It may just have been a friendly match, but Scotland impressed with a decisive 4-0 victory against South American side Bolivia on Saturday night. The Scots appeared to be a squad worthy of their place at the World Cup, but with a competition of such magnitude on the horizon, what are the three positives that can be taken from this game?

Shankland, Adams and Gannon- Doak Click Into Gear

In months gone by, the striking options of the national team have looked disjointed and disconnected from the midfield. They struggled to play with just one striker up front, usually resulting in good old-fashioned Scottish “hoofball”, and when boss Steve Clarke opted for a striking partnership of Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams, they didn’t have the right dynamic for one another. So, going into the World Cup warm-up matches, something had to change — mainly the personnel leading the line.

Disagree with Clarke’s team selections as you may, however, on this occasion — and particularly over the last two friendlies — he’s hit the nail on the head, and Scotland’s cry for a striker who can consistently find the target has been answered in the form of Lawrence Shankland.

Between the matches against Curaçao and Bolivia, Shankland has been electric, as was to be expected given the scoring form he showed with Hearts. He has been around the Scotland squad for a few months but was vying for that golden opportunity to impress the nation, and given his three goals in two games, I’d say he has thrown his hat into the ring as the main striker when the Scottish World Cup campaign begins on 14th June.

Shankland is capable of performing as either a lone striker or in a partnership, and given the link-up between himself and Che Adams last night, I wouldn’t be surprised if Clarke starts them both. Adams has, on occasion, frustrated the Tartan Army with a lack of goals in a Scotland jersey — scoring 11 goals in 47 games — yet since the pre-World Cup friendlies, he appears to have found a new lease of confidence. That confidence materialised into goals with a brace on Saturday night. Will this surge in form guarantee him a spot in the starting eleven?

Many may have questioned Ben Gannon-Doak’s involvement — or even his mere inclusion in the Scotland squad — given his injury-riddled season and the fact he only featured nine times this campaign, but he silenced those concerns with a blistering performance last night.

Gannon-Doak looked sharp, and his relentless work rate gave the Bolivian backline a headache throughout. His crosses were sublime once he found his groove, although a few earlier deliveries could have been deemed slightly wayward.

It’s certainly a potential front three that Clarke will be giving serious consideration to, given all three players have more than shown their worth over the last two games — a decision I certainly don’t envy.

A Squad Playing With Belief Again

Che Adams looked to have grown in confidence as the game against Bolivia progressed, and he wasn’t the only one. The entire Scotland squad were oozing confidence; they played with no fear, which is somewhat uncharacteristic of them.

The squad seemed far more eager to play forward passes. Gone are the days of perpetual back-passing every time someone receives the ball. The quality of passing in the final third looked much improved, with clever through balls and fast-paced, intuitive layoffs being made. If they continue this style of play into the group stage, they could shock a few of the tournament’s bigger nations.

Where this newfound confidence has come from, who knows — but hopefully it is here to stay. Maybe the squad have finally opened their eyes to the ability they possess, or perhaps the occasion is simply beginning to hit home.

A Fully Fit Squad Equals Difficult Decisions

The result on the pitch was obviously important as Scotland’s final game before the tournament commences, but the most significant result came off the pitch, with no notable injuries picked up by the squad.

The Scots had already suffered an injury blow with Billy Gilmour withdrawing from the squad due to a knee injury, so to come through the match unscathed is a major bonus for Clarke.

The only issue now facing the Scotland boss is deciding who starts. Many of the current players have remained loyal to the coach, given their all when required, and bought fully into his tactics. Nowadays, however, there is a new wave of Scottish talent knocking at the door and begging for the opportunity to succeed.

Findlay Curtis, Tyler Fletcher, Aaron Hickey and Ben Gannon- Doak are all part of the future of this national side and will be battling for starting positions on the international stage.

Even if the youngsters don’t make the starting eleven, they must be prepared for the moment opportunity comes knocking. After all, nobody knows when Scotland will next reach a World Cup — it could be another 20 years. The moral is simple: don’t wait until the opportunity has passed to make your mark in history.