World Cup Preparations Intensify
USA, Scotland, and Portugal Face International Opponents in Crucial World Cup Warm-Up Matches
Scotland will play Bolivia for the first time after a 4-0 rout of New Zealand, with coach Gregor Clarke emphasizing injury avoidance and careful selection. England’s preparations for the World Cup opener against Croatia include friendlies involving the United States, with John Stones framing them as a cohesion exercise, though Ben White has a knee injury and there is doubt over Stones’ calf. The United States, after Brenden Aaronson was an unused substitute in a win over Senegal, are set to face Germany as a confidence-building “rehearsal,” with Kai Havertz praising a top-league-heavy US squad; Germany have named Manuel Neuer as starter following his return from retirement. Separately, Portugal’s Jose Sa said the team see themselves as World Cup contenders and have treated warm-up matches against Chile and Nigeria as key preparation, making squad adjustments due to minor fitness issues.
Key Points
Scotland coach Gregor Clarke pushed back on dismissive views of lower-ranked opponents, telling reporters: fans “have a terrible habit of looking at these nations and thinking they are not very good,” arguing that because teams play in different world regions they “might be in their section… really good.”
Clarke said his priorities for the Bolivia match were “no injuries, performance, result,” adding there are “no ‘major’ injury concerns,” only “a few players with ‘little grumbling things,’” and that the weekend would allow him to do “straightforward selection” while also giving “Some players need minutes.”
John Stones framed England’s US pre-World Cup friendly as more than a tune-up—describing it as “a chance to get used to each other… create connections and take what we do during the weeks leading up,” and noting the “weather’s been a bit strange” but that the squad has “settled in well.”
After New Zealand’s 4-0 defeat by Haiti, coach Darren Bazeley said the loss showed a lack of “effectiveness and ruthlessness,” calling it a “real harsh lesson,” while also contrasting it with their recent defensive record: “We’ve defended very well… and haven’t conceded goals like that.”
US midfielder Brenden Aaronson said the wait for Mauricio Pochettino’s call-up was “the most nervous day of my life,” and he is now targeting his shot to impress Germany—stating, “I’m really looking forward to being able to hopefully show myself against Germany.”
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