Scotland's international break exposed gaps in Steve Clarke's squad selection and attacking output. Teenager Findlay Curtis, called up unexpectedly for friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast, made his senior debut off the bench against Japan but barely featured, while Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller watched from the stands in both matches as Clarke favoured more experienced options. Up front, Lyndon Dykes, Tommy Conway and Che Adams struggled for impact, with Clarke singling out Conway after the Japan game despite no goals across both fixtures. Ipswich Town striker George Hirst emerged as the standout performer, praised by former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie for his energy and work in the final third, though his finishing remained unproductive. Hirst admitted his chances were clear but unlucky, vowing to keep pressing for his club side.
When George Hirst says he was "in the positions" but unlucky, that's not modesty—it's a warning. The Scotland camp showed Scotland's strikers aren't converting, and Hirst's industry masked a deeper issue: a squad lacking cutting edge. The teenager Curtis and Miller got minutes, but Clarke's faith in experience over youth highlights a squad in transition with no clear way forward.
