Can we play you every week? As the Tartan Army belted out the words and enjoyed a victorious sing-song in the Vaduz sunshine, it was clear that Scotland’s recent malaise hadn’t killed their sense of humour.
After tripping and falling so clumsily against Iceland at Hampden on Friday night, this was a waltz for Steve Clarke’s side in this picturesque little corner of the world nestled between Austria and Switzerland.
A glorified training exercise against extremely limited opposition? Yeah, undoubtedly, but also a much-needed confidence boost heading into the far more serious business of the World Cup qualifiers in September.
In particular, this should be a shot in the arm for Che Adams heading into those matches. He looked sharp throughout and deserved his hat-trick in the end.
The fact George Hirst chipped in with the other and got off the mark in a Scotland jersey, meaning that all four goals were scored by strikers, is a welcome boost to all concerned.
Prior to this victory over Liechtenstein, no Scotland striker had scored a goal in the past 12 games, a run which stretched back to Lawrence Shankland netting in a 2-2 draw with Finland before the Euros last summer.
Steve Clarke’s side needed a positive performance after their embarrassing defeat to Iceland
Strikers George Hirst and Che Adams were both on the scoresheet in the 4-0 victory
Being so blunt and uncreative in attack partly explains why Scotland’s form has tailed off so badly over the past year or so.
But the lack of goals from our strikers is a key issue which needs to be addressed moving forward if we are to have a chance of reaching the World Cup.
Scotland can’t always rely on John McGinn or Scott McTominay to pop up with a goal. The strikers needs to chip in and contribute more – especially in the games that really matter.
Adams’ record is the perfect demonstration of this. All in all, he now has nine goals in 39 caps. But only three of those goals have come in competitive fixtures.
The last time he scored in a competitive match for Scotland was back in June 2022. The teams he has scored against now include Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Armenia, Moldova, Luxembourg, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark.
Barring the Danes, it reads as a who’s who of European football no-marks. Scotland can’t afford to have flat-track bullies up front.
So while Adams will take the plaudits for his hat-trick last night, his overall record in a Scotland jersey is still lacklustre in the games that really count. Only he can change that.
That’s not to say he doesn’t offer anything to the team. His mobility and pace make him a big asset. But it’s goals he needs to add.
Che Adams grabbed his hat-trick in the second half against lowly Liechtenstein
He’s not alone. When Lyndon Dykes has been fit, he hasn’t been prolific either. Dykes hasn’t scored for Scotland since the win over Norway in Oslo two years ago, a run of 13 games all in all.
So let’s not be getting too carried away by anything that happened in this routine win over a team who would struggle to beat the likes of East Fife and Berwick Rangers.
Scotland were on the brink of a full-blown crisis. It was a game they had to win in order to restore some confidence and momentum. They got the job done and that was that.
After all the fall-out around goalkeeper Cieran Slicker and the mistakes he made against Iceland, it was Ross Doohan who came in to make his Scotland debut.
Doohan had to cut short a family holiday, but he may as well have still been on the beach. Such was the non-existent nature of Liechtenstein’s attack, Scotland could have called up Jim Leighton and been no worse off.
Beyond the goals from Adams and Hirst, it was Lennon Miller who was the best player on the pitch. Bright and creative throughout, this was an excellent display on his full debut for the Motherwell youngster.
Whilst it would be premature to suggest that he gets into the team ahead of the likes of John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour or Lewis Ferguson, it’s clear Miller has a long Scotland career ahead of him.
He will be back amongst the squad when the World Cup qualifiers come around in September, a quick burst of games across two months which starts with away trips to Denmark and Belarus.
If Adams will head off on his summer holidays now feeling like he has rediscovered a lethal touch in front of goal, Scotland better hope it doesn’t disappear again by the time those games come around.
Scoring goals against the likes of Liechtenstein and Gibraltar makes you a flat-track bully. Doing the business in World Cup qualifiers makes you a lethal marksman. And a Tartan Army hero. Scotland need the latter.
