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Scotland under pressure to secure victory in Vaduz – 5 talking points

Scotland face Liechtenstein in a friendly in Vaduz on Monday night.

Steve Clarke’s side lost 3-1 at home to Iceland on Friday in the first fixture of their June friendly double header.

Here are some of the key talking points ahead of the game at the Rheinpark Stadium.

The pressure is on

Scotland goalkeeper Cieran Slicker (left) reacts after Iceland’s Victor Palsson scored
Scotland suffered defeat against Iceland (Andrew Miligan/PA)

Scotland are in dire need of a victory ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign, which takes place in the autumn against Denmark, Belarus and Greece.

Scotland looked like they had turned a corner after a solitary win, against Gibraltar, in 16 matches, when they recorded three impressive Nations League victories in a row. But they followed up by losing six goals in Hampden defeats against Greece and Iceland.

Goalkeeper SOS

Steve Clarke called up Aberdeen second-choice keeper Ross Doohan after Cieran Slicker endured a difficult debut in the wake of injuries to Angus Gunn and Robby McCrorie on Friday, and with Craig Gordon, Liam Kelly and Zander Clark all missing through injury.

Doohan has 13 Scotland Under-21 caps to his name and nearly 200 first-team appearances and the 27-year-old looks likely to start to give Slicker some respite.

Facing the minnows

There are only three professionals in the Liechtenstein squad and they are listed at 205 in the FIFA world rankings, although they were on the end of bottom-ranked San Marino’s first win for 20 years in November.

Liechtenstein have started their qualification campaign with three defeats without netting a goal, the latest a 3-0 loss against Wales.

Previous meetings

Scotland’s Stephen McManus heads the winner against Liechtenstein
Stephen McManus headed a late winner in the first meeting (PA)

Scotland have laboured to wins in their only two encounters against the Alpine principality. Stephen McManus headed a winner seven minutes into stoppage time at Hampden in September 2010 to saved boss Craig Levein from a disastrous competitive home debut.

Mario Frick had grabbed a shock opener on his 36th birthday before Kenny Miller levelled. Craig Mackail-Smith’s first goal in his first start for his country was the difference between the sides in Vaduz in the return fixture in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Changes afoot

Clarke signalled he would freshen up the team more than he usually does and he will have to make at least two outfield changes after losing Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay to injury.

He is likely to revert to a back three in the wake of the returning Celtic defender’s absence while Andy Irving and Kieran Bowie are pushing for debuts after Lennon Miller won his first cap off the bench against Iceland.