New Jersey for a final preparation game against Bolivia next Saturday before the World Cup campaign begins in earnest.

Clarke acknowledged his players remain angry about their performance in Germany two years ago and intend to use that frustration as fuel heading into the tournament.

One more friendly remains before Clarke’s team selection for the opening game against Haiti crystallises fully, with questions persisting over a back four or back three and whether Adams starts alongside or instead of Shankland.

Shankland has scored five goals in five games in May, and has not gone more than three consecutive matches without scoring throughout the entire season.

Clarke is, as the article notes, going to face considerable pressure from those arguing Shankland must be his primary striker — and the evidence, to be fair, is overwhelming.

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