Scotland remain 10 years without a friendly victory at Hampden after an uninspiring performance in cagey game against Japan.
Scotland host Japan at Hampden Park for the first time in history in a World Cup warm-up match for this summer’s tournament. The nations have only faced three times before, with two 0-0 draws and Japan coming out 2-0 winners in 2009. Manager Steve Clarke makes changes for this squad, as Kilmarnock loanee Findlay Curtis gets his first callup to the senior squad, while Ros McCrorie is also in the squad since making his international debut two years ago. This is Scotland’s first match since their stunning 4-2 victory against Denmark four months ago.
Scotland fans will of course be familiar while Japan’s Daizen Maeda, who was PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year for Celtic last season, and has seven league goals for the club this season. Other players include Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma and Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada, who featured in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League final victory against Rangers in 2022. Japan is on a four-match unbeaten run, which includes a 3-2 win against Brazil last October in Tokyo.
First Half
The first half kicked off under the Hampden sun, with Scotland wearing their newly released away kit.
The half started with early pressure from Japan, as four minutes into the game an early shot from captain Maeda was blocked by the Scotland defence.
Only four minutes later however, Scotland mustered their first attack. McGinn raced down the right-hand side, and his low cross was met by McTominay, who looked like he would convert the chance, but a save by Zion Suzuki bounced off the post and onto the goal line and was cleared by the Japanese defence.
The next chance would come midway through the half as Kodai Sano’s shot from outside the box went straight into the hands of Angus Gunn. Keisuke Goto’s blocked shot also failed to find the target after a Japan corner.
Ao Tanaka would see his chance rattle off the crossbar just after the half hour mark, as Japan continued their control of the game without really testing Gunn in the Scotland goal.
Five minutes later, good passing play from Japan put Yuito Suzuki in a threatening area, but his shot also went straight to Angus Gunn to collect.
Just before halftime, Scotland would get up the pitch from left to right, as Conway’s cross flew to Patterson, who delivered a floated cross to McTominay, but his glancing header failed to threaten Suzuki who easily collected.
Gunn also handled a chance by defender Watanabe, as the referee blew the whistle for halftime.
Second Half
Japan made three half time changes whilst Steve Clarke opted to field the same eleven.
Early in the half Scotland moved the ball around well, and captain Andy Robertson looped a cross into McTominay, who once again was unable to find the target.
Japan’s fast counterattack saw substitute Junnosuke Suzuki’s shot fall straight into Gunn’s hands.
Scotland looked to attack; however, Scott McTominay was brought down by Fujita just outside the Japan box. McTominay’s freekick was then tipped over the bar by Suzuki.
A great solo run by Andy Robertson down the left-hand side saw his shot from a narrow angle saved by Suzuki for a Scotland corner.
On the hour mark, Scotland made their first changes as John McGinn and Lyndon Dykes made way for Ryan Christie and George Hirst
Daizen Maeda also exited the field of play, still unable to shake off a season of struggle at club level.
Following a Japan corner, the ball fell to substitute Mitoma on the edge of the box, but his shot flashed just wide of the post.
Only a few minutes later, Junya Ito found the ball deep into the Scotland box, turning Lewis Ferguson and forcing a good save out of Angus Gunn for Japan’s best chance of the game.
Japan once again showed good passing play as Mitoma raced down the left-hand side and looped the ball over Gunn, however Denmark hero Kenny McLean was there to make the clearance.
Steve Clarke made more changes as captain Robertson and McTominay came off for Kieran Tierney and Billy Gilmour.
Tierney showed good awareness to intercept a potential Japanese attack, and played a good ball into George Hirst, whose shot went wide into the side netting.
Only a minute later Conway was brought down by Doan for a freekick deep into Japanese territory, but the Scots were unable to make it count.
Into the final ten minutes of the game, Anthony Ralston entered the pitch for Nathan Patterson, whilst Conway made way for Findlay Curtis, who made his full international debut.
Only a few minutes later, Japan finally broke the deadlockwith good play as the ball fell to Junya Ito, who bundled shot slid past Angus Gunn to make it 1-0 to the visitors with less than ten minutes remaining. This was the Genk man’s 15international goal.
Scotland failed to threaten in the final minutes of the match, as the game fizzled out for a 1-0 victory to Japan.
Following this result, Japan extended their unbeaten run to five, as they next face a Wembley visit to play England.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s ten-year winless run in friendly home games continues. They next travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for their friendly match against Ivory Coast on Tuesday, as the continue preparations for summer’s tournament.
Scotland: Gunn (7), Patterson (7), Hendry (6), McKenna (6), Robertson (6), Ferguson (6), McLean (6), McGinn (6), McTominay (7), Conway (5), Dykes (5)
Subs: Hirst (5), Christie (5), Gilmour (6), Tierney (7), Ralston(6), Curtis (6)
Japan: Z. Suzuki (8), Seko (6), Watanabe (8), Ito (7), Sugawara (6), Fujita (7), Tanaka (7), Maeda (c) (6), Y. Suzuki(7), Sano (7), Goto (6)
Subs: Taniguchi (6), J. Suzuki (6), Mitoma (8), Nakamura (7), Doan (6), Ueda (7), Ito (9), Hashioka (6), Shiogai (8), Kamada (7)
