Scotland Men's Football Team

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Former Scotland left-back Barry Douglas has officially announced he is retiring from "the playing side of the beautiful game", stressing his "immense pride" after a career during which he won league titles in England and Poland.

The 36-year-old has been without a club since leaving St Johnstone following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership last summer.

But, before then, he had twice won the Ekstraklasa, and the Polish Super Cup, with Lech Poznań, the Turkish Cup with Konyaspor and the Championship in England with both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

"In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd make it as a professional footballer - never mind win multiple titles in different countries and go on to play almost 500 games," Douglas said on Instagram., external

"Now that I'm finally 'hanging up the boots', I can look back with immense pride, knowing I gave it everything I had."

In a time when the Scotland left-back spot was dominated by Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, Douglas managed just one cap, as a substitute for the former in a 1-0 win over Hungary in 2018.

"Every kid grows up dreaming of playing for their country - so to have made that a reality is something I'll always be incredibly proud of," he said.

Having started his career with Queen's Park, Douglas moved to Dundee United, Lech, Konyaspor, Wolves, Leeds and, after a loan to Blackburn Rovers, returned for a second title-winning spell with Lech before his final season with St Johnstone.

Douglas paid special tribute to his wife, Debbie, saying his globetrotting career was "as much yours as it is mine".

"The truth is, without you by my side, I would never have achieved what I have," he added.

"I'm forever grateful for your support, your sacrifices, and for taking that leap into the unknown when we first moved to Poland together to begin our adventure.

"Now look at us - two beautiful kids, multiple winners' medals and memories that will last a lifetime."

Lawrence Shankland has to be Scotland's starting striker at the World Cup this summer, says former Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday.

The Hearts captain started his first match since January for the Scottish Premiership leaders against Livingston on Sunday, scoring and assisting in the 2-2 draw.

The 30-year-old has now netted 16 times in all competitions this season and has provided another five assists for Derek McInnes' men.

Despite scoring in the astonishing 4-2 win over Denmark in November, which booked Scotland's place at this summer's finals, Shankland has struggled to nail down a starting spot in Steve Clarke's side.

Just four of his 18 caps have been starts, but he has scored on four occasions, and Halliday feels his former team-mate has demonstrated why he deserves to be Clarke's first-choice centre-forward.

"I think he's the best striker at our disposal," Motherwell midfielder Halliday said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I think he's the best finisher out of the group of strikers we've got.

"Going into three World Cup games where I don't expect us to have loads of chances every single game - the past two friendlies probably proved that - I think if a chance is going to fall to anyone, you're hoping it's Lawrence Shankland.

"He comes on in the game against Denmark, makes an immediate impact. That type of goal, as simple as it is, it's a two-yard tap-in.

"That's what Lawrence Shankland is: he's someone who thrives off playing in between the posts. For me, it's not fortune when you see strikers that land on these types of chances all the time.

"I thought he should have been the starting striker going into the Euros in 2024. I'm hoping we've almost learned a lesson from that not being the case."

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Captain Andy Robertson is urging supporters to remember the team that got Scotland to their first World Cup in nearly 30 years after sections of the fanbase were booing following Tuesday night's friendly defeat to Ivory Coast.

Some fans could also be heard booing after the 1-0 loss to Japan at Hampden on Saturday afternoon in their first pre-World Cup friendly.

"If we don't get the result we just get booed," Roberston said.

"What I will say is that 95% of the fans drowned it out very quickly. It's a small minority, it was a small minority at Hampden. When we were clapping the fans behind the goal was fans that were appreciative of what they've seen and appreciative of the team that took them to the World Cup. The reception at the end was unbelievable.

"I don't know if they just want to boo for the sake of it. To me, that was not a booing performance. I hate getting beat but there were a lot of positives to take."

The Scots avoided having to contest a World Cup play-off after finishing top of their qualifying group at the end of 2025 thanks to a memorable 4-2 victory over Denmark.

The Danes won't be at next summer's tournament in America after losing their play-off final against Czech Republic on penalties.

And Robertson is urging supporters to remember where Scotland could have been.

"We've learned a lot," Robertson said of the two friendly defeats.

"We look at the play-off games and how hard it is to qualify for the World Cup. People need to remember that we've done it, not the easy way, but we finished top of the group and we've got two friendlies in March when other teams are fighting for their lives to get to the World Cup."

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Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain is relishing his return to the Scotland national team after contemplating "calling it a day" and hanging up his gloves.

The 34-year-old's second half cameo in Tuesday night's 1-0 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast marked his first appearance for the national side since 2019 when he played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over San Marino as part of their qualifiers for Euro 2020.

Bain, who had been third choice goalkeeper at Celtic for a number of years, joined Falkirk in the summer and has become a mainstay as John McGlynn's side edge closer to securing top six football.

"I was planning on doing coaching badges and calling it a day," Bain said of his career turnaround in the last 12 months.

"It's been a great season, a great moment for me. I can go home and potentially have an amazing season at Falkirk and if that leads to getting on the plane for the World Cup then that leads to that."

Bain replaced Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly at half-time in Tuesday's pre-World Cup friendly against Ivory Coast and put in a solid performance.

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Angus Gunn had started Saturday's game against Japan and of the three called up for this month's friendlies, Bain is the only one getting game time on a regular basis.

And while the Falkirk number one is hopeful it'll stand him in good stead when Steve Clarke contemplates his World Cup squad.

