Scotland’s international stock took a pounding as the USA hammered Craig Levein’s side 5-1 in Florida last night.
The ‘consolation’ goal came from an own goal by Geoff Cameron as LA Galaxy man Landon Donavan bagged a hat-trick with Levein’s side given the runaround in the evening heat of Jacksonville.
Throughout the build up to the match Levein was at pains to point out that the players weren’t on holiday as the squad posed for pictures around swimming pools and golf courses.
Charlie Mulgrew and Scott Brown both started the match with both players now looking forward to their holidays as Levein attempts to remain upbeat ahead of a World Cup qualifying campaign that sees them grouped with Wales, Croatia, Serbia, Belgium and Macedonia.
Scotland’s u-20 squad, featuring eight Celtic players, fared better in the Den Haag tournament with a win over the hosts and draws against Manchester City and Brazilian side Cruzeiro earning them a semi-final place against Mexico.
John Herron scored the only goal of the game against Den Haag with Tony Watt opening the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Cruzeiro.
England’s new manager Roy Hodgson got off to a low key start with a 1-0 win away to Norway in Oslo with Ashley Youn’s ninth minute goal deciding the outcome.
It was hardly inspiring stuff from Hodgson’s side who were without their Chelsea contingent of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.
Germany were without eight players from Bayern Munich as they crashed to a 5-3 defeat in Switzerland.
Warm-up matches ahead of a major championship tend to be tame affairs with players anxious to avoid injury rather than stake their case for a starting place.
Holland lost surprisingly 2-1 at home to Bulgaria despite a goal from Robin van Persie while Portugal were held 0-0 at home by Macedonia.
Greece included Georgios Samaras in the side that drew 1-1 with Slovenia in a friendly near to their Austria training camp.
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A shocking result. But who organised this game anyway. The last thing the players needed, after a long, hard season, was a flight to Floria, closely followed by a game in temperatures even higher than here, against a talented and highly motivated side. The SFA showing off their brilliant leadership and intelligence again ?
No surprises for me….a complete waste of time, players clearly not interested in anything other than holidays. Quite why Levein agreed to such a game apart from the bucks is beyond me. What did eh learn…Bardsley is poor, Mulgrew is far better in Central defence….His midfield was woeful, Defence even worse.
Use friendly matches to try new players / styles…Levein learned nothing but once again showed himself to be an inept manager. Caldwell / Webster the future central defence….pack your bags and go ya fud.
We were lucky it was only five…a good side would have scored double figures easily.
andy webster lol,levein is a fud,no chance what so ever of going to brazil.Sack levein and get big fletcher back.
I’m sure Levein will say it was five lucky break aways. His tactics are always under the microscope (especially after the 4-6-0 or whatever it was) & again he has shown he doesn’t have a clue.
I will say though the USA are a good team & there is no shame in losing to them but losing 5 is embarrassing. Why did we arrange this game & more importantly why? My guess is ESPN were trying to get more subscribers. Two weeks ago the season ended -SCup so was a waste of time.
What I’m going to write next will be laughed at, I 100% agree Charlie Mulgrew was the best player in Scotland last season but where is his best position?
In the centre of defence he was brilliant for us last season but how would he fair against top European teams?
With 3 CB’s maybe but if only 2 he’s going to struggle. LB he’s not going to get up & down like Izzy.
Where would you guys/gals play him? It’s great having so many players to pick from & not worry about going bust. HH
Mulgrew’s best position is at centre half. After that it’s left mid then at left back.
Not many Celtic fans would have Caldwell or Webster ahead of Mulgrew at centre half- Levein made that choice.
OMG i apologise & hope my comment didn’t come across as implying i didn’t want Charlie in the team & I’d NEVER want Caldwell or Webster, even the thought of that would have me waking up in cold sweats. I’d love him to continue but it’s just interesting how ALL our players are best fitted into the jigsaw. There is so many options.
Good point about the left mid i’d forgot about the game at Ibrokes when the whole team had a great game. I also think he could do a great job playing in the defensive mid although we have plenty of players who’d play there first.