Curacao send-off 'a serious build-up game' for Scots

Hosting the smallest nation to play at the World Cup in Scotland's final home friendly before this summer's finals will still be "a serious build-up game" for the hosts, former winger Pat Nevin insists.

Curacao, who visit on Saturday, 30 May, are ranked 84th in the world - 48 places below Steve Clarke's side - but are only two above Haiti, who are in Scotland's group in the Americas.

"I think the fans will want to give them a rousing send-off," Nevin told BBC Radio Scotland. The fans can treat it like that, but for Stevie Clarke this is a serious build-up game.

"You had to get a team that were like one of the teams in our group.

"Haiti are Concacaf as well and Curacao won their group, Haiti won their group, so you will look at it and say 'if we manage to win that one, it is a good bar'.

"And, if you get three points from the three games, that might be just enough [to qualify for the knock-out stage]. So that's why that's why we've got this game."

Nevin reckons it should be "a good game" against Japan, who 18 places above Scotland in the rankings.

"If you look at their record at World Cups, they have been fantastic," he said.

"They are usually a joy to play against because they are an open and attack-minded side.

"I advise Scotland fans to get along for that one because they have a lot of good players. Definitely a good test."

Nevin points out that Japan "don't mirror Brazil, Haiti or Morocco", but that first friendly on 28 March will be about gathering the squad back together.

"And if you can get any sort of result against a Japanese side with the talent they've got, their players are playing around Europe and at some of the big clubs as well, and they've got real depth in their squad as well," he said.