Scotland v Belarus live: Team news and line-ups ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier – UK Times

Five changes for Steve Clarke following Thursday’s mammoth win over Greece.

He brings Anthony Ralston, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Kenny McLean and Billy Gilmour into the side.

Scotland XI: Gunn; Ralston, Hendry, McKenna, Robertson; McLean, Gilmour; McGinn, McTominay, Gannon Doak; Adams.

Belarus XI: Lapoukhov, Pigas, Parkhomenko, Martynovich, Zabelin, Malashevich, Ebonh, Yablonski, Pechenin, Gromyko, Barkovski.

Global superstar Katy Perry was staying at the same hotel at the Scotland national team – not that manager Steve Clarke was impressed.

His Scotland side were sharing the same Glasgow city centre hotel with the global superstar, who kicked off the leg of her UK world tour in Glasgow last week.

“I didn’t know she was there,” he said.

“I’ve heard the name. I’m sure if you played a couple of her songs I’d say, ‘oh I recognise that one’, but I couldn’t name you one song, I’m sorry.

“That’s no disrespect to Katy, but I’m from a different generation.”

Steve Clarke claims the Scottish public should “love” their national team following Scotland’s remarkable 3-1 never-say-die win over Greece at Hampden Park.

“I have talked before about the character of this group,” said Clarke.

“The Scottish public should love to have them. They never know when they’re beat.

“They want to be remembered as a really successful group of players and hopefully they’re on their way to doing that by getting to another tournament.”

Scotland captain Andy Robertson felt togetherness on the pitch was key to their comeback against Greece – and believes unity in the stands can help drive them forward against Belarus.

“We’re going to need them (the fans) again Sunday,” Robertson said.

“Sunday’s a completely different test and we’re going to need everyone in full voice because we’ve got three games now to try and qualify for a World Cup and we need everyone pulling in the same direction.

“If they can give us noise in the stands and cheer us on and support us then it’s only going to help us.”

Group C’s state of play looks very encouraging for Scotland going into tonight’s clash. The Tartan Army are level on seven points with leaders Denmark and take on a Belarus side who has yet to notch a single point.

Scotland were 2-0 winners away from home last month against tonight’s opponents and could potentially book a play-off spot this evening with another win.

That’s because Greece travel to Denmark later tonight. A Scotland win and a Denmark win in Copenhagen knocks Greece out of contention before World Cup qualifying concludes next month, and guarantees Scotland a place in the top two.

Saying that, if Denmark drop points and the Scottish bag all three, Steve Clarke’s men will go top of their group.

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Scotland XI: Gunn; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; McGinn, McTominay, Doak; Adams.

The win over Greece came at a cost, with goalscorers Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson picking up yellow cards that rule them out of the game against Belarus due to suspension. Aaron Hickey also appeared to pick up a knock, in what is a concern after the right back only recently returned from a long injury lay-off.

“There will be three changes but there was always going to be three or four anyway,” Steve Clarke said. “When I looked at my bench tonight, I knew I had a strong squad – probably as strong as I’ve been able to put together in the last two camps. We’ll deal with it.”