"The manager said before we left that it's not often you get to play a game with the shackles off and not scrapping for three points," he added.

"It resonated with me, I've waited a long time to come back into the Scotland set-up and I'm just going to enjoy it.

"We've got excellent keepers with real experience and a lot of caps between them so it certainly helps me to feel like I'm in a better place."

We asked for your views on Scotland's 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on Tuesday night in their second pre-World Cup friendly.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Andy: I was at the match last night and the booing was ridiculous, as it was after the Japan game. There was also a lot of applause too. The players are doing us all proud and we have to be realistic about what we can achieve. Ivory Coast and Japan are two good teams and we were only one or two key moments away from beating both. Give me that in the World Cup and I'll be very happy.

Simon: Two Euros exited with a whimper and barely a sight of goal and we're looking well on form to continue the trend, despite the best quality of squad in nearly 50 years. Why? Dinosaur tactics and personnel selections from the manager.

Ryan: The lack of goals is a worry but I wouldn't look too much into it. Was good to see Steve Clarke trying a few different players that haven't had much of a chance only frustrating one for me is Lennon Miller getting zero minutes when in the last friendlies he was one of our better players.

Archie: Why ask Miller and Andy Irving to join the squad if Clarke wasn't willing to give them at least a few minutes game time in a preparatory friendly?

James: Lawrence Shankland is a natural goalscorer and would have done much better with those chances that George Hirst had last night. With Ben Gannon-Doak back too we can have a much more potent goal threat.

Nathan: We're just so bizarre I can't understand how we can have such a great pool of players at our disposal yet still not be able to piece it together and work as a team. This performance was a lot more encouraging than the Japan game but there are still some questionable decisions from Clarke such as not giving Lennon Miller any minutes or only giving Scott Bain a half of football when he is the only goalkeeper we have that is actually playing football frequently. We will get some players back from injury such as Aaron Hickey and Shankland but there are certain players that Clarke cannot afford to favourite if we are to choose our strongest squad for America.

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke told BBC Scotland: "Disappointed to lose again. Like always with friendlies, some things were good, some things bad.

"I thought we started the game really well. We got caught on the counter attack. We didn't react well to losing the goal. First half became a bit of a struggle.

"Second half, I thought we were excellent, we dominated the ball and asked them to defend. To be fair to Ivory Coast they defended very well.

"Sometimes you're hoping the ball will fall for you and it didn't fall for us tonight, but you have to make it fall for you. That's the little bit we need to get better at."

On his final squad selection, Clarke adds: "Still plenty of things can happen. I won't get too carried away. Going into previous tournaments I've lost players to injury."

And on his own future, Clarke says: "Most important thing is to get ready for the World Cup. My future can take care of itself whenever it does."

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Scotland captain Andy Robertson told BBC Scotland: "We changed the system and made nine changes. The manager is trying both systems.

"We caused them problems - last 20 minutes we were the team pushing forward. It's one of those games.

"We want to win these games, but we're also trying stuff. We get caught on the counter for the goal, which can't really happen.

"It's up to us now to go back to our clubs and be really excited for the summer."

Scotland striker George Hirst told BBC Scotland: "It was a tough game. We started on the front foot and were causing them issues, but we committed too many bodies forward and we got caught.

"We were a little bit sloppy at times, but second half we came out with a great mentality and got after them.

"All I can do is go out whenever I get an opportunity and play as well as I can. If I can keep doing that and doing it for Ipswich, it will stand me in good stead.

"I'm getting in the positions and on another day I would have come off with a couple of goals. Hopefully they start going in."

Much-changed Scotland ended their pre-World Cup camp by succumbing to a second successive friendly defeat against Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.

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John McGinn said it's "impossible not to regret" Scotland's showing at the past two major tournaments they qualified for but insists this summer's World Cup is an opportunity to prove themselves on the biggest stage.

Steve Clarke's side didn't win a game in Euro 2020 or Euro 2024 amid disappointing showings after promising qualification campaigns.

Aston Villa captain McGinn, who has 84 caps for his country, said he and his team-mates would be "lying" if they said their appearances at such tournaments were among the best moments in their international career.

"For us the priority is improving a lot on our last two major tournament performances and results," the 31-year-old said before the Scots' friendly against Ivory Coast on Tuesday at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"It's impossible not to regret them. You'd be lying if you sat there and said, 'aw, I enjoyed that or that I done myself justice'.

"I enjoyed the journey of getting there, but it's impossible to actually sit back and say those there the greatest moments we had in a Scotland jersey.

"There were small parts of it, the national anthem in Cologne is something I'll never, ever forget but the games we never done ourselves justice and we know we have a lot more to offer than that.

"We have another opportunity in the summer because we earned the right to be there by winning the group. We know we have the capability and potential to compete with the best nations, now we just need to show it."

Should he be selected and stay fit for this summer's tournament, McGinn will be chasing down a century of Scotland caps - something he admits is hard not to consider.

"When you start getting close to 100 you have your eye on it, you'd be lying if you said otherwise," he added.

"But the priority for both me and Robbo [Andy Robertson, who has 91 caps], we spoke about it last week, is to try and get this country through the group stage and achieve something special.

"So, if that meant that was my last three or four caps for my country that would make me much happier than making 20-odd more with poor results.

"We're determined to keep carrying on, I've said before I'll play until I'm told I'm not good enough, because I know what it feels like to be at the lower levels and play your way up."