Scotland vs Haiti: Clarke faces selection decisions for World Cup

Steve Clarke is preparing to name a historic line-up: the first men's Scotland XI to feature at a World Cup in 28 years. Following hugely encouraging warm-up displays against Curacao and Bolivia, the head coach faces key selection decisions for the group opener against Haiti in Boston on 14 June.

Formation and front two

Many expect Clarke to stick with the same front-footed 4-4-2 formula that produced back-to-back four-goal wins. The system's success and the need for a positive start have led to speculation that Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams will retain their places up front. Former Scotland striker Kenny Miller said he would be "very surprised" if the duo do not spearhead the attack.

"Clarke has played that formation for these two preparation games," Miller said. "It makes sense and he's looked at a couple of different combinations within that. The performance on Saturday with Shankland and Adams - and the fact they were both on the scoresheet - means I would be very surprised if it wasn't those two."

Midfield and defence

In midfield, Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson are likely battling for the final spot if Aston Villa captain John McGinn returns to the XI. Scott McTominay is expected to start, subject to fitness after a reported stomach issue. Captain Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey are certainties at full-back, while winger Ben Gannon-Doak is also expected to feature.

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn is assumed to be first pick after playing the full 90 minutes against Bolivia. However, uncertainty surrounds the centre-back positions, with Scott McKenna, John Souttar, Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry all receiving minutes in the past two friendlies.

Opposition and stakes

Haiti, the lowest-ranked nation in Scotland's group, qualified for the tournament and then defeated New Zealand 4-0 in their World Cup preparations, demonstrating they will be a threat. Scotland know that three points and a reasonable goal difference could be enough to progress to the knockouts.

The Scots have built a reputation for faltering when expectation against favourable opposition is high, but recent goalscoring form and improved performances against similar-ranked teams have boosted belief within the Tartan Army. Fans expect another front-footed approach, rather than the tentative showings that drew criticism during an ultimately successful qualifying campaign.

Match details

The match, Haiti v Scotland, takes place on Sunday, 14 June (02:00 BST) at Boston Stadium, United States. Coverage is available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, and via text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.