1 min: And away we go, as Scotland try to make it five wins from five in the qualifiers.
Some manly hi fives between Andy Robertson and his opposite number the Moldova captain, and the officials and then we are go. Let’s do this, Scotland.
The teams take to the field, and it’s only a short walk from dressing room to the field. The Tartan Army make themselves heard during Flower of Scotland. There’s not many in the stadium tonight. Perhaps this isn’t the hottest ticket in Chisinau. At least the Scots don’t boo the Moldovan national anthem.
Steve Clarke speaks to Sky Sports.
They made it a tough for us at Hampden. They want to finish on a high but we want to make the qualifiers. I hope it works. It’s a system that can work for us. Che will give us pace down the sides. Its only a little tweak to the system. Rather than two up front it’s one one up front with two behind.
Momentous day for Craig Gordon. Someone of his talent really should have had more than 62 caps, but here we are. He will pass “Elvis” Pressley v Denmark.
Hearts Heritage (@Hearts_Heritage)@JohnBrewin_
November 12, 2021
Craig Gordon @JamTarts equal top cap holder
1-Steven Pressley (Scotland): 32 caps 0 goals
1-Craig Gordon (Scotland): 32 caps 0 goals
3-Bobby Walker (Scotland): 29 caps 8 goals
4-Andy Webster (Scotland): 27 caps 1 goal
4-Saul Mikoliunas (Lithuania): 27 caps 4 goals
Simon McMahon emails in on the subject of that classic brutalist scenery: “Hi John. Scotland will be right at home in that stadium. It could be Glasgow or Dundee in the 1980s. There are still a few ‘classic Eastern European’ stadiums in Scotland today. Mostly in Fife. 2-0 Scotland. No drama. I hope.”
More on that McBerti draw with Moldova in 2004, when Ewan Murray spoke to Craig Gordon, who is the sole survivor.
The Scotland team that day: Craig Gordon, Gary Caldwell, Stephen Caldwell, Andy Webster, Gary Naysmith (Ian Murray 46), Darren Fletcher (Kenny Miller 66), Grant Holt, Barry Ferguson, Colin Cameron, Steven Thompson (Lee McCulloch 85), Stevie Crawford. Subs Not Used: David Marshall, Scott Severin, Richard Hughes, Graeme Murty
Correction: Gary Holt rather than Grany Holt, who surely would have powered home a header, and is English, too.
Two changes for Scotland, and pretty much as expected though Steve Clarke has rejigged his team into a new formation. Liam Cooper comes in for Scott McTominay to make up a back three. Stuart Armstrong partners Southampton teammate Che Adams in attack, as Ryan Christie is also suspended with Dykes. That’s a 5-3-2/ 3-5-2, and will make use of that combination of Tierney on the left of defence and Andy Robertson outside him.
It looks lovely out there.
alan pattullo (@alan_pattullo)Moldova v Scotland. Classic Eastern European football stadium pic.twitter.com/jefjUhevdC
November 12, 2021
Moldova: Namasco, Jardan, Posmac, Bolohan, Revenco, Rata, Dros, Ionita, Marandici, Nicolaescu, Ginsari. Subs: Calanea, Bogaciuc, Puntus, Cociuc, Cojocaru, Arhirii, Razgoniuc, Celeadnic, Iovu,
Cotogoi, Iosipoi, Dan Spataru.
Scotland: Gordon, Hendry, Cooper, Tierney, Patterson, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson, John McGinn, Adams, Armstrong. Subs: McLean, Turnbull, McKenna, Ferguson, Nisbet, Clark, Brown, McLaughlin, Souttar, O’Donnell.
Referee: Srdjan Jovanovic (Serbia)
Nothing can go wrong now. Sorry, make that anything can wrong now, since this is Scotland, for whom late-stage qualifying collapse are almost as great a part of Scottish football folklore as going out in the first round of a finals. All has not gone smoothly in preparation, with Scott McTominay pulling out with a sore throat and then Ryan Fraser pulling out with an injury, only to be pictured training with Eddie Howe at Newcastle. Lyndon Dykes, who scored that late, dramatic winner against the Faroe Islands is out suspended when his goals have powered Scotland along in this campaign. At least he made the trip out to cheer on his pals.
Nevertheless, Steve Clarke is a manager for whom the description of being steely was probably invented and he knows the task in hand. Win this one and a World Cup play-off is within reach, meaning dynamic, devastating Denmark would turn up at Hampden for a dead rubber. Last time the teams met, it was 1-0 in Glasgow, and the last time Scotland played in Chisinau, under McBerti Vogts, it was 1-1. And 1-1 won’t be enough. Moldova have conceded 24 goals in eight matches so far. Surely, surely Scotland can do this. Surely?
Kick-off is at 5pm. Join me.