Scotland Men's Football Team

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Scotland international Andy Irving has joined Czech side Sparta Prague on a permanent deal from West Ham United.

The 25-year-old made his Scotland debut against Liechtenstein last summer and has since featured for the Hammers on seven occasions, starting twice in the English Premier League.

Irving broke through at Hearts and had spells at Turkgucu Munchen and Austria Klagenfurt, before making 18 appearances for West Ham in his two-and-a-half years there.

He was in Scotland's squad for the World Cup qualifiers and was an unused substitute as Steve Clarke's side beat Denmark at Hampden.

Sparta finished fourth in the Czech topflight last season, and currently sit second behind arch-rivals Slavia, while also competing in the Conference League.

Motherwell are one of two non-Old Firm clubs in the Scottish Premiership interested in Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan, with Millwall, Preston North End and Stoke City also tracking the 36-year-old still hoping for a Scotland recall for the World Cup. (The Star), external

Ryan Fraser, the 31-year-old Scotland-capped winger, is in Australia to finalise a loan move to Western Sydney Wanderers from Southampton. (Daily Echo), external

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he will ditch Scotland's World Cup opponents' famous all-out attacking style and turn them into a defensive unit in a bid to win the tournament for the sixth time. (The National), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Liverpool defender Andy Robertson would like to remain at Liverpool beyond this summer when his contract expires - but says he's "a player who wants to play".

Robertson, 31, added that nothing has been decided yet, despite discussions with the club.

Asked if he would like to stay, the Scotland international said: "Yes, but it's a difficult question.

"I've got five months left and we need to see what the option is to stay or if there's options to go and things like that. I need to sit down with my family and decide.

"After a stressful summer, I'm just trying to enjoy being a part of it and being a Liverpool player.

"I wanted to qualify for the World Cup and thankfully we've managed to do that. I need to see what myself and my family wants going forward."

Robertson, who signed for Liverpool for £8m from Hull City in 2017 during Jurgen Klopp's reign, has played 362 times for the Reds but has started just four Premier League games this season.

Hungary international Milos Kerkez, 22, has been Liverpool's first-choice left-back since making the move from Bournemouth for £40m last summer.

Asked if the amount of game time he gets between now and the end of the season would have an impact on his future, Robertson said: "I can focus on the last eight and a half years. I think Jurgen Klopp left me out for one game and I was raging. So I'm a player who wants to play.

"I've played through injuries. I've played when I'm not 100% fit. I've played when I've only been 50/40/30% fit for this club and my country. I always want to be on the grass and playing and obviously now that's not happening, so that's what is different.

"I have a different role here this season which I'm getting enjoyment out of, but at the end of the day, footballers want to play and if anyone is sat happy on the bench, then they don't belong at any football club."

He continued: "That's always my argument, you should always want to push to be in the team. If you're happy to sit on the bench, then I don't think you have the right attitude.

"I think I've played well in the games I've played this season. Maybe I've not played as much as I would have liked, but it's nothing I've been surprised by. Let's see what happens."

Robertson confirmed he has had discussions with senior figures at Liverpool about the future but is keeping those details private.

After fellow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold left in the summer, Robertson was made Liverpool's vice-captain, and he said his relationship with the club's executives remains good.

"I've given absolutely everything for the club for the last eight and a half years and the club have been very good to me - they've rewarded me with good contracts when I have been playing well," he added.

"Nobody can deny what I have given to this club. I've given everything day in and day out and put in some performances which I think have been good, and I hope others agree - I've won a lot of trophies and had a lot of good days here.

"My relationship with the people higher up in the club has always been excellent since the day I came in. Signing me for £8m and then doing what I have done helps that, which I remind people of all the time!

"The relationship is good and it's not quite 'what do they need to show me and what do I need to show them' as we've shown each other more than enough respect over the last eight and a half years. We'll see what comes."

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Following the death of Chelsea legend Eddie McCreadie earlier this week, we asked you to tell us your fondest memories of the Blues full-back and Scotland international.

Chelsea's players will wear black armbands during the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Wednesday night and there will be a minute's applause to remember McCreadie before the kick-off.

Here are some of your comments:

Will: I first saw Eddie play in 1969, an elegant stylish full-back in that great team. He could mix it too, a tough-tackling no-nonsense player. Thanks Eddie for all those childhood memories.

Gordon: I remember in 1977 when we played great attacking football. I was at Wolves when we got promoted. Thanks Eddie, Rest in peace.

Gary: The king of slide tackles!

Anthony: Eddie played in my first-ever game at the Bridge, 11 May 1963 against Stoke City, Division Two. Sadly he never got near Sir Stanley Matthews that day! Superb, solid defender and never backed out of a tackle. RIP.

Keith: I started watching Chelsea in 1962 so got to see Eddie play all his time at the Bridge. My best memory of him is Ronnie Harris and him both miskicking the ball for Leeds' first goal in the 1970 FA Cup final.

Alan: In a team full of creative talent, Eddie was a tough, no-nonsense Scot who along with defensive dynamo partner David Webb were the real characters in the side. Darlings of the Shed, Eddie was indispensable.

When Arsenal's Peter Marinello made his home debut at Highbury, the hailed new George Best was asked after the game how he found being marked by Eddie McCreadie. Marinello just rolled his eyes and wrung his hands in frustration. Chelsea have had some great full-backs over the decades and Eddie will always be a towering great amongst the best. Sad news, sad day. Never forgotten.

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Chelsea say they are mourning one of the "great figures in our history" following the death of Eddie McCreadie.

What are your memories of the FA Cup winner and Scotland international, who played over 400 times for the Blues?

Get in touch with your views here

Sevilla are still interested in Scotland international Nathan Patterson, while Lazio and Bologna are also monitoring the 24-year-old, as Everton target a new right-back. (Sky Sports), external

Everton's spate of injuries have left Nathan Patterson in limbo with the Scotland right-back keen to move on loan in search of first-team starts and with Sevilla and Bologna both expressing interest in the defender. (TeamTalk), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Scotland's World Cup opponents, Morocco, have progressed to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals after a comfortable 2-0 win for the hosts over Cameroon.

Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz got the ball rolling in Rabat, deflecting home with his knee from close range after Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi rose to head on a 26th-minute corner.

PSV Eindhoven winger Ismael Saibari fired the second low into the far corner from 15 yards following an outswinging free-kick from Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli with just over quarter of an hour to go.

Walid Regragui's side have now won four and drawn one of their matches at Afcon 2025 and now await the winner of Saturday's quarter-final between Algeria and Nigeria.

Wednesday's semi-final will again take place in Rabat.

Senegal beat Mali 1-0 in Friday's other quarter-final and will face either Egypt or Ivory Coast.

Read the full match report.

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Birmingham City manager Chris Davies expects a busy January transfer window of ins and outs with Scottish pair Lyndon Dykes and Marc Leonard both unhappy with their time on the pitch with the Championship side.

Scotland striker Dykes has played only 422 minutes of league football this season, while midfielder Leonard has started only five Championship games among 17 appearances.

And both were omitted from Blues' squad for the weekend victory over leaders Coventry City.

Asked about their futures, Davies replied: "At the moment, we have got a lot of moving parts around players potentially coming in and players potentially going out.

"We're looking at everything and trying to put a squad together for each match that works for us.

"We'll see how the next weeks go with it all. There's going to be a lot of moving parts in the next three weeks, I'm sure."

The 24-year-old Leonard has struggled to separate the midfield partnership of Paik Seung-ho and Tommy Doyle.

Dykes, who was linked with a move to Hibernian in the summer, finds himself even behind misfiring former Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi as the 30-year-old looks for game time to cement a place in Scotland's World Cup squad.

"We've been talking a lot to the players and their agents," Davies added. "They haven't had as much game time as they would like, which is fair.

"We'll see how it all develops and things will become clearer as the weeks go by with them.

"I think it will be [busy]. I had the feeling it would be a bit like this leading up to it. Last season, it was two or three in, two or three out, it was pretty low-key. I think this one will be a busy one, definitely."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stuart Findlay has a place in Scotland's World Cup squad in his sights after agreeing a pre-contract to make his Hearts stay permanent.

The former Kilmarnock defender moved to Tynecastle on loan from Oxford United in the summer and will join on a two-year deal come the end of the season.

The 30-year-old has one senior cap - in a 6-0 victory over San Marino in 2019 in which the centre-back scored one goal and set up another - and previously worked with Scotland manager Steve Clarke at Rugby Park.

"I think every professional football player, until the day they retire, wants to play for their country," Findlay said.

"It's the highest honour you can get in a game. I understand how well the national team is doing just now.

"I know the manager well, obviously from my time at Kilmarnock. Again, there's no surprise to me how well he's done.

"Me, as a Scotland supporter watching, I trust him implicitly to pick the squad that he thinks is the best."

The defender's prospects of an international recall have been by boosted by his form in helping Hearts to the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

"For me, the biggest thing for me this season was doing well at Hearts," he added.

"Being able to achieve a two-year contract with Hearts, that was the main goal for me and I'm delighted to do that.

"I want to make sure I keep performing for Hearts. It's the aim that's put the faith in me and anything that comes off the back of that, of course, it'd be a massive bonus and it'd be great to be involved in.

"But, yeah, just make sure that I look ahead, make sure I do the job for the club that's trusting me and then whatever comes after that, we'll wait and see."

Image source, SNS

Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes the timing could be right for national manager Steve Clarke to take over as Celtic boss for the 2026-27 season. (Sun), external

Hearts and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, has "not had any interest" from potential suitors. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Charlton Athletic are keen on signing 30-year-old Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes, who has played a cameo role with Championship rivals Birmingham City this season. (Daily Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Scotland could face Ivory Coast in England and Peru in the United States as part of the preparations for the 2026 World Cup. (Herald - subscription required), external

The Scots are expected to face Ivory Coast in March. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Wolves are monitoring Hibernian and Scotland striker Kieron Bowie, 23, as they prepare for relegation to the Championship. (Patreon.com - subscription required), external

Union Berlin's Scottish forward Oliver Burke, 28, is the fastest player in the Bundesliga this season. (Sun), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip